Sölktaler Nature Park

The Sölktäler Nature Park is a nature reserve and recreation area in Styria, Austria. It stretches across the municipalities of Großsölk, Kleinsölk, and Sankt Nikolai in the Sölktal valley.

The Nature Park, which covers an area of 277 km², was created between 1977 and 1983 and is now one of Styria's seven nature parks.

• Starting point: St. Nikolai
• Duration: approx. 6-7 hours
• Elevation gain: approx. 1,100 m

From the starting point, you'll make your way to the Kreuzsteg waterfall. From there, you'll climb through a dense fern forest up to Hohensee (1,543 m). After going halfway around the lake, there's a steep section leading up to the Schimpelrücken ridge. Following a short descent, the path takes you through a gorge, and then you'll reach Breitenbachsee, which is beautifully decorated with lots of cotton grass. The climb to Schimpelsee and the final steep part will bring you to the highest point of this tour, the Schimpelscharte (2,273 m).

The descent first takes you through a large scree field, and then you'll hike through a romantic larch and stone pine forest. After passing the Rudolf-Schober-Hütte, you'll reach Etrachsee, which is definitely another scenic highlight to finish off this tour.

• Starting point: Kaltenbachkehre on the Sölkpassstraße (40-minute drive from Hotel Gasthof Lercher)
• Duration: 5.5 hours
• Elevation gain: 850 m

First, you'll drive to Kaltenbachkehre and start your hike from there to the lower Kaltenbachsee. After that, you'll continue to the middle Kaltenbachsee and then a bit steeper to the upper Kaltenbachsee. You'll reach the summit of Deneck by going over the Etrachboden and the Schafspitze.

This hike can be split into stages and follows the same path back, so it's suitable for all hiking levels. If you plan to go all the way to the summit, a hiking pole will definitely come in handy.

• Starting point: St. Nikolai
• Duration: 7 hours
• Elevation gain: approx. 1,200 m

The trail to Hohensee is just like the hike from St. Nikolai to Etrachsee. After a bit, once we're at Hohensee, we'll reach a peaceful high cirque called Melk, home to two super romantic mountain lakes – Schwarzensee and Grünsee. After a short climb, we'll find our lunch spot before the final big ascent. This final push will lead us over some snowfields all the way to Seekarlscharte (around 2,300 m).

The way down to Seekarlsee is pretty steep, but you'll be treated to a stunning mountain view behind you. As you keep heading down, you'll start to spot the distant alpine huts of Tuchmoaralm. From Tuchmoar, it's about another 40-minute walk to the valley bus stop.

• Starting point: Sölkpasskapelle on the Sölkpassstraße (40-minute drive from Hotel Gasthof Lercher)
• Duration: 3 hours
• Elevation gain: 478 m

The Sölkpass, which is Styria's highest pass, is where this relatively short climb to a mountain peak in the Wölzer Tauern begins.

The trail kicks off right by the Sölkpass chapel, on the east side of the road. It first goes across a slope, then follows a ridge all the way up to the summit.