Kreuzkogel

"The wide one": The hike to the Kreuzkogel starts at the Gamperhütte and leads via the Schwabergeralm up to the Große Windlucke. You can enjoy impressive views of the Wölzer Tauern along the Zentralalpenweg trail. The summit is easy to reach and the summit cross is a worthwhile destination for mountain lovers!

The hike to the Kreuzkogel (2,109 m) starts at the Gamperhütte in Brettstein and leads via the Schwabergeralm to the Große Windlucke. From there, the first beautiful view of the surrounding peaks opens up. The Zentralalpenweg 02 continues along the ridge until the final gentle ascent to the summit begins. The summit cross, erected in 1973, offers a magnificent view of the Wölzer Tauern, including Hohenwart, Eiskarspitz and Amachkogel. After a well-earned rest, you descend along the Bretsteinbach stream back to the Schwabergeralm. After a total of just under five hours, the tour ends back at the Gamperhütte - a varied and rewarding hike!

Characteristics

Skill

Fitness

Best season

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

The tour in numbers

medium

Level of difficulty

9,5 km

Route

5:00 h

Time

745 hm

Uphill

745 hm

Downhill

2109 m

Highest point

Map & downloads

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More information

Drive by car through Bretstein and Bretsteingassen through into the Bretsteingraben. Along the Bretsteinbach you pass the Hansbauer and Bichler parking lot and after the Gamperhütte to the Schwabergerhütte.

The hike to the Kreuzkogel (2109m) starts at the Gamperhütte in Brettstein (approx. 1380m). From there, you hike to the Schwabergeralm in approx. 20 minutes and follow the markings up a meadow slope. As there are only a few markings in this area, you should always keep an eye out for the trail. In spring, when the snow melts, the path to the Große Windlucke is often very wet. Once you reach the Grosser Windlucke, you already have a beautiful view of the neighboring area, including the Hochrettelstein. To the west you can see the ascent path, to the east you can hike to the Schrattnerkogel and the Seitnerzinken - two peaks that attract many mountaineers, especially in winter. If you follow the summit ridge on the Zentralalpenweg to the east, you reach the municipality of Hohentauern via Hochschwung and Zinkenkogel as well as Kleiner Bösenstein and Großer Hengst.
However, we continue on the Zentralalpenweg 02 in an easterly direction and tackle the last 250 meters in altitude. Along the ridge and one last ascent - the summit cross always in view. The last few meters in altitude are, like the whole tour, without any difficulties. The cross on the Kreuzkogel was erected on 15 July 1973 by the Pöls branch of the Styrian Mountain Rescue Service - so the summit cross has adorned the 2,109-metre-high mountain in the middle of the beautiful Wölzer Tauern mountains for many years. For all stamp collectors: you'll find what you're looking for in the summit book box! During the summit rest you can see many other peaks: Hohenwart, Eiskarspitz and Hans-Runde to the south, Gamskögerl, Amachkogel and Kesseleck to the east.
After the summit, follow the path in a south-easterly direction, which leads slightly below a ridge to the descent path. This now meanders downhill close to the Bretsteinbach stream. We walk the last ten minutes or so to the Schwabergeralm on a partly grassy forest path. After just under five hours, we are back at the starting point, the Gamperhütte.

You can shorten the tour by around 3km and 100m if you start at the Schwabergerhütte.

This tour is NOT considered "accessible by train and bus" because there is no regular connection.

You can park directly at the Schwabergerhütte!

You can also find more information about the region on - www.murtal.at