Hochbuchberg via Grünburger Hütte

The popular local mountain Hochbuchberg (1,273 m) is a year-round favorite viewpoint thanks to the Grünburger Hütte.

Via the Rodatal valley, the route goes to the saddle of Messerer Gscheid and continues right on the trail leading towards the Grünburger Hütte. Through the forest slope of the Krennkogel and over a meadow, we reach another saddle and Hochbuchberg is reached on the left-branching path that winds through the steep forest slope up to the cross. After the descent, turn left to the Grünburger Hütte. Continue in the same direction to the starting point, soon turning right onto a narrower path and over a forest road and meadow.

Hiking paths: 15, 404/409, 24, 480, 16

The Hochbuchberg south of Steinbach an der Steyr is a well-known and, thanks to the Grünburger Hütte, a year-round popular viewpoint.

We reach it by walking uphill from the parking lot at Seebacher along the farm track, past the Freidhager farm and a chapel. At the following road fork, continue straight on hiking path no. 15 beside the stream to a meadow. Along the forest edge, cross two forest roads and ascend to the saddle of Messerer Gscheid.

As the name suggests, merchants from Messerer from Steinbach and Trattenbach once passed here, selling their sharp goods across half of Europe. From there, we hike on the right-leading path, part of long-distance trails 404 and 409, towards the Grünburger Hütte. Through the forest slope of the Krennkogel and over a meadow, we reach another saddle. Right over the Sulzboden (small hut) up to the wide hollow below Hochbuchberg.

We reach its summit on the left-branching path, winding through the steep forest slope up to the cross (nice view from the lowlands to the Tote Gebirge). Return the same way down. In the hollow at the mountain's base, turn left onto the marked path next to the large meadow and then right through a small forest section descending to the Grünburger Hütte.

The cozy and perfectly managed mountain hut was built in 1926/27; at the junction of several access trails, it remains one of the region's most popular excursion destinations. After the refreshment stop, take path no. 480 in the same direction down into the forest. After about 10 minutes, turn right onto the narrower path no. 16, which goes through the slope to a forest road and then continues over meadows back to the starting point.