Salzburger Almenweg - Stage 23: Neuberg – Gerzkopf – St. Martin

In the Filzmoos district Neuberg, the Almenweg runs from the Gseng junction or shortly before the old sawmill left via the Nestlerweg (or path no. 52) to the Nestlerhof and directly past it. Shortly before the Perlmaishaus, a forest path (no. 52) leads uphill on the right, crossing logging roads several times, ignoring other marked paths entering from the valley, and after 300 meters of altitude gain, reaching a ridge at a path junction. Continuing uphill over the ridge (trail no. 52) until the tree line is reached at the ridge between Gsengplatte and Gerzkopf (at this point from the right or east over the Gsengplatte, the Almenweg variant 23a from the Hofpürglhütte merges). To the right (east) of the path lies the shepherd's hut (1,608 m), managed in good weather and over 100 years old, worth a short detour. Back at the path junction, it is not far to the 1,728-meter-high Gerzkopf: the Almenweg leads over the ridge westward on a rather rocky trail past the raised bog "Black Tarn," through partly dense dwarf pine growth up to the summit. Since there are many bogs and tarns up here, paths can be partly muddy: sturdy, waterproof footwear is advantageous.

After a rest and ringing the wish bell on the summit, the descent follows trail no. 97 from the Gerzkopf westward over the St. Martin plateau and through the fairy-tale forest with its old, turnip-shaped spruce trees to the Hüttlboden (shortly after the Gerzkopf, the Almenweg takes the left path at a fork). Here you also often meet sheep driven up in spring by local farmers.

Through the ant forest with its many anthills, trail no. 96 always leads downhill past two old hunting huts to the Höllbrand. From the private Höllbrand hut, there is a magnificent view of the active village St. Martin with Seepark, the Ostermais behind it, and finally the mighty, all-dominating Tennengebirge. A few minutes of further downhill walking invite you to the Höllalm snack station to recharge empty stores. After about 20 more minutes of descent along trail no. 74, you reach the first houses of the quite widely spread active village St. Martin am Tennengebirge, whose center and thus today's stage goal is reached after crossing the street to the right in another 20 minutes.

Those who chose variant 22a on the previous stage will follow today's route of variant 23a.

Dining (D) and Overnight (O) options

Various accommodations of all categories in the town center of Filzmoos, info at www.filzmoos.at, phone +43 6453 8235

Gerzkopf Shepherd's Hut (1,608 m) (after approx. 4.5 hours), June to September, phone +43 664 559 01 00 D

Höllalm (1,150 m) (after approx. 7.5 hours), June to September, phone +43 6463 7405 D

Numerous dining and overnight options in St. Martin, www.stmartin.info D/O

Logispartner Salzburger Almenweg Info and booking center by Trail Angels: 

Gasthof Post St. Martin, more info at: https://www.meinpostwirt.at/, phone +43 6463 72180

Here you will find everything about the right hiking shoe, the perfect equipment, and the correct walking technique

To make your day in the mountains truly an unforgettable experience, we give you some tips so that you are safe in the mountains.

For public transport by train, the stations in Eben im Pongau (11 km), Radstadt (18 km), or Bischofshofen (30 km) are recommended. From there, continue to Filzmoos by post bus, taxi, or with the station shuttle.

If you arrive by your own car, you can park it in Filzmoos in one of the marked paid parking lots. The daily parking fee is €4.50 per car. Please do not forget, for your own safety, to display the "Salzburger Almenweg" parking disc from the brochure in the car.

All further information about the Salzburger Almenweg can be found here.

In the Europe and nature reserve Gerzkopf, rare dragonfly species, white-backed woodpeckers, capercaillies, and tree pipits find their habitat. According to legend, a golden carriage lies at the bottom of the "Black Tarn".