Johnsbacher Almenrunde - Through Meadows in the Heart of Gesäuse

Gesäuse is a place shrouded in myths. For hundreds of years, it has attracted people thirsting for legends and stories. This youngest national park enchanted me instantly as well. Monumental, sharp peaks tightly embracing a narrow valley with the swift Enns River flowing at its bottom. Feel the atmosphere of this incredible land by discovering a hiking classic for the whole family!

A Hiking Classic in Styria's Hidden Gem Johnsbach is a small village hidden among the peaks of Gesäuse. It serves as the mountain capital of this region (the territorial capital is Admont) located in the Enns River valley. The name of this village comes from the legend of Wild John. I'll cover Gesäuse and "Wild Jack" in more detail on the blog soon. This hidden gem is about 3 hours' drive from Vienna. For a day trip, it's worth leaving early to enjoy as much time as possible in the unique atmosphere of the area.

If the long drive bothers you, I'd recommend planning two days with an overnight stay. It will definitely be an unforgettable time. Or maybe you'd consider sleeping somewhere higher up, in a mountain hut? Gesäuse has plenty to offer in this regard. If you need help organizing your trip, feel free to write to me. I'll gladly help you discover the magic of the Enns River valley. Johnsbacher Almenrunde is a local hiking classic that, with relatively low difficulty for this area, offers exceptional experiences. The route is very technically simple and has many options for shortening (as well as extending). During our hike, there are as many as 4 pastures with inns where you can fill your stomach :). Some of them have 900 years of tradition!

Time to hit the trail! We did the route quite late in autumn, so the views now will be incomparably more beautiful. I can already imagine those alpine carpets fragrant with young spring! The parking lot is located past Johnsbach on the left side (Ebnerparkplatz

, you have the map at the bottom of the post). From there, we just need to follow the signs and enjoy the incredible atmosphere of Gesäuse. To start the day, we're greeted by the Teufelsklamm gorge. Further on, the path leads us to the first pasture - Kölblalm. The owners are the same family that runs Kölblwirt, which is worth stopping at for lunch afterward. But first, you need to burn some calories ;)

The next destination on our route is Schocklalm, where truly beautiful views straight from Gesäuse begin. Majestic peaks gaze at us from every direction.

Admonter Reichenstein particularly caught my eye, a venerable gentleman at an elevation of 2251m above sea level. Probably the most difficult peak in this area, requiring basic climbing skills to ascend.

A bit higher up is Huberalm, in my opinion the most beautiful of all the meadows.

From Ebneralm, the path leads gently downhill toward the parking lot.