This is the trail description for Stage 2 of our Emperor’s Crown (Kaiserkrone) Trek in the Wilder Kaiser Mountains of Tirol, Austria.
For a full overview of this multi-day hike, please read our Emperor’s Crown Hiking Guide.
More stages:
Stage 1: Kufstein to Stripsenjochhaus
Stage 3: Gasteig – Gruttenhütte
Stage 4: Gruttenhütte – Kufstein – more info about this stage in our Emperor’s Crown Hiking Guide.
- Starting Point: Stripsenjochhaus
- Ending Point: Gasteig
- Distance: 16.1 km point-to-point
- Time Needed: 6 hours
- Elevation Gain: 641 meters
- Elevation Loss: 1456 meters
- Difficulty: Easy – Moderate
- Minimum Elevation: 722 meters
- Maximum Elevation: 1811 meters
- Route: Stripsenjochhaus (1580 m) – Tristecken (1710 m) – Feldberg (1830 m) – Obere Scheibenbichlalm (1511 m) – Schneebichl (1470 m) – Kaiserbachtal Mautstelle/Toll road entrance – Griesenau (719 m) – Gasteig (746 m)
- Lunch Options: None. You can eat at the Gasthof Griesenau, but it takes about 5:30-6 hours to hike to Griesenau. We recommend buying a lunch packet at Stripsenjochhaus for this stage.
- Stay in Gasteig: Hotel Gut Kramerhof (midrange), Gasthaus Mitterjager (budget), or Mountain Blast Guesthouse (budget – further away)
Emperor’s Crown Map: Stage 2
Stripsenjochhaus to Gasteig Trail Description
Stripsenjochhaus to Stripsenkopf (40 Minutes)
From the Stripsenjoch saddle, head north along trail 825. There’s a viewpoint, marked by a cross, just above the hut.
Follow this trail for about 15-20 minutes, crossing tussock slopes along a balcony path. At the signed trail juncture, you can detour to Stripsenkopf (20 minutes one-way), or continue in the direction of Feldberg (signed 1:15 hours).
We highly recommend detouring to the peak, crowned with a viewing pavilion.
From the summit, there’s a wonderful vantage point of the Kaiserbachtal valley and the dramatic Wilder Kaiser peaks: Predigstuhl (2116 m), Hintere-Going Halt (2192 m), Fleischbank (2181 m), and Totenkirchl (2190 m).
Stripsenkopf to Feldberg (1:35 hours)
Return to the trail juncture along the same path.
This stage of the Kaiserkrone trail heads northeast/east along the Feldberg ridge, high above Kaiserbachtal valley, for several hours.
Stripsenkopf and Feldberg are summits in the Zahmer Kaiser (“Tame Kaiser”) Mountains.
As you follow the ridge between the peaks, you’re hiking between the Zahmer Kaiser (“Tame Kaiser” Mountains) and the Wilder Kaiser (“Wild Kaiser” Mountains) on an easy, undulating mountain trail.
The trail is flanked by dwarf-pine, so it’s never too narrow or exposed. However, there are some rugged sections, which require extra caution.
You’ll have views of both sub-ranges through the day, though the trail favors the Wilder Kaiser side.
The path first ascends to Tristecken summit (1710 m) and then continues another 20 minutes to Feldberg (1813 m), where there’s a bench, cross, and summit register.
Feldberg to Griesenau (3 hours)
The Kaiserkrone path descends along the panoramic ridge. On your left, mountain pasture huts dot the Kohlalmtal valley below.
As you progress, the trail is increasingly forested with lacey larch and spruce trees.
Eventually, you’ll come to a mountain pasture. Follow signs to Griesenau (signed 2 hours).
The route then follows a gravel track to Obere Scheibenbichlalm alpine pasture (unmanaged), surrounded by grazing cattle.
When you reach the rustic Almhütte (alpine pasture hut), unhook (and re-hook) the fence and hike around the hut. There’s a road leading directly from the Almhütte.
Follow this road for a few meters, until you see mini pole trail markers leading right away from the road. The path initially descends across a meadow and then quickly climbs up the Schneebichl hill (1470 m).
From Schneebichl, the trail descends slowly across more pastures. There are waymarks painted on rocks along the path to guide you.
Step over the pasture fence using the stile and continue descending along the alpine pasture fence.
The trail leads across more grassy pastures and then joins the road to Untere Scheibenbichlalm (also unmanaged).
From the Untere Scheibenbichalm, continue following the macadam road. The road descends all the way to Kaiserbachtal valley. However, you can always opt for the hiking path (signed “Wanderweg”), which cuts through the forest.
The hiking path intersects with the road several times, before ultimately joining the road.
After steadily descending through thick forest for one hour, you’ll reach the valley floor.
Head left along the paved road (Kaiserbachtal toll road), parallel to the Kaiserbach river, to the “Mautstelle” toll road entrance gate (10-15 minutes)
Pass the gate and the parking lot and continue along the road into Griesenau (10 minutes).
Griesenau to Gasteig (1:30 hours)
Just before entering Griesenau, the Kaiserkrone trail bears right.
If you want to grab something to eat, head into town. You’ll see the inviting Gasthof Griesenau Inn just across the Landstrasse 176. The restaurant is open everyday except Monday.
If you’re feeling satiated and ready to call it a day, you can also take a bus to Gasteig. Bus #4000 departs Griesenau 3-6 times per day.
Check the schedule in advance using this timetable. (From: Bus Stop: “Kirchdorf in Tirol Griesenau”; To: Bus Stop: “Kirchdorf in Tirol Gasteig”).
The bus ride takes 4 minutes.
Stay in Gasteig
We stayed at the friendly Hotel Gut Kramerhof in Gasteig. This farm hotel is situated directly on the Emperor’s Crown Trail.
Kramerhof is a working farm with horses, pigs, goats, and sheep. After checking-in, you can explore the farm, with the exception of the horse barn.
Check-in: 3 pm earliest
Check-out: 10 am latest
Payment: Cash or Credit Card
Afternoon Snack: a small afternoon snack buffet is served between 3 and 5 pm
Half Board Dinner: served between 6 and 8 pm. When you check-in, the receptionist will show you your dining table for dinner and breakfast. Alternatively, you can eat in the a la carte restaurant, which is open until 8:30 pm, daily.
Breakfast: served between 7:30 and 10 am. You can ask to have breakfast at 7 am.
Book your Stay at Hotel Gut Kramerhof.
More accommodation options in Gasteig: Gasthaus Mitterjager (budget) and Mountain Blast Guesthouse (budget).
Austria Trip Planning Essentials
Use our Austria Travel Guide and Austria blog archive to plan a unique and memorable trip to Austria.
When to Visit Austria
Summer and early Fall are our favorite seasons in Austria.
Getting around Austria
Austria has an excellent public transit system. We’ve used it extensively to travel throughout the country. We highly recommend using transit if you’re visiting cities (Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Graz, etc…), and/or doing hut-to-hut hikes.
Some areas like Mayrhofen, Schladming and Lech am Arlberg have wonderful seasonal transit systems in place (e.g. summer hiking buses). However, if you’re not visiting during the high season, bus frequencies are significantly reduced and it’s far easier to get around with your own vehicle.
If you’re planning on visiting multiple destinations across Austria, we recommend renting a car.
Use these road trip itineraries for trip planning inspiration:
- 2 Week Austria Road Trip – starting in Vienna
- 1 Week Austria Road Trip – starting in Salzburg or Munich
- 10-Day Bavarian Alps & Tyrolean Alps Road Trip – starting in Munich
Car Rental
We recommend using the Discovercars.com car rental reservation platform to search for and book car rentals. This easy-to-use booking platform compares car rental deals from 500+ trusted providers, so that you can choose the best option for your trip.
If you’re driving into Austria from a neighboring country, don’t forget to purchase a vignette at/near the border.
Hiking in Austria
Where to Hike in Austria
Read Austrian Alps Hiking Destinations for an overview of where to hike in Austria, with tips on specific trails and where to stay. Also check out Best Day Hikes in Austria and these region-specific hiking guides:
- Salzburg Hiking Guide
- Filzmoos, Salzburg Hiking Guide
- Schladming, Styria Hiking Guide
- Lech am Arlberg, Vorarlberg Hiking Guide
- Vorarlberg Hiking Guide
- Vienna Mountains Hiking Guide
Hut to Hut Hiking in Austria
Austria is a premier hut-to-hut and long-distance hiking destination. The quality of the mountain huts are superb. We particularly love the high-alpine trails, which are called Höhenwege in German. We’ve summarized our favorite multi-day hikes in Trekking Austria. If you’re new to hut hiking, read this in-depth guide to Hut to Hut Hiking in Austria.
Hiking Essentials
- Trekking Pack: Osprey Kyte 36 – women / Osprey Kestrel 38 -men
- Day Pack: Osprey Tempest 30 Women’s Backpack / Osprey Talon 33 Men’s Backpack
- Grade B/C high-cut hiking boots: Meindl Schuhe Island Lady (Kati’s Boots), Women’s Hanwag Tatra II GTX (Sabrina’s Boots), Men’s Hanwag Tatra II GTX (men’s equivalent)
- CAT 4 Sunglasses: Julbo Shield Mountain Sunglasses
- Hiking Poles: Black Diamond Trail Trekking Poles
- Backpack Camera Clip: Peak Design Camera Clip
What to See & Do in Austria
- Visit a gorge like the Liechtenstein Gorge in Salzburg.
- Bathe in the thermal pools of an Austrian Therme like Aqua Dome in Tirol
- Stay in a thermal spa hotel like Rogner Bad Blumau in Styria, EurothermenResort Bad Ischl in Upper Austria, or the Aqua Dome Hotel in Tirol.
- Hike to a mountain lake like Lake Tappenkarsee in Salzburg or Lake Drachensee in Tirol.
- Go Wine Tasting in South Styria.
- Marvel at the culture, music, and architecture of Vienna.
- Eat heartwarming mountain food in an Almhütte at Grosser Ahornboden in Tirol or Ursprungalm in Styria.
- Drive the Grossglockner High Alpine Road in Hohe Tauern National Park.
- Visit the castles, monasteries, and wine taverns of the Wachau Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Austrian Hotels
- Best Hotels in the Austrian Alps
- Best Hotels in Lech am Arlberg, Vorarlberg
- Wellness Hotel Theresa, Zillertal, Tirol
- Hotel Eder in Maria Alm, Salzburg
Learn more about the European Alps:
How was the food there? Is it better to take half board or to dine outside?
Hi Roi,
The food was fine. I think it’s easier and more convenient to do half board…unless you know exactly where you want to eat. I don’t remember there being a lot of dining options nearby.
-Sabrina