Kapruner Loop Hike

We start the GPS track for this hike on the corner of the streets called “Kellnerfeldstrasse” and “Hauserdorfstrasse”, though you can start anywhere in the village and pick up the trail.

Follow “Kellnerfeldstrasse” southwards, onto Kaprun’s main street:  “Nikolaus-Gassner-Strabe”. Continue along the main street, past the JUFA Youth Hostel, then turn left onto “Winklhofweg” and keep following this street uphill. After making a turn to the right, the street stops to exist but continues as a track leftwards up the hill.

Cross the mountain stream, and follow the track into the woods. The track continues above the village, giving a superb view over Kaprun. Walk along the track until you hit a forest road. Turn left on this road and follow the road downhill, towards the lifts of the Lechnerberg ski area.

Walk through the gate and follow the track left, down towards the village. You will pass a cow grid and walk down into the village, where you turn right straight away. Turn right again very soon afterwards, in the direction of the Guggenbichl Gasthof, a B&B. Follow the road uphill as it takes a hairpin turn and then passes Gasthof Guggenbichl.

It is normal in Austria that, while hiking, you may walk through the grounds of a farm. Walk through the farm and continue on the forest road. Follow the forest road for a while, taking in the fresh air and the smell of plants and flowers. When you see the yellow sign posts, enter the trail on the left side of the forest road, into the forest. Walk down the trail via switchbacks, while crossing mountain streams and enjoying the silence.

After you cross a small wooden bridge and encounter a sign post, choose the trail which goes right. Walk through the bushes, into the meadows. Continue through the long grass, while looking at the Zeller Lake in the distance down in the valley. If you are doing the hike very early in the morning, this is the area where you might spot deer or other wildlife.

Continue on the track until you encounter a forest road. Join the forest road and follow the road downhill. After a while you will encounter a waterfall on the right-hand side. Have a little rest here and take some nice photos. Continue your journey and walk through the farm area at the end of the forest road. Here, you will enter a main road again. Follow the road straight ahead, in the direction of the big wooden bridge, but before the wooden bridge turn left onto the walking track.

Pass the fenced dog area and then follow the path into the woods. When you hit a T-junction turn left, and then take the first left again, into the Kapruner swamps. Here you can find a stunning variety of special flowers and plants, as well as birds and amphibians. Keep following the track through the swamp until you come out at a junction with the walking track. Turn right, and start walking back towards the town of Kaprun.

At the next junction, turn left and walk uphill. If you see goats in the field on your left take a moment and have a look as they are a special breed of goats. At the next junction, turn right onto ‘Scholstrasse’ and continue walking. Once you reach the city center again, turn left in front of Hotel Das Alpenhaus, onto “Wilhelm-Fazokas-Strasse” and walk into the city center. Keep going straight ahead, walking through the city center – continually bearing left. The parking area of the Lechnerberg and the starting point of the hike are 5 minutes away.