WildatHike @ Alps (Austria): Eisriesenwelt Ice Cave (Tennengebirge Mountain)
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 4.8 mi
- Elevation gain
- 3,406 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Difficult
- Elevation loss
- 3,406 ft
- Max elevation
- 5,636 ft
- TrailRank
- 36
- Min elevation
- 3,244 ft
- Trail type
- Loop
- Moving time
- 2 hours 5 minutes
- Time
- 6 hours 46 minutes
- Coordinates
- 1269
- Uploaded
- September 17, 2018
- Recorded
- September 2018
near Schröckenberg, Salzburg (Austria)
Viewed 956 times, downloaded 13 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
If you're close to Salzburg, Werfen is a must see spot, famous for the Hohenwerfen Castle (Burg Werfen), The sound of Music Trail and also the world's largest ice cave: Eisriesenwelt.
Exit 43 from A10 to Werfen and you will find Eisriesenwelt signs giving you directions. You have 3 free parking spots close to the Besucherzentrum tickets. More info: https://www.eisriesenwelt.at/en/
You have 2 options to go up: by cable car (3 min) or hiking (2 to 3 hours) in a trail full of loose limestones. We decided to hard walk both ways up and down to enjoy the outdoors.
Be sure to bring the appropriate hiking gear, headlamp, down jacket, gloves, cap and maybe some scarf. Even if it's 30ºC outside, temperature inside the cave will be around 0ºC.
The ice cave is something special. Concealed within the Tennengebirge mountain range is a system of caves over 40 km in length containing a unique natural phenomenon. The lower parts of the cave are cooled by the passage of cold wind in winter and the thaw water freezes as it trickles in, forming gigantic ice figures. This is the largest ice cave in the world and the kilometre of prepared paths take the visitor up and down numerous steps. The guided tours provide some quick scientific and historical background and explain the ice formations in detail. From the very beginning care was always taken to preserve the natural surroundings when making the cave accessible to tourists. Electric lighting has not been installed -instead the visitors receive hand-held davy lamps. The ice figures are illuminated by your guide using magnesium and when observing these gigantic figures, your imagination will run away with you!
In my opinion the hand-held davy lamps are useless, the ice cave is totally dark, so if you really want to see anything, it's allowed to use your own headlamp. But please avoid using it when the guide lights the magnesium, because it's spectacular how it lights up the cave.
Taking pictures is not allowed even without flash and the guide will warn you all the time. Anyways darkness makes them useless. You would need a tripod and good camera with time for exposure, to have impressive pictures like the ones on website and flyers :D
Before entering the cave I had a small snack in Dr. Oedl Schutzhaus (oedlhaus.at). I recommend the Warmer Apfelstrudel oder Topfenstrudel mit Vanillesoße and a beer outside. Enjoy the views.
Exit 43 from A10 to Werfen and you will find Eisriesenwelt signs giving you directions. You have 3 free parking spots close to the Besucherzentrum tickets. More info: https://www.eisriesenwelt.at/en/
You have 2 options to go up: by cable car (3 min) or hiking (2 to 3 hours) in a trail full of loose limestones. We decided to hard walk both ways up and down to enjoy the outdoors.
Be sure to bring the appropriate hiking gear, headlamp, down jacket, gloves, cap and maybe some scarf. Even if it's 30ºC outside, temperature inside the cave will be around 0ºC.
The ice cave is something special. Concealed within the Tennengebirge mountain range is a system of caves over 40 km in length containing a unique natural phenomenon. The lower parts of the cave are cooled by the passage of cold wind in winter and the thaw water freezes as it trickles in, forming gigantic ice figures. This is the largest ice cave in the world and the kilometre of prepared paths take the visitor up and down numerous steps. The guided tours provide some quick scientific and historical background and explain the ice formations in detail. From the very beginning care was always taken to preserve the natural surroundings when making the cave accessible to tourists. Electric lighting has not been installed -instead the visitors receive hand-held davy lamps. The ice figures are illuminated by your guide using magnesium and when observing these gigantic figures, your imagination will run away with you!
In my opinion the hand-held davy lamps are useless, the ice cave is totally dark, so if you really want to see anything, it's allowed to use your own headlamp. But please avoid using it when the guide lights the magnesium, because it's spectacular how it lights up the cave.
Taking pictures is not allowed even without flash and the guide will warn you all the time. Anyways darkness makes them useless. You would need a tripod and good camera with time for exposure, to have impressive pictures like the ones on website and flyers :D
Before entering the cave I had a small snack in Dr. Oedl Schutzhaus (oedlhaus.at). I recommend the Warmer Apfelstrudel oder Topfenstrudel mit Vanillesoße and a beer outside. Enjoy the views.
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