For a stunning view of the dazzling Grosses Wiesbachhorn, we have to travel all the way to the Hohe Tauern National Park, Austria. The 3564-meter-high mountain is the 3rd highest point in the Hohe Tauern mountain range. Today we know that the largest peak is the Grossglockner (3798 m), but it has long been believed that the giant now being unveiled is the largest gem of the Tauern.
The mountain, which has almost perfect proportions, is the main peak of the mountain range here, none of the surrounding mountains can beat it. It is no coincidence that climbers often refer to it as the rival of the Grossglockner.
Wiesbachhorn is very popular among mountaineers and is especially suitable for beginners because the normal route called "Kaindlgrat" is relatively easy to climb.
Although it is no longer visible on the northwest wall, it was once one of the most beautiful ice walls in the Eastern Alps. Unfortunately, it has now melted.
| Grosses Wiesbachhorn | Details |
| Height | 3 564 m |
| Country | Austria |
| Province | Salzburg |
| Location | Kaprun, Fusch |
| Range | Hohe Tauern, The Alps |
| Vienna distance | 400 km / 5 hours |
| Parking (free) | Kesselfall-Alpenhausba (1033 m) |
| Starting point | Bergrestaurant Mooserboden (2036 m) |
| Accommodation | Heinrich Schwaiger House (2802 m) |
| First summit | 18. century |
| Necessary days | 1 - 2 days |
| Season | June - Sept |
| Guide is mandatory? | No |
| Climbing experience needed? | Yes |
| Permit needed? | No |
| Website | - |
Photos and videos
Where is Wiesbachhorn?
The mountain is located in the province of Salzburg, Austria - near Kaprun. The Hohe Tauern chain (Alps) also runs here, so we walk in the Hohe Tauern National Park. The mountain itself belongs to the town of Fusch, the base camp is in Kaprun.
- Distance from Vienna to Kaprun: 5 hours / 400 km
Parking
From Kaprun, the road leads to the Kesselfall-Alpenhaus. We can leave our car here in the public car park (free of charge). We can continue the bus to the parking lot of the Kaprun reservoir.
Route
- Kesselfall-Alpenhaus car park
- Bergrestaurant Mooserboden (can be reached by bus)
- Heinrich-Schwaiger-Haus Accommodation (hike here)
- Summit
- Back to Heinrich-Schwaiger-Haus
- Back to the Mooserboden car park (hike here)
- Back to the Kesselfall-Alpenhaus car park (get back here by bus or hike)
The first day: Get to the accommodation
From Kesselfall-Alpenhaus we take the bus to the starting point of our first day's tour, the Bergrestaurant Mooserboden car park (2036 m). From here we will have to hike to the opposite side of the lake where we will have our accommodation.
The hike takes about 2-3 hours and during this time we make an 800 meters ascent.
- Mooserboden's address is Mooserbodenstraße 20, 5710 Kaprun, Austria
- The cost of the bus is approx. 15 - 20 euros, tickets can be bought in advance, online.
After we hike to the other side of the lake, we arrive at our accommodation, which is located in the only tourist house near the peak, the Heinrich-Schwaiger-Haus. The hut is located at an altitude of 2802 meters.
- Address: Mooserbodenstraße 30, 5710 Kaprun, Austria
Of course, we could also go hiking from Kesselfall to the lodge if we want to skip the bus ride. In this case, a distance of 12.5 km and a level rise of 1885 meters must be overcome. It is worth about 6 hours.
Heinrich Schwaiger House (2802 m)
Our accommodation will be the Heinrich Schwaiger tourist house. As the hut with a fabulous panorama is the only accommodation option in the area, let's make a reservation in time! Reservations can be submitted by email from January, but it is not uncommon for climbers to book the previous year.
It is worth knowing that not only climbers, but also hikers in the area like to stay here, so there is a lot of competition for free places.
In the restaurant, you can choose breakfast or half board (meat and meat-free menu). Breakfast + three-course dinner costs about 40 euros, breakfast 15 euros.
- Opening: mid-June
- Beds: EUR 40 per person per night
- Phone: +43 664 6565555
- Website
Day Two: Summit
Behind the hut, we start with a short, easy via Ferrata. After this, we reach the summit through the Oberen Fochezkopf and the Kaindlgrat ridge in a 3-4 hour climb.
The level difference on the second day is approx. 770 meters. At the top, of course, a fabulous panorama awaits us. It will take about 4 hours to descend back from the summit to the Moserboden car park.
As always, if our time allows, count an extra 1-2 days for climbing which can come in handy if you just have a bad time.
Who was the first climber?
The mountain was first climbed by two farmers, Zanker and Zorner. All this was still in the 18th century, and the southeastern side was chosen as the route. The first winter climb is named after Th. Oberwalder, who ascended the summit on the southwest side on March 2, 1906.
Do I need a permit?
No, you don't need a permit to climb the mountain.
Previous experience
Although climbing the Wiesbachhorn is not the most difficult mountain of three thousand, climbing experience is definitely needed. If you don't have enough experience behind you, hire a professional, state-recognized tour guide.
Guided tours
More and more professional tour guides are helping you get to the Wiesbachhorn. The climbing takes place in groups, the average headcount is 4: 1, meaning a hiker takes 4 hikers. Of course, we can also ask for a smaller group, but in this case, we have to reckon with a drastic jump in the price.
The price of a tour is around 700 euros. If the two of us go, we can halve the participation price. This price also includes the price of accommodation, meals, and transfers. Remember that if we go with a tour guide, we will bear his costs!
