Großer Pyhrgas
2,244 m
Austria
- Elevation
- 2,244 m
- Prominence
- 1,290 m
- Difficulty
- 3/10
- Mountain hike
- Best Season
- Jul–Sep
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1Sources differ: T3+ (hikr.org report, July 2024 (with UIAA I))
The easiest marked route: from the car park at the Bosruckhütte (about 1,040 m) above Spital am Pyhrn up a forest and meadow path to the Hofalmsattel, then steeply up the west ridge through forest, dwarf pine and loose scree to rock steps with a few easy hands-on moves and a final grassy slope to the summit cross. About 1,200 m of ascent, 3 hours up.
Elevation Profile
- Distance
- 4.8 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +1,241 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 2,244 m
- Time Up
- 4h 47m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 3h 10m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
From the car park near the Bosruckhütte (about 1,040 m) at the end of the road from Spital am Pyhrn, follow the signs for the Großer Pyhrgas along the forest road; before a hairpin at a gate a path branches off (the right fork continues to the Rohrauerhaus). Keep left on the signed path, climbing moderately through forest and meadows past the Hiaslalm to the Hofalmsattel, about 1 hour and 400 m from the car park. The Hofalm hut lies about 100 m lower on the far side of the saddle. From the saddle path 614 climbs the west ridge, steep from the start: a stony forest path gives way to corridors through dwarf pine, where the scree underfoot is partly loose, then to rock. Higher up there are a few easy hands-on passages (about I) past a small shelter cave, and the Hofersteig joins from the south. A broad grassy slope leads to the summit cross, about 2 hours from the saddle. Descend the same way, about 2 hours to the car park; the ridge is steep and stepped, and poles help. Many walkers make a loop by climbing the Hofersteig from the Rohrauerhaus (short cabled sections, A–B, rockfall risk) and descending the west ridge. Snowfields in early summer make the upper ridge dangerous.
Start
Parkplatz Bosruckhütte1,028 m
- Train (Pyhrnbahn) or Postbus 911/430 to Spital am Pyhrn, then path 614 via Grünau to the Hofalm (about 2½ hours from the station) and on to the Hofalmsattel.
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Parkplatz Bosruckhütte → Großer Pyhrgas | 4.8 | 1,241 | 26 | 4h 47m |
Waypoints
- Parking: Parkplatz Bosruckhütte1,028 m
- Feature: Hiaslalm1,275 m
- Feature: Unterstandshöhle2,076 m
Small shelter cave on the upper west ridge
- Summit: Großer Pyhrgas2,244 m
Key Passages
- Steep dwarf-pine corridors with loose scree
- Easy rock steps on the upper west ridge
- Broad grassy summit slope
Equipment
0/5 packedDownloads
Route confidence 70%Overview
The highest summit (2,244 m) and western pillar of the Haller Mauern, on the border of Upper Austria and Styria above Spital am Pyhrn. A steep but marked limestone mountain walk with a broad, grassy summit and views over the Gesäuse, the Totes Gebirge and the Dachstein.
The Großer Pyhrgas is the western cornerstone of the Haller Mauern in the Ennstal Alps, a distinctive pyramid visible from far along the Pyhrn Pass road and the Windischgarsten basin. With almost 1,300 m of prominence it gives a wide panorama: the Gesäuse peaks, the Totes Gebirge and the Dachstein, and on clear days the Mühlviertel north of the Danube and the Glockner group.
Three marked routes reach the summit. The easiest is the west ridge from the Hofalmsattel, steep and rocky in its upper part but without real difficulties. The Hofersteig from the Pyhrgasgatterl near the Rohrauerhaus crosses the steep south flank with short cabled sections, and the Bad Haller Steig from the Gowilalm on the north side is the longest and most demanding. The most popular combination is up the Hofersteig and down the west ridge. The ridge from the Kleiner Pyhrgas involves climbing at grade II.
Three huts stand on the Upper Austrian side: the Hofalm (about 1,305 m), the Naturfreunde Rohrauerhaus (1,308 m) and the Bosruckhütte (1,043 m), so refreshments are close to every start. The name may come from a Celtic word for mountain or a Slavic word for a crossing.
Climbing Notes
Fitness for 1,200 m of steep ascent and sure-footedness on loose scree and limestone steps are required; the Hofalm hut stresses that alpine experience is needed and the upper 300 m are rocky, high-alpine terrain. The west ridge has a few easy hands-on moves; the Hofersteig adds short cabled sections and rockfall, where the hut recommends a helmet. Falls on the descent are the typical accident: take care on the steep, stepped ground and use poles.
It is a day tour of about 5 hours from the Bosruckhütte car park. Start early in summer to avoid afternoon thunderstorms, and treat lingering snowfields in early summer with caution. The loop up the Hofersteig and down the west ridge, with a stop at the Hofalm or Rohrauerhaus, is the classic choice.
History
The Rohrauerhaus was opened on 2 August 1925 and is named after Alois Rohrauer, co-founder of the Naturfreunde in 1895. No first-ascent record was found.
Season
Best Jul–Sep- January: Not advisable
- February: Not advisable
- March: Not advisable
- April: Not advisable
- May: Possible
- June: Good
- July: Best (best window)
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Best (best window)
- October: Good
- November: Possible
- December: Not advisable
- Jan
- Winter; steep avalanche-prone terrain
- Feb
- Winter conditions
- Mar
- Winter conditions
- Apr
- Snow on the upper ridge
- May
- Snowfields on the upper route are dangerous
- Jun
- Check for lingering snow early in the month
- Jul
- Main season; afternoon thunderstorms
- Aug
- Main season
- Sep
- Often stable weather
- Oct
- Good in dry autumn weather; short days
- Nov
- Possible before lasting snow
- Dec
- Winter conditions
Access & Permits
- Fees
- Parking at the Bosruckhütte car park was free in April 2023; a EUR 6 daily fee had been charged earlier in 2023, so check on arrival
- Getting There
Spital am Pyhrn; Windischgarsten
Linz (LNZ); Salzburg (SZG)
- By car: A9 Pyhrn motorway to Spital am Pyhrn, then the road to the Bosruckhütte car park (about 1,040 m); alternatively park at the Dr. Vogelgesang car parks in Grünau
- By train (Pyhrnbahn) or Postbus lines 911 and 430 to Spital am Pyhrn; from the station path 614 leads via Grünau to the Hofalm in about 2½ hours
- For the Bad Haller Steig, start at the Gowilalm car park north of the mountain
Hazards
- Exposure
- Rockfall
- Weather