Two-Day Trek: Kitzbühel - Wildseeloderhaus - Fieberbrunn

Stage 1: Kitzbühel – Wildseeloderhaus
Uphill/downhill: 750/540 metres, walking time: 6 hours, distance: 16.3 kilometres, highest point: 1,943 metres

From Kitzbühel, the Hornbahn cable car conveniently takes you up to Alpenhaus. From there, follow trail no. 32 to the Lämmerbichlalm hut and continue walking to the Bichlalm hut. Follow the yellow-blazed trail to “Gaisberg” on a dirt road for a very short distance. Soon, the trail turns onto a footpath that traverses tussock slopes through (mostly) wide open terrain. Keep following the signs for “Gaisberg”. After another short stretch on a dirt road, turn onto a path again (“Hochwildalm”). This route will take you to the Gaisbergsattel ridge. From there, you continue towards “Gebrajoch” on a dirt road (do not turn left) that nears the small Gaisberg summit, which is marked by a cross. Pass below Gaisberg to the right and proceed to “Gebrajoch” on a trail that gradually ascends to the Gebrajoch ridge. From the ridge, follow signs for “Wildseeloder” and descend to the Gebrakapelle chapel (one short climb). At the chapel, take the trail to “Wildseeloder” (trail number 2, “Fieberbrunner Höhenweg”, Fieberbrunn High Altitude Trail) that passes below Große Gebra mountain through a deep and impenetrable, jungle-like forest of shrubs and bushes. Beyond the forest, the route winds its way through undulating terrain with many ups and downs and enters the world of wide open alpine pastures again. Bear left at a fork and gently ascend over wetlands (follow the wooden pegs in the ground) to gain another ridge (all in all, you will gain some elevation on the stretch from the chapel to this ridge). From the ridge a long, steep climb into northeastern direction takes you to a ridge. Turn left shortly below the ridge (slightly downhill), then bear right on the trail that soon resumes its climb through the rugged terrain of Jufenhöhe to Seenieder saddle. Beyond the saddle, a steep plunge takes you down to the Wildsee lake and Wildseeloderhaus hut. After the Bichlalm hut, the walk coincides with Fieberbrunn High Altitude Trail (trail no. 2; later follow trail no. 2 and no. 711), which meanders in wide switchbacks that seem like slight detours.

Tip! At the Gebrakapelle chapel, take a break to admire the magnificent scenery. This area between Leogang and Kitzbühel was a hub of mining for hundreds of years. Today you will still find collapsed mineshafts and ramshackle miners' houses.

Stage 2: Wildseeloderhaus – Fieberbrunn
Uphill/downhill: 40/1,115 vertical metres, walking time: 3.5 hours, distance: 8.8 kilometres, highest point: 1,853 metres

From the Wildseeloderhaus hut, take trail number 711 towards “Lärchfilzkogel”. The trail winds down the steep slope in switchbacks until you reach the basin around the Wildalm hut. From there, follow the signs for “Lärchfilzkogel Bergstation” and climb this trail for a short distance to a saddleback. Continue ahead on trail number 711 that winds down to the ski resort through larch groves on a dirt road. Pass the “Berggasthof Wildalpgatterl” mountain inn to the left and proceed to the mid-way station of the Streuböden gondola and the Streubödenalm (right next to the gondola station). Follow signage for “Lauchsee” and turn left after a short distance (“Lauchsee”), passing the reservoir used for the snowmaking facilities, on your way to the wetlands (“Lauchsee”). Soon you will get to a farmstead, where you cross an access road in the direction of “Fieberbrunn”. Passing above a tiny bog to the right, walk towards the village of Fieberbrunn that can be seen from afar. On this nice ramble on a paved road you will pass the Lauchsee swamp lake to your left and reach the church of Fieberbrunn. Walk down to the community centre between church and parsonage. From Fieberbrunn you can get to Kitzbühel by bus or train.

Tip! When you reach Fieberbrunn, take the opportunity to visit the vicarage with its baroque chapel. The frescoes painted by Matthäus Günther from Bavaria are well worth it.