Ennstal Alps

The Ennstaler Alpen rise in the northern limestone belt of the Alps, stretching across Styria and Upper Austria. The range frames the Enns valley, where the river cuts deep gorges through grey limestone. To the west the Pyhrn Pass marks the boundary, while to the east the Mur valley closes the horizon. Three great passes—Pyhrn, Hengst and Windischgarsten—guard the approaches from the north. Along the southern edge the Palten and Liesing valleys drop toward the Mur basin. The Gesäuse, the most celebrated stretch of the Enns valley, draws walkers to sheer rock walls and alpine meadows. Within the Gesäuse the Buchstein, Reichenstein and Hochtor groups rise above 2,200 metres, their summits catching the first light of dawn. The river itself tumbles through a narrow gorge, forcing the main road and railway into tunnels and bridges. Nearby the Reiting massif and Kaiserschild tower over old mining towns such as Eisenerz, once centres of iron working. Visitors find villages like Admont and Hieflau at the valley floor, where guesthouses stand beside the railway line. Trails climb from Johnsbach into the Buchstein Group, passing alpine pastures where cattle graze in summer. From St. Gallen a path leads to the Lugauer summit, offering views across the Gesäuse’s jagged ridges. In winter the same slopes hold ski routes, while the Enns remains a working river, its water power harnessed downstream.