Bärenschützklamm

The Bärenschützklamm is a narrow limestone gorge carved by the Mixnitzbach stream in the Graz Highlands of the Austrian Central Alps. It lies about a kilometre east of the village of Mixnitz in the municipality of Pernegg an der Mur. The gorge was formed over centuries by the creek, which begins at 1,416 metres above sea level and flows through a small lake before dropping as a series of waterfalls. It is now a protected natural monument, part of the IUCN-recognised Almenland landscape. The gorge is worth the journey for its dramatic scenery and the engineering of its walking route. A 1.3-kilometre trail winds through the canyon on wooden bridges and 164 ladders, climbing a total of 350 metres in about an hour and a half. The route was first built in 1901 by the Grazer Alpen Club and has long attracted around 40,000 visitors each year. After a rockfall in July 2020 killed three people, the gorge was closed until September 2024 while safety work and repairs were carried out. Visitors now find a carefully maintained path with new steel safety nets above some sections and freshly inspected bridges and ladders. At the top of the gorge there are two restaurants and choices of return routes, including a hiking path called the Prügelweg or a route to Hochlantsch mountain. The surrounding area offers views of the Alpine landscape and the restored infrastructure helps manage the flow of walkers through the canyon.