Hinterthal panoramic loop trail: Alpine pasture loop on the Hochkönig

Hinterthal panorama loop trail: Alpine pasture loop on the Hochkönig with three places to stop for refreshments

The Hinterthal Panorama Loop Trail is a 7.4-kilometer circular hike with 330 meters of elevation gain; plan on about 2.5 hours of pure walking time. The trail starts and ends at the parish church in Hinterthal, a district of Maria Alm am Steinernen Meer. Along the way, you’ll pass three alpine pastures—the Hochmaisalm, Aueralm, and Mußbachalm—which are open to the public in the summer.

The hike begins at the church in Hinterthal. Right next to it, along the stream, there are free parking spaces available. You’ll first walk along the road back to the town entrance, cross the Hochkönig B164 highway there, and come across the first hiking signs after just a few meters. The trail winds uphill to the right of the highway.

After a good hour and a 330-meter climb, you’ll reach the Hochmaisalm at around 1,300 meters. From here on, the trail is mostly flat or downhill. From the alpine pasture, the trail continues to the left along a forest road; signs pointing toward Hinterthal/Aueralm will guide you the entire way.

Next, you’ll reach the Filzensattel, the mountain pass between Hinterthal and Dienten am Hochkönig. Here, walk about 100 meters alongside the state highway and then cross it. The hiking signs are clearly marked at this point as well.

The trail continues to the Aueralm at 1,130 meters. If you add another 15 minutes and 60 meters of elevation gain, you’ll also reach the Mußbachalm at 1,185 meters. From there, hike back down toward Hinterthal to the church to return to the starting point.

Note on the direction of travel: The Hochkönig vacation region describes the loop in the opposite direction—first up Trail 401A to the Aueralm, then along Forest Road 34 to the Filzensattel and the Hochmaisalm, and back via Trail 35. Both directions are signposted throughout. The route described here has the advantage that the ascent comes at the beginning, and there are two places to stop for refreshments in the second half.
Here you’ll find a detailed map of the route.

Directions, parking, and getting there without a car

You’ll find free parking right next to the church in Hinterthal, as well as at the Hochmaisbahn parking lot at the entrance to the town.

You can also reach the starting point without a car: The Hochkönig Hiking Bus connects Maria Alm, Dienten, and Mühlbach, and bus line 620 runs from Saalfelden via Maria Alm and Hinterthal to Dienten am Hochkönig. As a guest, you can use both services for free with the Hochkönig Card, plus the Pinzgau Mobility Ticket for regional buses and trains. You’ll automatically receive the card at check-in at our AlpenParks resorts in the Hochkönig region—one for each family member.

Your accommodations in the Hochkönig Region

There are four AlpenParks properties in the Hochkönig vacation region. At all four, the Hochkönig Card is included in the room rate, and from three of them, you can reach the starting point of this hike in about ten minutes by car.

The Hochkönig Card is valid in Maria Alm, Dienten, and Mühlbach and provides free access to six mountain railways and the hiking bus throughout the region in the summer of 2026.

→ Book a hiking vacation in the Hochkönig region