Short Information:
- Where is the Dr. Vogelgesang-Klamm located? The Dr. Vogelgesang-Klamm is approximately 30 minutes northwest of the Gesäuse National Park. Address: Grünau 10, 4582 Spital am Pyhrn
- How long does a hike through the gorge take? Approximately 1.5 hours
- Is there an entrance fee for the Dr. Vogelgesang-Klamm? About €5.7, you can purchase tickets on-site or here in advance
- Opening hours? May to October 31st
Weekdays: 7:30 am – 6:00 pm
Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays: 7:00 am – 6:00 pm. From November 1st to the end of April, the gorge is closed due to winter maintenance. - How difficult is the hiking trail through the gorge? The hike is easy to moderate and suitable for children. The trail offers a family-friendly environment for exploration and discovery. It is not suitable for strollers. Dogs are allowed, but owners should be aware that some dogs may have difficulty with the open wooden steps.
General
The Dr. Vogelgesang-Klamm is the longest gorge in Upper Austria and the second longest in Austria! It offers a fascinating natural spectacle with cascading water in a wild and romantic rock gorge. The gorge attracts approximately 30,000 visitors annually.
Getting There
To reach the Dr. Vogelgesang-Klamm, take the A9 Pyhrnautobahn and exit at Spital am Pyhrn. Turn left and drive through the town of Spital am Pyhrn. After about 100 meters past the town’s outskirts, just before the Panorama-Hallenbad (indoor pool), turn right onto Sandstraße. Follow this road along the Trattenbach for approximately 2 kilometers until you reach the Grünau district, and then follow the signs.
Alternatively, you can take the B138 from Windischgarsten towards Spital am Pyhrn. After the Panorama-Hallenbad, turn left onto Sandstraße and follow the Trattenbach until you reach the Grünau district. Here, you will also find signs directing you to the Dr. Vogelgesang-Klamm.
If you prefer public transportation, you can take the ÖBB-Postbus (Line 911) or the Postbus (Line 430) to the Spital am Pyhrn Hauptplatz stop. From there, it takes about 30 minutes to walk to the entrance of the gorge.
There are 150 parking spaces available, including 3 bus parking spaces, providing convenient parking for your exploration of the Dr. Vogelgesang-Klamm. We drove directly to the last parking lot, #1.
The Hike
From the parking lot, a approximately 1.2 km long, wide, and gravel forest path leads you to the ticket office, where the over 1.5 km long gorge begins. You don’t need to worry about getting lost, as there is only one trail.
Immediately behind the ticket office, you’ll encounter an impressive waterfall. The hiking trail winds in an elegant curve before disappearing between the rocks. The rock walls come closer together, creating a fascinating natural landscape. On your way up, you’ll conquer about 500 wooden and stone steps, providing a unique hiking experience.
The gorge is suitable for hikers with good fitness and experience, but children and older individuals can also manage it as long as they are able to walk well. The path ascends almost continuously, but the beauty of the surroundings is truly impressive.
At the end of the gorge, you’ll be greeted by another beautiful waterfall before reaching the exit of the gorge at the long-distance hiking trail E 601 via Alpina.
For the return journey, you have two options: you can either walk back through the gorge or take the asphalt access road, which can be partially shortened. We chose the second option. Since the day is still young, we will visit the Gleinkersee, which is only 20 minutes away.
The History
The Dr. Vogelgesang-Klamm was named in honor of Dr. Moritz Vogelgesang, the former municipal doctor of Spital am Pyhrn and chairman of the beautification association. In 1906, the gorge was partially made accessible, but it was destroyed by a flood in 1908. Between 1926 and 1927, the entire rock gorge was developed by the municipality of Spital am Pyhrn for hikers. The stairs and walkways were carefully constructed to ensure a safe and impressive experience for visitors. In 2006, the gorge celebrated its 100th anniversary.