Brief information about Hochkar:
- What is the Hochkar? The Hochkar is a 1808 m above sea level high mountain massif in the Ybbstal Alps on the border between Lower Austria and Styria.
- Where is it located? The valley station can be found at the following address: Lassing 48, 3345 Hochkar
- What are the highlights? The 360˚ sky tour, hike to the Hochkar summit cross and many other worthwhile hikes.
- When are the chairlift's operating hours and how much does it cost? Here you can find the prices and operating times for Summer and for the Winter.
Due to its proximity, Hochkar is a very popular ski area, especially among Viennese people. With around 20 km of slopes and nine lifts, including six chairlifts, it is the most important winter sports area in Lower Austria.
Since June 2015 at the latest, the mountain massif has also been very popular in summer, when the 360° Skywalk opened. Highlights of the steel structure are a 60-meter-long suspension bridge and an observation platform that protrudes 8.5 meters above the rocks and hovers 120 meters above the abyss at the top.
Reason enough for us to visit Hochkar in summer.
A little tip: make sure you check the weather beforehand. A viewing platform isn't much fun when there are clouds hanging over the peaks.
At 10:00 a.m. we park at the valley station of the cable car. From here we continue on the 4-seater Hochkarbahn. The ride costs €21, but we have our Lower Austria Card with us again, which allows one ride free. In about 10 minutes you are at the mountain station at 1,770 m.
From here there are 3 very popular destinations, namely the Summit cross of Hochkar, the impressive 360˚ sky tour and the Hike to the mountain lake.
Hike to the Hochkar summit cross
You will hardly find an easier way to call yourself a summiteer. From the mountain station you can see the summit cross on the right. The path up takes about 15 minutes on foot and is popular with young and old alike, as it really does not require any special fitness. We easily managed the path with our 3-year-old. The path is well secured and practically safe. Towards the slope the rocks are overgrown with mountain pines.
Accordingly, it can get quite crowded at the summit cross. If you can't find a place at the two picnic benches, you can always sit down on a rock to rest.
360˚ sky tour
To get to the famous viewing platform, you have to turn left from the mountain station. The round trip is about 900 meters. Don't be confused, you can't see it from there, but Lower Austria's highest viewing platform is behind the transmitter mast. It only takes about 10 minutes to get there - first down a concrete path and then up the steps to the top. 60 meter long suspension bridge.
You should not be afraid of heights for the suspension bridge, as you can see through the railings to the 120-meter-deep abyss. But don't worry, nothing can happen, it is very well secured. After the suspension bridge you reach the first natural viewing point on the mountain. From here you have a breathtaking view over the Danube or into the Styrian mountains. From here you continue to the constructed Observation platform at 1,760 metres above sea levelFrom here the view stretches from the Mostviertel across the Danube valley to the Waldviertel and Weinviertel in the north, from the Dürrenstein in the east across the Hochschwab massif to the Dachstein massif in the west. From here you have a view of over a hundred 2000-meter peaks!
From the valley station to the mountain lake
Another recommended hike is this 30-minute tour to the mountain lake, which can even be done with a stroller. Once you have reached the forest road, you hike through the forest past the Latschen-Alm to the crystal-clear mountain lake.
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