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Are you a friend of hiking and like water? Then a hike in the Garnitzenklamm is just right for you. The Garnitzenklamm offers you exciting and varied hiking tours.
Once you are on the Garnitzenklamm hiking trail, the adventure begins. The route runs exclusively along the water, so that you can admire beautiful small waterfalls and natural spectacles between water and stone the whole time.
However, there are also quieter spots where you can build dams or climb over rocks in the water.
Location and directions to Garnitzenklamm
The Garnitzenklamm is located in the south of the town of Hermagor in Kärnten. You can reach it via the Eggeralmstraße. The entrance to the gorge is in a curve shortly after you have crossed the Garnitzenbach. You can park directly on the street at the entrance to the gorge or in a parking lot above the entrance.
Opening hours and entrance fees
Depending on the weather, the Garnitzenklamm is open from the end of May to the end of September from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Admission is €5.30 for adults and €2 for children. If you are a member of the Alpine Club, you only pay 4€.
The income from the Garnitzenklamm is used exclusively for path maintenance.
hiking in the Garnitzenklamm
The Garnitzenklamm hiking trail is 4.5 km long and divided into four sections. The first two sections are ideal for a leisurely hike. The further path is rather demanding and suitable for experienced climbers.
I would recommend hiking to the end of the second section of the Garnitzenklamm. You need about 1.5 hours for this. The second section ends at the fifth bridge.
From here you simply walk right up the Steinwenderweg to the street. There you keep to the right and after a short time turn right onto the hiking trail in the direction of St. Urbani.
At the next fork in the path you can decide whether you want to hike to the small St. Urbani church. If you don’t want to see the small chapel, just continue along the wide hiking trail.
The small St. Urbani church with a beautiful view
If you have decided to take the path towards St. Urbani, a short, quite steep climb awaits you, but also a wonderful view of the Garnitzenklamm. You will also find the idyllic little St. Urbani church there, which is located in the middle of a large rock in the forest.
Behind the church, a small path leads you back to the main path.
The hike back to the parking lot
When you are back on the main path, a pleasant rest of the hike awaits you. Along the way you can find one or the other raspberry or blackberry bush. After some time, the hiking trail leads back to the Eggeralmstraße, which you only have to walk up to get to the parking lot.
A trip to the Egger Alm
After the hike, I definitely recommend that you drive up the Eggeralmstraße to the Egger Alm. The road consists of many tight switchbacks, which is why the ascent is a bit daring and takes about 15 minutes. When you have arrived at the top of the Eggeralm, a beautiful, traditional alpine settlement awaits you at an altitude of around 1,400 meters.
Here you can watch free-roaming cows and eat deliciously in the Almgasthaus ‘Zur alten Käserei’ – we had a delicious Kaiserschmarren.
My conclusion
– a fantastic and varied hike
– Sturdy shoes are required
– a circular hiking trail is possible
– various tours from 40 minutes to 2 ¾ hours (one way)
– Different levels of difficulty of the hike
– You should take food with you, as there are no rest stops on the tour described
A trip to the Garnitzenklamm is an unforgettable sporting adventure, pure nature and a great experience for young and old!
You can find a small selection of fantastic accommodations in Hermagor and the surrounding area right here (affiliate links):
Dobringer’s Chalet Village Warös in Hermagor
Apartment house Dual-2 in Hermagor
Hotel Samerhof in Tropolach
Falkensteiner Hotel & Spa Carinzia in Troepolach
Other recommended destinations in Austria:
