Gesäuse National Park is a stunning place to visit 1 hr 40 mins from Graz with car (not so easy with public transport). There is lots to do – rafting and kayaking on the River Enns, hiking in the mountains (some easy flat ones too), climbing, cycling and mountain biking and themed family friendly trails.

One of my favourite hikes is up to Hesshütte (open May 25 – October 26). It’s a moderate 6 km, 3 hour uphill hike (for those used to hiking in the mountains) with an elevation climb of 863 meters. The trail head is near Gasthof Kölblwirt in Johnsbach – useful for a meal afterwards or a place to stay overnight. The public parking place is nearby by a tall yellow tower.

Then follow trail 601 up to the Hesshütte and enjoy the stunning scenery!

At the Hesshütte you can put your feet up in one of their deckchairs or enjoy a warm meal. You can also stay overnight (book in advance) and do the multi day Gesäuse Hüttenrunde tour. You can read more about different hiking routes to Hesshütte and further on in this excellent blog post.

I can also recommend a shorter hike up to Mödlingerhütte (mid May to October) you can either drive up the toll road and walk the last 30 mins or start from Gasthof Donner in Johnsbach up the forest road trail 608 / 601 in 2 hours. Add a short extension along the ridge past Mödlingerhütte, a small pond, up some rocks to the cross with stunning views down the valley.

Ebneralm is also a pretty Gasthaus (weekends mid-May to October or weekdays in good weather) reachable by forest road and then a turning, trail 85/669 or a stepper but quicker trail up through the woods.

You can do this as part of the Johnsbacher Almenrunde, which is mostly on flat paths so family friendly through alpine pasture stopping at small huts for refreshment, a good part of the way is also suitable for bikes (up to Huberalm). There is a good description for the whole 10 km 3.5 hr hike here.

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