E4 (alpin) Fernwanderweg (Bereich Lofer/Steinberge)

The E4 (alpin) Fernwanderweg through the Lofer and Steinberge area is the Austrian alpine variant of Europe's 12,090 km E4 long-distance path, a point-to-point route in Salzburg and Tyrol. Crossing the rugged Loferer Steinberge limestone massif, with around 1,000-1,400 m of climbing per stage, it is a demanding alpine walk rewarded by karst plateaus and big-mountain views.

About the E4 (alpin) Fernwanderweg (Bereich Lofer/Steinberge)

The European long-distance path E4 is, at roughly 12,090 kilometres, by far the longest of all the European Ramblers Association's marked routes. It runs from Cabo de São Vicente in Portugal to Acheleia on Cyprus, passing through eleven countries: Spain, France, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece and Cyprus. The section described here is one of the most spectacular fragments of the whole network: the alpine variant (Alpenvariante) as it crosses the Loferer Steinberge, a compact limestone massif on the Salzburg-Tyrol border near the village of Lofer.

Where the E4 reaches the German-Austrian alpine border region, the route splits into two difficulty grades. A gentler pre-alpine variant follows the foothills and largely coincides with Bavaria's Maximiliansweg, while the true alpin line climbs onto the high karst of the Northern Limestone Alps (Nördliche Kalkalpen). Around Lofer the trail leaves the Saalach valley and works up into the Loferer Steinberge, a fortress-like plateau whose highest summit, the Großes Ochsenhorn, reaches 2,511 metres. The massif is small in footprint but dramatic in profile, ringed by sheer walls and dotted with the sinkholes, runnels and bare pavement typical of high alpine karst.

Because this is a stage of a continental route rather than a self-contained named trek, there is no single official distance for "the Lofer section" — hikers usually treat it as a two- to three-day passage linking the Saalach valley with the neighbouring Leoganger Steinberge and the Kitzbühel Alps. The route is operated, like the rest of the E4, by the European Ramblers Association, and on the ground it is waymarked with the standard Austrian red-white-red blazes plus E4 plates. The walking is genuine mountain terrain: exposed paths, fixed cables in places, and long carries between water sources. Planning matters, and tools like the day-by-day route planner on HikeLoad make it far easier to balance ascent, distance and food across the alpine stages.

Route Overview & Stages

The table below gives an indicative breakdown of the alpine variant as it crosses the Lofer / Steinberge area. Exact figures vary with the huts you choose and whether you take the over-the-top karst line or the lower traverse; treat the distances as planning estimates rather than surveyed totals.

Add a rest day for a side ascent of the Ochsenhorn or a fossil-hunting detour onto the Steinplatte, and the Lofer section comfortably fills three to four days.

Highlights & Points of Interest

• Großes Ochsenhorn (2,511 m) — the highest summit of the Loferer Steinberge and the natural high point of the crossing, with a 360-degree view over the Leoganger Steinberge, the Kitzbühel Alps and the distant Hohe Tauern.
• Schmidt-Zabierow-Hütte (1,966 m) — the only staffed refuge inside the massif, run by the German Alpine Club (DAV), and the logical overnight base for the high traverse.
• Lofer village — a classic Pinzgau market town in the Saalach valley, the gateway to the massif and the place to resupply before heading up.
• Steinplatte (1,869 m) — a famous fossilised Triassic coral reef on the western edge near Waidring, where the limestone story of these mountains becomes visible underfoot.
• Lamprechtshöhle — one of the largest accessible water caves in the world, in the Saalach gorge just south of Lofer, a worthwhile valley-day detour.
• Karst plateau (Steinernes Meer-style pavement) — the bare, sculpted limestone tableland between the peaks, riddled with sinkholes and dolines and devoid of surface water.
• Reifhorn and Mitterhorn — the secondary summits that frame the central plateau, popular objectives for an extra scrambling half-day.
• Saalach gorge (Vorderkaserklamm / Seisenbergklamm) — narrow water-carved ravines near St. Martin bei Lofer, ideal for a low-altitude rest day if weather closes the tops.

Best Time to Hike the E4 (alpin) Fernwanderweg (Bereich Lofer/Steinberge)

This is high karst terrain, so the season is short. The Schmidt-Zabierow-Hütte and the staffed alpine infrastructure typically operate from mid-June to late September, and that window defines the practical hiking season. Snow can linger on north-facing ledges and in the plateau sinkholes well into June, while the first serious snowfalls arrive in October.

June brings long daylight and green pastures but a real chance of residual snowfields on the exposed traverses near the Ochsenhorn. July and August are the most reliable for dry rock and open huts, at the cost of frequent afternoon thunderstorms — common across the Northern Limestone Alps and a genuine hazard on an exposed karst plateau with no shelter. The single best month is September: as of 2026 the established pattern in this part of Salzburg and Tyrol is for settled high-pressure spells, cool stable air, fewer storms, crisp visibility and far quieter huts than in the school-holiday peak. Start early each day regardless of month, watch the forecast closely, and turn back rather than commit to the cabled sections in a building storm.

Practical Information

Accommodation

The cornerstone of the high route is the Schmidt-Zabierow-Hütte (1,966 m), a DAV refuge offering bunk-room and mattress-camp sleeping plus a kitchen. Expect roughly €18-28 per night in the dorm for Alpine Club members and around €30-40 for non-members, with a hot evening meal in the €15-22 range and breakfast around €10. Joining an Alpine Club (ÖAV/DAV) before your trip pays for itself quickly and also brings rescue insurance. In the valley, Lofer, Waidring and St. Martin bei Lofer have guesthouses and pensions from about €60-90 for a double, plus several campsites charging roughly €10-18 per person. Camping wild on the plateau is legally restricted and impractical given the lack of water; plan to sleep at the hut or descend.

Getting There & Back

The natural arrival airport is Salzburg (SZG), about a one-hour drive or 1.5-hour bus ride from Lofer; Munich (MUC) is a larger alternative roughly two hours away. There is no railway station in Lofer itself — the nearest mainline stations are Saalfelden and Zell am See on the Salzburg-Innsbruck corridor, from where regular Postbus services (line 260 and connections) run into the Saalach valley to Lofer and Waidring in around 40-60 minutes. From the western end near Waidring you can return by bus toward St. Johann in Tirol and pick up the rail network there. Check live timetables on the national operator ÖBB before travelling, as mountain bus frequencies thin out in the shoulder season.

Permits & Fees

No permit is required to walk the E4 or to enter the Loferer Steinberge — Austria's open-access tradition applies to alpine terrain. There are no entry gates or trail fees. Your only fixed costs are hut overnights and meals, optional cable-car or gorge entry fees (the Lamprechtshöhle and the klamms charge a few euros), and any guiding you arrange for the more exposed scrambling lines. Confirm route and hut status with the route authority, the European Ramblers Association, and with the hut directly before you set out.

Gear & Packing List

Karst alpine walking is hard on feet and demands self-sufficiency in water, since the plateau holds no surface streams. Carry at least 2-3 litres and refill at the hut. Stiff B-grade approach or mountain boots, trekking poles, a helmet and gloves for the cabled sections, a windproof shell and a warm midlayer are non-negotiable even in midsummer; storms drop temperatures fast at 2,000 m. Because you can use the hut for shelter and food, this is an ideal route for a lightweight pack. A frameless or minimal-frame load between 35 and 55 litres is plenty for a hut-to-hut traverse — see our roundup of the best ultralight backpacks of 2026 for tested options.

• For a fast-and-light hut trip: the 2400 Windrider (40 L) keeps weight down while shedding rain on the exposed plateau.
• For a slightly bigger carry with extra food and layers: the 3400 Windrider (55 L).
• For day-pack-style scrambling on the Ochsenhorn: the ADV Skin 12 vest pack carries water and an extra layer close to the body.

Plan your daily food carefully — sustained ascent at altitude burns through energy, and our guide to how many calories you need hiking a full day helps you avoid under-packing.

Similar Trails You Might Like

If the limestone drama of the Loferer Steinberge appeals, Austria has a wealth of comparable alpine traverses to chain onto your E4 journey. The high-altitude classics below all share the same hut-to-hut rhythm and big-mountain scenery, from the granite Stubai to the Karwendel ridges of Tyrol.

• Stubaier Höhenweg — a demanding glacier-fringed circuit in the Stubai Alps.
• Berliner Höhenweg Zustieg Ahornbahn — the Zillertal high route's approach from the Ahornbahn.
• Adlerweg — Tyrol's signature long-distance "Eagle Walk" across the Karwendel and beyond.
• JK01 — a 720 km Austrian long-distance route for serious thru-hikers.
• JK02 — its 720 km companion line, another big multi-week undertaking.

For a complete change of scenery, our guide on how to hike the Theth to Valbona trail in Albania covers another spectacular limestone crossing further south in the Balkans.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to hike the E4 through the Lofer / Steinberge area?
The season runs from mid-June to late September, when the Schmidt-Zabierow-Hütte is staffed and the karst is mostly snow-free. July and August are warmest but stormy, while September offers the most stable, settled weather and the quietest huts, making it the single best month for the high traverse.

How difficult is this alpine variant?
It is a genuinely demanding alpine route. The path is exposed in places, includes fixed-cable sections near the Großes Ochsenhorn (2,511 m), and crosses waterless karst with significant daily ascent. Sure-footedness, a head for heights, a helmet and settled weather are essential; it is not suitable for inexperienced mountain walkers.

How far do you walk per day?
Expect roughly 7 to 12 kilometres per stage, but distance tells only part of the story. With 750 to 1,150 metres of climbing on the steep valley-to-hut and plateau days, on rough limestone terrain, six to eight hours of walking is normal. Build in extra time for the cabled sections and for storm avoidance.

What accommodation is available on the route?
The Schmidt-Zabierow-Hütte (1,966 m) is the only high refuge inside the massif, offering dorm beds from about €18-28 for Alpine Club members plus meals. In the valley, Lofer, Waidring and St. Martin bei Lofer have guesthouses from €60-90 a double and campsites around €10-18 per person. Book the hut ahead in summer.

Do I need a permit or pay any fees?
No permit is needed — Austria's open-access laws cover alpine hiking, and there are no trail or entry fees for the E4. Your only costs are hut overnights and meals, optional cave and gorge entry fees of a few euros, and any guiding. Joining the ÖAV or DAV reduces hut rates and adds rescue insurance.