Via Alpina Purple A15

The Via Alpina Purple A15 is a point-to-point day stage of the Via Alpina Purple Trail — one of the world's great long-distance hiking routes — running through the rolling hills and forested ridges of Styria, Austria, between the villages of Soboth and Eibiswald. Part of the International Walking Network (IWN), this stage threads through southern Austrian countryside characterised by wide meadows, dense beech forests and quiet rural lanes, making it a rewarding and accessible day's walk in the Eastern Alps.

About the Via Alpina Purple A15

The Via Alpina Purple Trail is one of the most ambitious long-distance hiking routes in Europe, traversing the full breadth of the Alps across eight countries from Trieste in Slovenia to Monaco in Monaco — a total of 66 daily stages. Stage A15 sits within the Austrian section, which alone covers nine of Austria's ten national long-distance hiking routes and crosses the federal states of Carinthia and Styria before continuing north into Upper Austria and Salzburg.

This particular stage, from Soboth to Eibiswald, follows the characteristic landscape of the Austrian section of the Via Alpina — gentler and more pastoral than the high-alpine stages further west, yet undeniably beautiful in its own understated way. Soboth sits at the southern edge of the Koralpe mountain range in Styria, a plateau area popular with local hikers but rarely visited by international trekkers. Eibiswald, the stage endpoint, is a small market town in the Sulm valley with good bus connections toward Graz.

Because the Purple Trail was designed as a multi-week journey rather than a single-day adventure, understanding how A15 fits into the larger arc is essential. Hikers walking the complete Purple Trail will arrive in Soboth having crossed from Carinthia, and will leave Eibiswald the following morning heading north and east toward the Schöckel and beyond. Those hiking A15 as a standalone day walk will find it a manageable, mostly below-treeline route suited to intermediate hikers who enjoy forest paths and village-hopping more than exposed ridge walking.

The Via Alpina association is coordinated internationally, and as of 2026 the Austrian stages remain waymarked with the distinctive purple rhombus markers. Signage in this area is generally reliable, but carrying a downloaded GPX track is advisable on the less-frequented southern Styrian stages where trail maintenance can lag behind the more tourist-heavy western sections.

Route Overview & Stages

Stage A15 is a single day-stage within the 66-stage Purple Trail. The table below contextualises A15 alongside its immediate neighbours so you can plan how to connect stages. Distances and elevation figures for adjacent stages are drawn from the official Via Alpina Purple Trail documentation; the specific figures for A15 itself were not verifiable from primary sources at the time of publication and are therefore not listed — a deliberate omission rather than an estimate.

Practical recommendation: Most through-hikers will walk A15 in a single day, but if you are combining stages for a longer circuit from Graz, consider breaking at Eibiswald and continuing to Deutschlandsberg (A16) rather than pushing further — Eibiswald has limited evening dining options and an early onward bus makes a morning start far more comfortable. Walking the Austrian stages from east to west (toward Salzburg) rather than the reverse gives you better light on the westward ridges in the morning and places you in towns rather than countryside at end of day.

Highlights & Points of Interest

• Soboth Plateau: The trail begins on the elevated Soboth plateau, a broad upland area straddling the Carinthia–Styria border at around 1,000 m. The views south into Slovenia on a clear morning are surprisingly expansive — this is the best viewpoint on the stage, so do not rush through it.
• Koralpe Foothills: A15 skirtsthe eastern slopes of the Koralpe massif, a long ridge rising to 2,140 m. The Koralpe is best known locally for its winter skiing at the Weinebene, but in summer the forested lower flanks crossed by A15 are quiet and wild.
• Southern Styrian Beech Forests: A large portion of this stage passes through mature beech forest — striking in early autumn when the leaves turn copper and gold, and pleasantly cool on hot summer days. This is habitat for red deer and the occasional wild boar.
• Sulm Valley Farmland: As the trail descends toward Eibiswald, it opens into the broad agricultural floor of the Sulm valley, a landscape of pumpkin fields, apple orchards and roadside farm stalls. Styrian pumpkin seed oil (Kürbiskernöl) is a regional speciality sold in almost every village shop.
• Eibiswald Market Town: The stage endpoint is a modest but characterful Styrian market town with a central square (Marktplatz), several Gasthäuser and a regular bus connection to Graz. It makes a comfortable overnight stop before continuing on A16.
• Purple Trail Waymarking: On this stage you will encounter the full variety of Via Alpina waymarks — painted purple rhombuses on rocks and trees, combined with Austrian national trail markers (red-white-red strips) on shared sections. These overlapping systems can briefly confuse; follow the purple rhombus wherever it is visible.
• Rural Chapels: Like most of rural Styria, A15 passes small roadside wayside chapels (Wegkapellen), some dating to the 17th century. They are rarely signposted but make excellent short rest points with shade and, occasionally, a water trough.
• Sulm River: Near Eibiswald the trail crosses or parallels the upper Sulm river, a clear chalk-fed stream popular with local anglers. The river confluence gives the final approach to town a pleasant riparian character distinct from the forested mid-stage.

Best Time to Hike the Via Alpina Purple A15

The A15 stage sits at relatively modest elevations compared to the high-alpine stages of the Via Alpina further west, which makes it accessible over a longer season. That said, the Soboth plateau can hold snow until late April in a heavy winter, and the forested descent trails become muddy and slippery after sustained rain.

Best single month: June. As of 2026, June combines reliable drying conditions after snowmelt, long daylight hours and wildflower-covered meadows on the Soboth plateau before the summer heat sets in. The beech forests are at their most vivid green, and accommodation in Eibiswald is readily available without advance booking.

• May: Possible but the plateau can still be snow-patched in early May. Wildflowers are excellent in the lower valley.
• June: Optimal. Warm days, long light, lush forest. Trails are dry and waymarks clearly visible.
• July–August: Fine weather but the forest section can feel muggy. Afternoon thunderstorms are common over the Koralpe — start early and aim to be below the ridge by 14:00.
• September: Arguably the most beautiful month. Cooler temperatures, dramatically lower crowds, and the beech forest begins its autumn colour change from mid-September onward. The Sulm valley pumpkin harvest is in full swing.
• October: Increasingly unpredictable. Early October is still pleasant; late October brings rain and the risk of early snow on the Soboth plateau. Most Gasthäuser in rural Styria reduce hours or close by late October.
• November–April: Not recommended for casual hikers. Snow, short days and closed accommodation make this section impractical without winter equipment and experience.

If you are planning a thru-hike of the Purple Trail's Austrian section, budget your days so A15 falls on a weekday — weekend bus connections from Eibiswald to Graz are less frequent and some services do not run on Sundays.

Practical Information

Accommodation

Accommodation options on and around this stage are limited compared to the more heavily touristed western Via Alpina stages, but reliable options exist at both endpoints.

• Soboth (stage start): The Gasthof Soboth and the Alpengasthof Soboth are both Styrian-style inns offering simple double rooms from approximately €45–65 per person including breakfast (half-board rates are common). Reservations are recommended in July and August, though out of season you may simply turn up.
• Eibiswald (stage end): Several Gasthäuser in the town centre offer overnight accommodation from around €50–75 per person. The Gasthof Kirchenwirt is centrally located and well-regarded locally. Budget travellers can reach Graz by bus (around 1 hour) and stay in city accommodation if they prefer more options.
• Camping: Wild camping is technically restricted in Styria under Austrian federal law, though informal overnight bivouacking in forests is tolerated by many landowners. Organised campsites in the immediate area are sparse; the nearest established campsite is in the Sulm valley near Eibiswald (seasonal, basic facilities).
• Mountain huts: A15 does not pass a DAV or OAV-affiliated mountain hut; this is a lower-elevation pastoral stage rather than a high-alpine one. If you are continuing along the trail, huts become more frequent from A20 onward in the Dachstein region.

Getting There & Back

To Soboth (stage start): Soboth is most easily reached by car via the B69 road from Wolfsberg (Carinthia) or from Eibiswald itself — the stage can thus be walked car-to-car as a one-way route with a second vehicle. By public transport, the Postbus service from Eibiswald or Wolfsberg serves Soboth on weekdays; the journey from Eibiswald takes approximately 30–40 minutes. Check ÖBB's journey planner for current timetables as rural Styrian bus schedules change seasonally.

From Eibiswald (stage end): Eibiswald has a regular Postbus connection to Leibnitz (approximately 25 minutes) where you can connect to the ÖBB main line to Graz Hauptbahnhof (a further 25–30 minutes by train). Total travel time from Eibiswald to Graz is around 60–90 minutes by public transport. Nearest international airport: Graz Airport (GRZ), approximately 55 km from Eibiswald by car or 75 minutes by public transport via Leibnitz.

Permits & Fees

No permits or trail fees are required to hike Via Alpina Purple A15. The trail passes over a mix of public footpaths, forestry roads and agricultural land; access is governed by Austrian federal law (Forstgesetz) which generally permits hiking on forestry roads and marked trails. There is no fee to use the Via Alpina waymarked route. Camping on private land requires landowner permission; camping in designated Styrian nature reserves requires advance notification of the regional authority (Naturschutzbehörde).

Gear & Packing List

A15 is a single-day forest and pastoral stage at moderate elevation, which means your gear priorities differ from the high-alpine stages of the Via Alpina. If you are walking only A15 as a standalone day hike, a light 20–30 L daypack is entirely sufficient. If you are thru-hiking the full Purple Trail, a multi-day pack with 40–60 L capacity is more appropriate for carrying several days of supplies through the less-serviced Austrian stages.

For thru-hikers covering multiple Purple Trail stages, an ultralight frameless pack like the Hyperlite Mountain Gear 2400 Windrider (510 g) dramatically reduces cumulative fatigue over a multi-week trail. For those who prefer a more structured alpine pack with a hip-belt load transfer, the Deuter Aircontact Lite 45+10 (1570 g) offers excellent carry comfort over long mountain days, while the Fjällräven Abisko Hike 35 (1300 g) strikes a good balance between weight and durability for moderate multi-day touring through forested stages like A15.

Also pack for this stage specifically:

• Rain layer: The Soboth plateau and Koralpe foothills generate their own localised weather; a packable hardshell is non-negotiable even in summer.
• Trekking poles: The descent from Soboth into the Sulm valley can be steep and slippery after rain; poles are genuinely useful here.
• Water capacity: Water sources in the forest section are infrequent. Carry at least 1.5 L from Soboth and refill where available at farm troughs (look for the Trinkwasser sign).
• Navigation: Download the GPX track from via-alpina.org before you go. Mobile signal is inconsistent in the forested mid-stage section.
• Snacks and calorie planning: Day stages on the Purple Trail typically involve more climbing than maps suggest. For a deep dive on fuelling long hiking days, see our guide on how many calories you need hiking a full day.
• Footwear: Mid-cut waterproof trail shoes or light hiking boots are appropriate. Full-shank mountaineering boots are overkill for A15.

Similar Trails You Might Like

If Via Alpina Purple A15 appeals to you — a pastoral, forested Austrian stage with modest elevation and good public transport links — the following trails in Austria offer a similar character or connect naturally with the Purple Trail network. The Adlerweg, Tyrol's celebrated eagle trail, is more dramatic in terrain but shares the Purple Trail's emphasis on waymarked multi-day stages through authentic Austrian landscape. For something more challenging, the Stubaier Höhenweg (85 km) is a classic alpine circuit through the Stubai Alps west of Innsbruck — longer, higher and more demanding than A15, but an excellent next step for hikers who have found their stride on the gentler eastern Austrian stages. The JK01 (32 km) and JK02 (34 km) are shorter Austrian routes suited to weekend itineraries, while the Berliner Höhenweg Zustieg Ahornbahn offers a compact 2 km connector that opens access to the dramatic Berliner Höhenweg circuit in the Zillertal Alps — a superb add-on for anyone building a longer Austrian hiking tour.

For those willing to travel further afield, the dramatic Theth to Valbona hike in Albania offers a very different but equally rewarding mountain day — high passes, stone-built guesthouses and some of Europe's most unspoilt alpine scenery.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to hike Via Alpina Purple A15?

June is the single best month: trails are dry after snowmelt, daylight is long, and accommodation in Eibiswald is available without advance booking. September is a close second, with cooler temperatures and spectacular autumn colour in the beech forests. Avoid November through April — snow on the Soboth plateau and reduced bus services make this stage impractical outside the main hiking season.

How difficult is Via Alpina Purple A15?

A15 is considered a moderate stage by Via Alpina standards. The terrain is mostly forest paths, pastoral tracks and rural lanes rather than exposed ridges or technical scrambles. The main challenge is the descent from the Soboth plateau into the Sulm valley, which can be steep and muddy after rain. Fit beginners with appropriate footwear and navigation tools will manage this stage comfortably.

How far is it from Soboth to Eibiswald?

The exact distance for A15 has not been independently verified from primary sources and is therefore not listed in this guide — the Via Alpina's own stage data should be your reference. Download the official GPX from via-alpina.org, which gives the precise track length. Most Via Alpina day stages in the Austrian eastern section range between 15 and 25 km, with A15 likely falling in the lower portion of that range given the terrain.

Where do I sleep on Via Alpina Purple A15?

The natural overnight stops are at either endpoint: Soboth (Gasthof Soboth or Alpengasthof Soboth, from around €45–65 per person including breakfast) or Eibiswald (Gasthof Kirchenwirt and other town centre options, from around €50–75 per person). There are no mountain huts on this stage. Budget travellers can continue by Postbus and train to Graz (around 60–90 minutes) for more accommodation choice at lower prices.

Do I need a permit to hike Via Alpina Purple A15?

No permit is required. The Via Alpina Purple Trail is a free, publicly accessible waymarked route. The trail crosses forestry roads and agricultural land governed by Austrian federal law, which permits hiking on marked paths. There is no trail fee, no booking system, and no quota. The only exception is wild camping — overnight camping on private land requires landowner permission under Austrian law.