{"id":2,"date":"2016-11-10T09:33:15","date_gmt":"2016-11-10T08:33:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/luchstrail.flywheelsites.com\/?page_id=2"},"modified":"2026-10-15T08:38:59","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T06:38:59","slug":"durch-oesterreichs-wilde-mitte","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/luchstrail.at\/en\/","title":{"rendered":"Through the wild heart of Austria."},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n Servus TV\n <\/h1>\n \n

\n Out and about on the Luchs Trail\n <\/h2>\n <\/header>\n \n \n \n
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https:\/\/luchstrail.at\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/Der_luchs_trail_durch_die_wilde_mitte_Oesterreichs-720p-1.mp4<\/a><\/video><\/div>\n\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n
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\n Lynx Trail\n <\/h3>\n \n

\n Hiking where the lynxes live.\n <\/h1>\n <\/header>\n \n
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\n A long-distance hiking trail \u2013 launching in 2026 \u2013 will link three of Austria\u2019s internationally recognised major protected areas across thirteen stages: the Kalkalpen National Park, the Ges\u00e4use National Park and the D\u00fcrrenstein-Lassingtal Wilderness Area. The Luchs Trail thus runs not only through three federal states, but also through the country\u2019s largest contiguous forest area \u2013 the home of the lynx.
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\r\nAfter the shy wildcat had been all but wiped out in Europe, it has managed to regain a foothold \u2013 or rather, a paw \u2013 here.
\r\nThe Luchs Trail is a declaration of love. A love of unspoilt forests, biodiversity and wilderness. The impressive beech forests in these protected areas have therefore been designated by UNESCO as Austria\u2019s first World Natural Heritage Site. But the Luchs Trail is also a declaration of love for strong calves. After all, there are over 12,000 metres of elevation gain and 250 kilometres to cover across a total of thirteen daily stages.\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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\n Official Luchs Trail Information and Booking Centre\n <\/h1>\n \n

\n With an award-winning hiking service\n <\/h2>\n <\/header>\n \n
\n An official booking centre has been set up for the Luchs Trail to offer walkers an unforgettable hiking experience with first-class services. The official Luchs Trail Information & Booking Centre, staffed by the award-winning Trail Angels team, will be happy to assist you with planning and booking. Whether you\u2019re an experienced hiker, a backpacker or hiking from hut to hut, you\u2019re in excellent hands with the knowledgeable and helpful booking centre team.
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\r\nGood to know \u2013 the lynx benefit too: the Official Booking Centre donates \u20ac10 to the national parks for every booking. This money is used for monitoring and protecting the animals!\n <\/div>\n \n \n
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Your personalised walking holiday begins with your first click \u2013 a summary of useful information: <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Top Offers<\/a><\/p>\n

Plan & book a walking holiday<\/a> <\/p>\n

Hiking Service at a Glance<\/a> <\/p>\n

Brochure available for download<\/a> <\/p>\n

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Book the trail now.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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\n Lynx Trail\n <\/h2>\n\n \n Interactive map\n <\/a>\n <\/header>\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/article>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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\n The protected areas\n <\/h1>\n \n <\/header>\n \n
\n The Luchs Trail leads from the Kalkalpen National Park into the Ges\u00e4use National Park and from there on into the D\u00fcrrenstein-Lassingtal wilderness area. Parts of the area form part of Austria\u2019s first UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site (beech forests). The \n <\/div>\n \n \n
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Kalkalpen National Park<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In the Kalkalpen National Park<\/a> The Luchs Trail begins here. It is situated in the Upper Austrian Pre-Alps and covers an area of over 20,000 hectares. This makes it Austria\u2019s second-largest national park. The protected area in the Kalkalpen stretches across two mountain ranges, the Sengsen and Reichraminger Hintergebirge, the highest point of which is the Hoher Nock at 1,963 metres.<\/p>\n

The national park was established in 1997, and the following year it received international recognition from the IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature.<\/p>\n

It is not without reason that the nature reserve is regarded as the<\/em> Austria\u2019s National Forest Park. Over 80 % of the National Park\u2019s area in the Kalkalpen consists of forest. This makes it the country\u2019s largest contiguous forest area. Whilst natural beech forests in Europe have been reduced to just a few areas, and are mostly confined to small patches there, the beech dominates the forest landscape of the Kalkalpen.<\/p>\n

Find out more<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Ges\u00e4use National Park<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Ges\u00e4use National Park<\/a> This is the second protected area that you enter along the Luchs Trail and subsequently hike through. Upon crossing the Haller Mauern, you cross the border from Upper Austria into Styria and enter the Ennstal Alps. Like the mountains of the Kalkalpen National Park, they form part of the Northern Kalkalpen. Covering 12,000 hectares, the Ges\u00e4use National Park is Austria\u2019s third-largest national park; its highest peak stands at 2,369 metres. The Hochtor is therefore also the highest peak in the Ennstal Alps. And the Ges\u00e4use has yet another superlative to boast: it is Austria\u2019s youngest national park. It was founded in 2002, and the following year it was recognised by the IUCN as a Category II national park.<\/p>\n

And although the Ges\u00e4use is situated in Upper Styria, some people feel as though they are in Tyrol \u2013 such is the sheer grandeur of the mountains. Steep cliffs, as if drawn with a ruler. Rock faces that can easily rival those of the Dolomites. It is this impressive alpine terrain that has always held a fascination and was already swept up in the spirit of alpinism at the turn of the century. Alpine history was written here.<\/p>\n

Find out more<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

D\u00fcrrenstein-Lassingtal Wilderness Area<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Kalkalpen National Park has the forest, the Ges\u00e4use has rock and water. The third \u2013 and final \u2013 protected area along the Luchs Trail can hold its own despite the high standards set by the others. And how! Because the D\u00fcrrenstein-Lassingtal Wilderness Area<\/a> is home to the Rothwald, the largest primeval forest in Central Europe. It lies partly in south-western Lower Austria, in the Mostviertel, and partly in Styria, in the Salza and Lassing valleys. When one thinks of the Mostviertel, one might initially picture leisurely walking trails, gently rolling hills and \u2013 of course \u2013 fruit and cider. But it also has an alpine side. Gorges and caves, cliffs and primeval forests. All of this can be found in the wilderness area, which covers 7,000 hectares. Around half of this is made up of ancient mixed red beech forests and is protected by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage Site.<\/p>\n

The wilderness area is subject to the strictest protection measures and a requirement to stay on designated paths in order to preserve these ancient forests. It was officially designated in 2002, recognised by the IUCN as a Category I \u201eWilderness Area\u201c in 2003, and expanded by 3,500 hectares in Styria in 2020 to its current total area of 7,000 hectares.<\/p>\n

Find out more<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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\n Offers \n <\/h1>\n

\n By booking these offers, you\u2019re helping to support the conservation of the lynx population in the Kalkalpen. The Trail Angels donate \u20ac10 per booking towards this cause!\n <\/h3>\n <\/header>\n\n
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\n \"Wanderung\n <\/div>\n\n
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\n Green Spirit\n <\/h4>\n <\/div>\n\n
\n \n Personalised walking holiday with 6 stages from \u20ac799\n <\/div>\n \n
Find out more<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/a>\n \n
\n \"Luchsweibchen\n <\/div>\n\n
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\n On the trail of the lynx\n <\/h4>\n <\/div>\n\n
\n \n Hiking tour with wildlife spotting from \u20ac797\n <\/div>\n \n
Find out more<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/a>\n \n
\n \"Hoch\n <\/div>\n\n
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\n The whole trail without luggage\n <\/h4>\n <\/div>\n\n
\n \n Tailor-made walking holiday with 11 stages from \u20ac1,350\n <\/div>\n \n
Find out more<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/a>\n \n
\n \"Ausblick\n <\/div>\n\n
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\n Wilderness walking with a cultural twist\n <\/h4>\n <\/div>\n\n
\n \n Tailor-made walking holiday with 4 stages from \u20ac646\n <\/div>\n \n
Find out more<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/a>\n \n
\n \"Waldbild\"\n <\/div>\n\n
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\n Indian Summer\n <\/h4>\n <\/div>\n\n
\n \n Tailor-made walking holiday in 3 stages from \u20ac380\n <\/div>\n \n
Find out more<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/a>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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\n NEWS\n <\/h1>\n

\n Better not to miss a thing.\n <\/h3>\n <\/header>\n\n
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\n Luchs Trail Concert Tour 2026 with Somerset Barnard\n <\/h4>\n <\/div>\n \n \n
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\n New from 2026: two new sections on the Luchs Trail\n <\/h4>\n <\/div>\n \n
\n More news<\/a>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Luchs Trail passes through three international protected areas: the D\u00fcrrenstein-Lassingtal Wilderness Area, the Ges\u00e4use National Park and the Kalkalpen National Park<\/p>","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":-1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"templates\/frontpage.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nLuchs Trail | Luchstrail im Ges\u00e4use<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Ein neuer Weitwanderweg verbindet auf elf Etappen gleich drei international anerkannte Gro\u00dfschutzgebiete \u00d6sterreichs miteinander.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/luchstrail.at\/en\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" 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