The best hiking routes in Ober- und Mittellauf der Mur mit Puxer Auwald, Puxer Wand und Gulsen

Ober- und Mittellauf der Mur mit Puxer Auwald, Puxer Wand und Gulsen offers a stark contrast between lush riverine wetlands and dry, rocky slopes. Along the valley floor, the Mur river shapes a damp landscape of alluvial forests, known as the Puxer Auwald, where the underfoot conditions consist of soft earth, leaf litter, and gravelly riverbanks. This is a low-lying, shaded environment dominated by grey alders and willows, where the sound of moving water is constant.

Immediately above this wet valley floor, the terrain changes abruptly as you reach the Puxer Wand and the Gulsen. The Puxer Wand is a steep, pale limestone cliff face that rises sharply from the greenery, featuring natural caves built into the rock. Further along, the Gulsen presents a completely different geological character, composed of dark, heavy serpentine rock. This specific rock type limits plant growth, resulting in a sparse, open pine forest with specialized red-brown soils and rare ferns underfoot, rather than the thick undergrowth found near the river.

Walkers should expect a mix of flat, damp riverside tracks and steep, stony paths that require careful footing on the loose scree of the slopes. There are no high alpine peaks or vast meadows here; the experience is defined by the immediate transition from dense, humid river forest to dry, exposed rock faces within a short distance.