Paßthurn: Raised Bog, Tauern Views and Peat History

A moorland nature trail with views of the Hohe Tauern, carnivorous plants and historic traces of peat extraction give Paßthurn a distinctive character. To help plan your day, consider a few questions: Which landscape would you like to explore in more detail, and are you more interested in a hiking stage, a mountain bike tour or the history of the moor?

Raised Bog, Plants and Tauern Views

The path to Wasenmoos starts at the car park and bus stop by the Tauernblick inn. From the Pass Thurn–Tauernblick starting point, the moorland nature trail reaches a viewing pavilion with a viewing platform after 150 m. From there, you can look out over the Hohe Tauern. The short path to the pavilion leads to a clearly defined viewpoint, while the plant life of Wasenmoos offers a different focus for your visit.

Sundew, butterwort and bladderwort grow in Wasenmoos. All three are carnivorous plants native to Austria. These species give nature watching a specific focus: you can remember their names and look out for the raised bog’s distinctive plant life, without making the panorama the sole focus of your visit.

Peat Extraction and Historic Routes

Wasenmoos also tells the story of its former use. From 1781 to 1819, fuel peat was extracted there for the copper vitriol works in Kronau. The historic Waasenmoosweg was about six kilometres long; peat was transported along it to Mühlbach using pack animals. As well as the moorland landscape, peat extraction and transport are therefore part of the area’s history. The extraction period specifies a particular timeframe and purpose, while the route provides an approximate length, the means of transport and the destination, Mühlbach.

Hiking or Mountain Biking

Stage 06 of the Hohe Tauern Panorama Trail follows Route No. 77, the “Hochmoorrunde” (Raised Bog Loop), through the Wasenmoos raised bog. Both the stage name and the route name are provided to help with navigation. If you are weighing up different types of routes, you can compare this hiking stage with a mountain bike tour that follows a different route.

The mountain bike tour runs from Mittersill along the old Paß Road, following the Mittersiller Sonnberg towards Paß Thurn. Before the Breitmoos inn, it branches onto a high-altitude trail towards Mühlbach. While the Hochmoorrunde passes through Wasenmoos, the cycling tour follows the Paß Road and a high-altitude trail.

Panoramas and Orientation at Resterhöhe

At the National Park Panorama Resterhöhe, a small exhibition complements the views of the landscape. A Smart Viewer provides orientation and additional information about the protected area. From there, you can see most of the peaks, as well as the national park’s high-alpine landscape, which has retained its original character. Check seasonal opening dates before your visit.

The viewing pavilion on the moorland nature trail and the National Park Panorama Resterhöhe offer different experiences: the first provides a short walk to a platform with views of the Hohe Tauern; at Resterhöhe, an exhibition and information about the protected area are also available. This can help you decide whether your outing should focus primarily on the views or combine the panorama with orientation.

Find the Right Holiday Apartment in Paßthurn

Your planned activities can be a good starting point when choosing a holiday apartment. Would you like to focus on the raised bog and its plants, learn about historic peat routes, plan a hiking stage or go mountain biking? This lets you focus your search on the experiences that interest you, rather than assuming that a particular accommodation offers specific views or amenities.

Discover More Destinations

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