Scheukofen

Scheukofenhöhle

Useful Information

Location:	Hagengebirge. 1 h walk from the parking. Katasternummer: 1335/4 (47.5274815, 13.1570583)
Open:	MAY to OCT no restrictions. [2025]
Fee:	frei. [2025]
Classification:	Karst Cave
Light:	Carbide Lamps Or bring electric headlamps.
Dimension:	L=1,400 m, VR=120 m, A=740 m a.s.l., T=10°. Portal: W=20 m, H=5 m.
Guided tours:	D=4 h + 2 h walk.
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:	Alexander von Mörk (1913): Die Scheukofenhöhle bei Sulzau Mitteilungen für Höhlenkunde 6(1), S. 6-13. Walter von Czoernig-Czernhausen (1926): Die Höhlen des Landes Salzburg und seiner Grenzgebirge Verlag Verein für Höhlenkunde in Salzburg, 1926. S. 104-105. pdf Peter Danner (2024): Von der „Salzburger Höhlenschau“ zum „Großdeutschen Höhlenmuseum“, Mitteilungen aus dem Haus der Natur, Band 29 • 2024, S29-60. pdf Peter Danner (2020): Die Höhlenabenteuer der Brüder Grasmayr im Scheukofen im Jahr 1936 Die Höhle, 71. Jg., Heft 1–4, 2020, S. 158-172. pdf
Address:	Herbert Burian, Geprüfter Höhlenführer (Certified Cave Guide), Markt 19, A-5450 Werfen, Tel/Fax: +43-6468-7554. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1804	Joseph August Schultes describes a visit to the Scheikofen during his trip to the Glockner.
1828	visited by Ferdinand Raimund.
21-SEP-1913	„Höhlenschauexkursion“ by Gustav Freytag, Josef Hausjell and Walther von Czoernig-Czernhausen of the Sektion Salzburg of the Verein für Höhlenkunde in Österreich.
1919	Walter von Czoernig-Czernhausen discovers the skeleton of a treasure hunter in the Vierthalergang.
1975	deadly accident, two cave divers die.

Description

The Scheukofen is a nice cave with speleothems and some easy climbs. Some low parts make the cave an adverture for children. However, it is not a show cave, you will get dirty, should be reasonable fit and have no problems with tight passages. Participants should bring rubber boots, working gloves, old clothes, Schlaz (caving overall). The cave is about 1 h walk from the parking lot. The 4 hours tour will include little height difference, just a view easy climbs. Some Schlufe (low passages) give the tour some adventure. However, we strongly recommend contacting Herbert Burian or the Salzburg Cave Association and taking part in a guided tour.

The cave is closed during the winter months to protect the bats, but can otherwise be visited freely. The entrance is not locked. Nevertheless, many websites state that this is a specially protected cave under the Salzburg Nature Conservation Act. According to Section 4 of the Salzburg Cave Act, any access requires a special permit from the provincial government. Although this is correct in principle, it has always been ignored by cave visitors. As far as we know, the Salzburg Cave Association agreed with the nature conservation authority over 10 years ago that the easily accessible parts are exempt from this. This also allows for various visits with school classes and other groups.

The name Scheukofen probably comes from Scheuk and Ofen. Ofen is an Austrian word for a rock formation, and in the province of Salzburg it is often used as a synonym for cave; several caves here have -ofen in their name. Scheuk is a little more difficult; it probably comes from "scheukig" and means something like "to scare away". In older literature, the name Scheikofen can also be found.

This cave has been known for a long time and has been visited several times by treasure hunters, who, however, were unsuccessful. The reason for this is a legend with the widespread treasure motif. The treasure is guarded by a mountain spirit and a hellhound. Alexander von Mörk even painted the dwarf king in 1910. This was probably supplemented in the Romantic period by a Loreley-like maiden who lures hapless treasure hunters into the cave and to their doom. And then there is the legend of the second entrance to the cave on the other side of the mountain range. This motif is also quite widespread. We have both explained as a classic Smile Cave Legend.

Research and tourist visits to the cave began as early as 1800. The first person to explore the cave in depth was Alexander von Mörk (1887-1914), founder of the Salzburg section of the Cave Research Association. This must have been in 1912 or 1913, as he published his report with floor plans and elevation drawings in 1913. At this time, the Salzburger Höhlenschau (Salzburg Cave Show), a kind of speleological exhibition or museum, was also established to introduce the cave world to the public. The supporting programme included a slide show and a Höhlenschauexkursion (cave viewing excursion) to the Scheukofen on 21 September 1913. The guides at that time were Gustav Freytag, Josef Hausjell and Walther von Czoernig-Czernhausen from the Salzburg section of the Austrian Speleological Society. Some of the guests became new members of the section. The cave was subsequently explored intensively by Walter von Czoernig-Czernhausen. According to his own inscription in the cave, he visited it 30 times between 1913 and 1928, i.e. twice a year.

The cave has a 20 m wide and 5 m high entrance, and the floor is a dry stream bed. Only during high water, i.e. during snowmelt and after heavy rainfall, does water actually flow out of the entrance, making the cave impassable. However, the cave has several lakes and rudimentary navigation aids such as steel pins in the wall.