Bärenschützklamm

Useful Information

photography — Bärenschützklamm, Austria. Public Domain.

Location:	Near Mixnitz. Between Bruck an der Mur and Graz. 90 minutes walk to the entrance of the gorge. (47.341979, 15.394431)
Open:	MAY to OCT daily 8-16. Closed during bad weather conditions. [2025]
Fee:	Adults EUR 9, Children (6-16) EUR 6. ÖAV Members: Adults EUR 7, Children (6-16) EUR &. [2025]
Classification:	Gorge
Light:	n/a
Dimension:
Guided tours:	self guided. V=40.000/a [2019] V=40.000/a [2025]
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Bärenschützklamm, ÖAV - Mixnitz, Bärenschütz 40, A-8131 Mixnitz, Cell: +43-676-9222508. E-mail: Tourismusverband Pernegg - Mixnitz - Bärenschützklamm, Kirchdorf 16, 8132 Kirchdorf, Tel: 03867-804411, Fax: 03867-80444. 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

1901	first developed by the Grazer Alpenclub.
1948	Grazer Alpenclub united with Österreichischer Alpenverein (Austrian Alpine Club, ÖAV), gorge now maintained by the ÖAV Sektion Mixnitz.
1978	declared a Natural Monument.
1997	massive destruction during a storm and reconstruction.
2020	closed for reconstruction due to a rockfall.
2021	Naturwelten Steiermark opened to the public.
21-SEP-2024	reopened.

Description

The Bärenschützklamm is probably the most impressive and the best developed gorge in the Steiermark (Styria). It was cut into 400 Ma old limestone and has 200 m to 300 m high vertical walls by the Mixnitzbach, which flows down from the Teichalm, a high pasture at about 1200 m asl to the Mur river at 450 m asl. The trail starts at the town Mixnitz, at the parking lot Bärenschützklamm and follows the Erzherzog Johann Lehrwanderweg. This trail is dedicated to Erzherzog Johann (*1782-✝1859), the brother of Emperor Franz I.. For half a century he was quite important for the Duchy of Styria, he was a promoter and moderniser of industry, agriculture and railways, as well as culture and education. After one hour ascent on the educational trail the entrance of the gorge at the Hans-Kerl-Hütte is reached.

The main section of the gorge is developed with 109 wooden bridges and 51 wooden ladders with 2,500 steps between Hans-Kerl-Hütte (750 m asl) and the Almgasthaus Guter Hirte (1,100 m asl). The walk through the gorge takes 1.5 hours, so the total is about 2.5 hours. Even if its faster going downhill, one should plan 5 hours for the whole trip. On the way down you can go through the gorge again or take the nearby Prügelweg. Many visitors decide to make a day tour and climb one of the peaks above the gorge, for example the Hochlantsch (1,720 m asl). While there is a fee for children six years and older, and there are actually no age restrictions, the experienced mountaineers of the ÖAV recommend a minimum age of eight.

The area is karstified and shows karst springs, caves, lapies and stone forrests. The lapies are called Karren in Austria, actually this old scientific term is of Austrian origin. The river bed has numerous Geology potholes. The gorge is also a refuge for numerous plants and animals. During the last Ice Age the area was home to cold loving plants and animals, but after the Ice Age the climate warmed substantially, and warmth-loving species migrated from the south and southeast into the area. The gorge is rather cool, the high wall does not allow much sunlight into the gorge, and as a result, both kinds often grow right next to each other in the Bärenschützklamm.

The gorge is like all gorges always subject to rockfalls and flooding during storms or snow melt. Normally the gorge is closed at such events and nobody is harmed. A rockfall happened in 1997 during a storm and reconstruction took a year. In 2001 the centenary was celebrated. Despite the long walk the gorge is quite popular, and in 2019 the high number of busses and the resulting numbers of visitors resulted in concerns about safety. If something happens inside the gorge, it takes some time for the Bergwacht (mountain rescue) to reach the site of the accident. And in Juli 2020 such an accident actually happened. Around noon a part of the gorge wall collapsed, created a rockfall, right at a popular photo spot. Two women and a man died, and nine other people were injured, some seriously. Nearly 100 staff and a helicopter were involved in the rescue.

The landslide led to the immediate closure of the gorge, which remained closed for several years. The cause was investigated by the public prosecutor’s office, which however discontinued the investigation because it was an "unforeseen natural event". The Mixnitz section of the Alpine Club then developed a safety concept based on climbing tours and drone photo flights. It included the relocation of sections of the path and four protective grids above the path. This concept was also discussed with the landowners and the regional geologist and presented to the municipality of Pernegg in the summer of 2021. The construction costs were estimated at €650,000, but the actual costs ended up being €1.7 million. Until now, the gorge had been maintained by the Alpine Club through voluntary work, with the entrance fees covering only the ongoing maintenance of the paths. The non-profit Alpine Club was therefore unable to finance the work. "If the effort and liability become too high for us volunteers, we have to consider whether to continue," said Gerhard Jantscher, chairman of the board of the Mixnitz section of the Alpine Club, in an interview. The province of Styria and Styria Tourism contributed €700,000, the Austrian Alpine Club’s Mixnitz section contributed €800,000, and the rest came from donations and sponsorships. After several postponements, the gorge was officially reopened in autumn 2024, shortly before the winter closure.

The area around the gorge has numerous other nature related sites. The oldest and most well known is the Drachenhöhle (Dragon Cave) which is only 1 km from Mixnitz. The newest is the Naturwelten Steiermark (Nature World Styria), a modern museum which was opened in 2021. It has 2.5 ha outdoor area and 1100 m² exhibition space and shows local natural history, forest and hunting. The last topic seems a bit off, but hunters in Austria see themselves as stewards of the game population and corresponding training and examinations are required by law. The museum was actually financed by the Steirische Jägerschaft (Styrian Hunters’ Association). It also contains an indoor climbing hall which is operated by the ÖAV.