Ennstal Alps

The Eisenerz Alps to the southeast of the Gesäuse are quieter and tamer, with a green covering of vegetation at many places on their steeply scarped ridges. The highest peak, the Eisenerzer Reichenstein (2,166m/7,107ft), attracts many climbers for the sake of the view it affords. One mountain in the group is of more importance from the economic than from the tourist point of view - the Erzberg (see Eisenerz), the location of one of the richest iron ore deposits in the world, its reddish-brown workings hewn out of the hillside like a gigantic staircase.

In marked contrast to the massive solidity of the Gesäuse massif stands the openness of the Haller Mauern to the northwest on the far side of the Buchauer Sattel, however, these mountains, too, along the north of a wide stretch of the Enns valley, display great areas of rock, and the long ridge which runs from the Natterriegel (2,066m/6,779ft) - easily reached by way of the Admonter Haus (1,725m/5,660ft) near Admont - to the Grosser Pyhrgas (2,244m/7,363ft), the highest peak, has many jagged crags and sheer rock faces.

The Pürgschachener Moor Nature Reserve is a good place for walking and taking the air.