The path of the planets

Starting from the parking lot at Kanzelhöhe (about 15 minutes walking from the upper station Kanzelbahn towards Kanzelhöhe), follow the signs towards Waldtratte (path no. 176). Up to the old upper station, the path is on asphalt, then continues on a very good and wide well-compacted gravel road, passing the first panels of the gas planets Neptune, Uranus, Saturn, and Jupiter. Throughout, you will enjoy breathtaking views of the emerald-green Lake Ossiach and the southern border mountain range of the Karawanks and the impressive Julian Alps located in Slovenia and Italy. 

When you reach the small plateau of Waldtratte, turn left following the signposts towards Schneegrube (path no. 35) at the first house. On the first 30 meters, you cross the slope without a path, slightly uphill, to the upper station Moserbahn (chairlift) for the second half of our solar system. The rocky planets are introduced by the asteroid belt.

Then, the wide grassy forest road along the edge of the high ropes course leads to Schneegrube. The particularity of the Schneegrube was already in the past the crossing of several paths. Here you need to pay attention briefly to which path you take. You cross the slope again and do not take the rooty steeper path to the observatory but the only slightly uphill forest road until you reach the asphalt road again. 

Turning left, in a few minutes you reach the sun as the central star, thematically corresponding to the impressive solar observatory, whose building envelope is a listed monument. Although the term Kanzelhöhe covers a larger area, the geographical point with 1524 m is actually located here at the observatory.

The descent back to the starting point takes a few minutes along the asphalt road. Please watch out for children here!

The starting point is accessible via the Kanzelbahn Gerlitzen (Annenheim) or via the toll Gerlitzen road (drive up Treffen). 

The valley station of the Kanzelbahn is easily accessible by public transport. 

Click here for the timetable information.

Parking spaces are available at the valley station of the Kanzelbahn and directly at Kanzelhöhe (ALPSRESORT). 

More information about the path and the planets.

A visit to the exhibition room of the observatory or the impressive personal tour of the observatory rounds off the hike.

Tours:

October to February on Wednesdays and Sundays in sunshine at 1 p.m. March to September on Wednesdays and Sundays in sunshine at 2 p.m. Groups of 5 or more persons are asked to make a telephone inquiry (+43 664 88546079)

Exhibition room:

Open daily from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with free admission