Leibnitzbachbrücke - Barrenlesee

Access to starting point:
Through the Karawanks Tunnel, we drive to Austria, and then we continue driving towards Spittal and further towards Lienz (a little after Spittal the highway ends). Further, we drive on a relatively nice and wide road through the Drau valley. In the center of Lienz, at the roundabout, we continue right towards the settlement Matrei. From the roundabout, we drive approximately 8 km through the valley by the river Isel, then we turn right towards the settlement Oberleibnig. On an ascending road, we then all the time follow the signs for the mountain hut Hochschoberhütte. The road is otherwise most of the time ascending on steep slopes and is quite narrow. In the last part, the asphalt ends and we continue a few more kilometers on a macadam road to the parking lot by a bridge over the stream Leibnitzbach.

Path description:
From the parking lot, we continue a few more meters on a macadam road which is further closed for traffic, and then signposts point us to the right on a footpath. At first, we are ascending through the forest by the left side of the stream Leibnitzbach. Later, the path named Eduard Jordan Weg brings us on a somewhat gentler grassy terrain where we cross the bridge. Further, the path again ascends a little steeper by the stream and brings us to the mountain pasture Leibnitzalm.
On the mountain pasture the path crosses a stream and then joins the mountain road. Further, we walk for some time on a macadam road along the stream, then we get to a crossing, where the macadam road turns left.
At the crossing, we continue straight where signposts by the path point us. From the crossing, we at first walk on a wide cart track, which after crossing a stream soon turns into a footpath. The path here again starts ascending a little steeper and leads us through a short lane of forest. The path continues to run along the stream and from the left side soon joins also a footpath from the end of the road. Further, the path turns a little to the right and increasingly beautiful views start to open up on surrounding peaks. After that, the path runs on grassy slopes past a cross, and by the path there are also quite a few benches. When we come to somewhat steeper slopes, the path turns to the left and then in the ascent crosses the slopes all the way to the mountain hut Hochschoberhütte.
At the mountain hut where there is a crossing, we go right following the signs »Barrenlesee 1.5h« and continue on relatively gentle grassy terrain in the direction towards the south. The panoramic path then starts ascending a little and still runs towards the slopes of the peaks Hoher and Niederer Prijakt. When we get a little closer to the walls of the mentioned peaks, the slope flattens and the path brings us to a marked crossing.
At the crossing, we continue left towards the summit Hoher Prijakt and lake Barrenlesee, right leads the path towards the notch Mirschachscharte over which leads the western path towards the summit Niederer Prijakt. Further, the terrain becomes more and more rocky and the path leads us through a small valley in the direction towards the east. The path then brings us into the cirque named Kleiner Barren where there is also a smaller unnamed lake. A little before the mentioned lake, the path brings us to a marked crossing.
Here we leave the path towards the notch Mirnitzscharte and go right towards the lake Barrenlesee and summit Hoher Prijakt. The path from the crossing is a little less beaten but sufficiently well-marked and at first runs on rough scree upwards. Higher, the slope becomes steeper and at some spots during the ascent we also have to use our hands. Later, the slope becomes less steep again and the path through an indistinct rocky small valley soon brings us to the high mountain lake Barrenlesee at an altitude of 2727 meters.
We descend on the ascent route.

On the way: Leibnitzalm (1908m), Hochschoberhütte (2322m), Kleiner Barren (2520m)

Trip can be extended to: Hoher Prijakt ( 45 min)