Leibnitzbachbrücke - Gartlsee

Access to starting point:
Through the Karawanks Tunnel, we drive to Austria, and then we continue driving towards Spittal and forward 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 the 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 ascend through the forest by the left side of the stream Leibnitzbach. Later, the path named Eduard Jordan Weg brings us to somewhat flatter 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 the 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 direct us. From the crossing, we at first walk on a wide cart track, which after crossing the stream soon turns into a footpath. The path here again starts to ascend a little steeper and leads us through a short stretch of forest. The path continues along the stream and from the left side soon also joins 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. The path then runs on grassy slopes past a cross, and by the path there are also quite a few benches. When we reach 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.
From the mountain hut, we follow the signs for the lake Gartlsee and at first slightly descend across expansive meadows. We quickly come to a crossing where the path towards the summit Hochschober branches off to the left, and we continue straight through the wide grassy valley.
Further, the path is for some time level and still runs through the wide valley towards the east along the high mountain stream. The path further again starts ascending and gradually becomes more rocky. In the last part towards the saddle Leibnitztörl, the path turns a little to the right and ascends a steeper slope. A little before the saddle we also get help from some fixed safety gear, and then we quickly reach the saddle Leibnitztörl by which there is a high mountain lake Gartlsee.

On the way: Leibnitzalm (1908m), Hochschoberhütte (2322m), Leibnitztörl (2591m)