Ötscher hiking trail closed due to bark beetle damage

The popular hiking trail via Rauhen Kamm to the Ötscher summit in Austria will be closed for the entire month of September. This marks the first time such a complete closure has occurred on this route.

The decision by the Austrian Federal Forests (Österreichische Bundesforste) is due to necessary salvage logging of damaged wood caused by bark beetle infestations. Recent periods of drought have weakened spruce trees, facilitating the spread of the pests.

The closure applies to the Rauhen Kamm trail and the Reitsteig forest road between Raneck and Bärenlacke, including weekends and non-working hours. Authorities warned that entering the area is life-threatening due to the use of cable crane systems with high-tension cables crossing the paths, as well as loose timber and materials in the terrain. The summit remains accessible via the standard route from Lackenhof and the Ötscherschutzhaus.