Reichenau an der Rax, Austria
The Ernst-Graf-Hoyossteig is a long but moderately straightforward via ferrata in Austria's Rax-Schneeberg group, accessed through the dramatic Höllental (Hell Valley) near Reichenau an der Rax. What makes it distinctive is that it remains far less crowded than the famous neighboring routes despite offering beautiful alpine scenery and relatively simple climbing. The route climbs through the Höllental via an iron staircase, then gains the ferrata entrance marked by a dramatic rock face and iron ladder sequence. Most of the climbing is concentrated in the lower section with a notable traverse crossing; the upper portions transition to alpine hiking terrain. It's genuinely suitable for fit beginners, but the long approach and descent make this a full commitment, not a quick alpine outing. 11 kilometers and 5.5 to 7 hours total (1.5 hour approach, 1 hour climbing the ferrata itself, 2 hours descent), with 1235 meters elevation gain and 1250 meters descent. Difficulty A/B throughout, climbing length is 1.4 km. Bring a full via ferrata set, helmet, and standard hiking gear with plenty of water. May through October is best; spring can be problematic with snow lingering in the approach. Plan on needing two cars: one at the Höllental tunnel parking lot (starting point) and one at the Rax cable car valley station (finishing point). The main gotcha is the length and foot traffic on descent, especially if you tire on the approach; this is not a route to start late in the day. Another gotcha: the trail can be hard to follow in sections, so good route finding skills help avoid getting lost.
