Waldrast - Großer Speikkogel (Koralpe) (via Großhöllerhütte)

Access to starting point:
A) Over one of the border crossings with Austria (Korensko sedlo, Karawanks Tunnel, mountain pass Ljubelj, mountain pass Jezerski vrh, mountain pass Pavličev vrh) we drive to Austria, and then we continue driving on the so-called south highway towards Gradec / Graz. On the mentioned highway we drive to the settlement Wolfsberg, where we leave the highway, and when we get to a roundabout with an old or regional road we continue driving "straight" in the direction of the ski slope Koralpe. Ahead we drive through settlements St. Stefan, Maildorf and Rieding, and we follow the ascending road to a large parking lot at ski center Koralpe.
B) Over the border crossing Holmec or Vič we drive to Austria, and then we continue driving towards the settlement Wolfsberg, where signs for Koralpe point us to the right. Ahead we drive through settlements St. Stefan, Maildorf and Rieding, and we follow the ascending road to a large parking lot at ski center Koralpe.

Path description:
At the beginning of the parking lot, we notice signposts for "Wasserfall and Großhöllerhütte", which point us to the left on the road which is closed with the gate. The road then immediately turns right and with some gentle ascents and descents after approximately half an hour of walking, it brings us to a crossroad, where we continue in the direction of the mountain hut Großhöllerhütte. Also in the next crossroads, we follow the road in the same direction, until it changes into a footpath. At the spot, where the road ends there is also the next crossing, where we have two options to continue. We choose the right path which leads us by the stream upwards. A little higher we cross the mentioned stream and we step on some kind of island, on which we then walk few minutes. The path ahead over a small bridge again passes on the right side of the stream (left bank) and starts ascending steeper. When the steepness decreases we come to the next crossing, where we continue left (right mountain hut Koralpenhaus). After additional few steps, we again over a small bridge cross the stream. Here, the path branches off to the left downwards towards the waterfall to which we have only two minutes of walking.
From the waterfall, we continue on a path which starts ascending steeper on the more and more panoramic slope. After 20 minutes of ascent from the waterfall, the path brings us to the mountain hut Großhöllerhütte.
From the mountain hut, we continue on the mountain road in the direction of the mountain hut Grillitschhütte and the peak Großer Speikkogel, and after approximately 10 minutes of additional walking brings us to the next crossing, where we continue right in the direction of the peak Großer Speikkogel (straight Alpine mountain pass Weinebene and mountain hut Grillitschhütte).
We continue on a wide cart track which further crosses few trickling streams. A gently sloping cart track which is at first even slightly descending, a little higher turns into a gentle footpath which continues through panoramic and gentle meadows. A little further also the path towards the mountain hut Koralpenhaus branches off to the right, and we continue straight in the direction of the summit Großer Speikkogel. Further, the marked path turns a little to the left and starts moderately ascending on a little steeper slope. Next follows a short steeper ascent and the path brings us on a small saddle between the peaks Seespitz and Großer Speikkogel.
On the mentioned saddle we reach the marked panoramic path Weinebene - Großer Speikkogel, which we follow to the right. Further, we start ascending a little steeper towards the highest peak of Koralpe. Higher, the path flattens and from slopes brings us on the upper ridge, where we continue right. From here follows only few minutes of walking and the path brings us to the cross, which is situated on the top of Großer Speikkogel.

On the way: The Poms waterfall (Koralpe) (1671m), Großhöllerhütte mountain hut (Koralpe) (1790m)

Trip can be extended to: Seespitz (Koralpe)