Prax Eishöhle

Traumtunnel

Useful Information

Location:	Near Maria Kirchenthal, above Sankt Martin bei Lofer. Loferer Steinberge. From Maria Kirchenthal walk up the Schärdingersteig towards the Großes Ochsenhorn for about 2.5 hours. Located at 1,650 m asl in the east flank of a mountan ridge which runs north from the Großes Ochsenhorn. (47.5517382, 12.6687443)
Open:	MAY to OCT weather permitting, after appointment. [2025]
Fee:	Adults EUR 120. [2025]
Classification:	Karst Cave
Light:	helmet and headlamp provided.
Dimension:	A=1,650 m asl, T=2 °C, L=1,000 m, VR=200 m, MinAge=14.
Guided tours:	L=2,000 m, VR=200 m, D=2.5 h.
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Motion Outdoor Center, Andreas Voglstätter, A-5090 Lofer 330, Tel: +43-6588-7524 E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1925	explored by Czoernig, Rullmann and Sporer.
1987	cave is gated.

Description

The Prax Eishöhle (Prax Ice Cave) is a through cave through a mountain ridge which runs north from the Großes Ochsenhorn. The second entrance of the cave is in the middle of a steep cliff calledschwarze Wand (Black Wall). It offers a great view on the Breithorn and the von Schmidt-Zabierow-Hütte, the only mountaineer hut in the Loferer Steinberge. However, the way down through the almost vertical cliff requires a lot of climbing experience, so the cave visitors go back through the cave.

The walk to the cave entrance goes up 800 height meters and takes some 2.5 hours. The cave itself is very cold, contains some ice, stooping, crawling, climbing and some mud. The 1,000 m through the cave equal a climb of 200 m to the upper entrance at 1,850 m asl. The same tour back plus the descent from the cave to the valley makes this a seven or eight hour day tour. The tour is pretty strenuous and requires physical fitness and a little climbing experience. Helmets, headlamps and gloves are provided, if necessary. Personal caving gear is recommended, at least bring old clothes for the tour.

This is another of numerous caves in Austria which are really only suitable for speleologists, but which attract considerable attention on the internet. Visits are only possible with a state-certified cave guide. Visits without a guide are not possible because the cave is gated. The difficult sections are equipped with aids such as ladders or boards, but it is still a wild cave. The good thing is that the 800-metre climb separates the wheat from the chaff.