Greifenberg, Mountain summit in the Schladminger Tauern, Austria

Greifenberg is a summit within the Schladminger Tauern range that rises to approximately 2618 meters and marks the border between Styria and Salzburg provinces. The peak is accessible via several marked trails starting from Schladming, each offering different degrees of difficulty for hikers and climbers.

The Greifenberg lies on the main Tauern ridge, which forms the border between Styria and Salzburg. Its position on the Zentralalpenweg (Austrian long-distance trail 02) between the Gollinghütte and the Preintalerhütte made it one of the most visited summits of the Schladminger Tauern. The Klafferkessel nature reserve on its north side, a glacial cirque holding more than 30 lakes, was described by Hans Hödl in 1985 in Gefährdete Paradiese.

The Greifenberg lies on the Zentralalpenweg (Austrian long-distance trail 02), which is why it counts among the most visited summits of the Schladminger Tauern. Most climbers start from the Gollinghütte to the west or the Preintalerhütte to the northeast; the approach through the Klafferkessel passes more than 30 small lakes. The Lungau side is rarely used.

Multiple trailheads depart from Schladming, accommodating both beginners and experienced hikers, with rental equipment and local advice available in town. Proper footwear and weather-resistant clothing are essential, as conditions can change rapidly at elevation.

The north face borders the Klafferkessel nature reserve, a glacial cirque at around 2,300 m holding more than 30 lakes, the largest being the Upper and Lower Klaffersee and the Rauenbergsee. The rock is migmatitic paragneiss of the Schladming crystalline complex, with amphibolite and serpentinite bands and moraine material.