HikeMetrics
Global Hiking Index
HikeMetrics
Global Hiking Index
HikeMetrics // Comparison Engine
Route A

Le Bout du Monde (Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval)

france/Alps (Haute-Savoie)
VS
Route B

Dachstein Krippenstein — The 5 Fingers & Alpine Shark

austria/Salzkammergut, Obertraun/Hallstatt

Le Bout du Monde (Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval) vs Dachstein Krippenstein — The 5 Fingers & Alpine Shark: Intensity Score Comparison

Dachstein Krippenstein — The 5 Fingers & Alpine Shark is unequivocally more demanding overall (+8 points). While Le Bout du Monde (Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval) is a serious endeavor, Dachstein Krippenstein — The 5 Fingers & Alpine Shark pushes the limits further, particularly regarding technical seriousness and exposure.

Model-based (not a field report) · Evaluates overall route demand, not danger.

Intensity Difference
+8 Dachstein Krippenstein — The 5 Fingers & Alpine Shark is harder
Higher Physical Load
Le Bout du Monde (Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval)
Higher Technical Seriousness
Dachstein Krippenstein — The 5 Fingers & Alpine Shark
Greater Commitment
Dachstein Krippenstein — The 5 Fingers & Alpine Shark
Overall HikeMetrics Score
Dachstein Krippenstein — The 5 Fingers & Alpine Sharkwins 5 of 8 metrics
3
Route A
5
Route B
france/Alps (Haute-Savoie)

Le Bout du Monde (Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval)

LOW // ACCESS
Full Route Report

Translated literally as 'The End of the World', this spectacular 8km loop is located in the immense limestone amphitheater of the Cirque du Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval. Surrounded by towering 2,000-meter cliffs, this is a predominantly flat, welcoming walk that traces the Giffre river to its source. It is perfect for those seeking high-alpine drama without the grueling climbs usually required to find it. Note: Compiled from public sources — not a field report.

austria/Salzkammergut, Obertraun/Hallstatt

Dachstein Krippenstein — The 5 Fingers & Alpine Shark

STANDARD // RT
Full Route Report

High above the UNESCO World Heritage village of Hallstatt, the Krippenstein plateau is a vast, karst landscape that feels like another planet. The trail leads from the cable car mountain station to the '5 Fingers'—a viewing platform shaped like a hand reaching out over a 400m drop toward Lake Hallstatt. Further along the Heilbronn Circular Path, hikers encounter the 'Dachstein Shark', a massive metal sculpture that reminds visitors that this 2,100m high limestone plateau was once the bottom of the ocean.

Head-to-Head Metric Analysis

Intensity ScoreHigher Overall Demand
15
WINNER23
Physical LoadMore Physically Taxing
21 WINNER
20
Technical SeriousnessMore Technically Demanding
5
WINNER27
DistanceLonger route
8 km WINNER
6.5 km
Elevation GainMore vertical
150 m
WINNER200 m
Highest PointHigher summit
1,070 m
WINNER2,108 m
Duration
1 days
1 days
Hazard LevelMore accessible
LOW // ACCESS WINNER
STANDARD // RT
Crowd LevelLess crowded
5 / 5
WINNER4 / 5
Remoteness
2 / 5
2 / 5

HikeMetrics Hazard Scale — Explanation

1
LOW // ACCESS
2
STANDARD // RT
3
MODERATE // CHLG
4
EXPERT // HAZARD
5
EXTREME // LETHAL

The HikeMetrics Hazard Scale is a proprietary 5-point classification system that evaluates hiking routes across five dimensions: physical demand, technical complexity, altitude exposure, weather risk, and rescue accessibility.

Unlike generic star ratings, the Hazard Scale is calibrated against altitude profiles, elevation gain per day, and logistical isolation factors — making it the most precise route classification system available.

Full Scale Documentation
Route A // Hazard Verdict
Le Bout du Monde (Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval)
LOW // ACCESS
spring avalanches and rockfall: The trail pushes deep into the base of 2,000m cliffs. In spring, massive chunks of ice and loosened rock frequently crash down into the valley.
sudden river surges: The Giffre river and its tributaries can swell rapidly on hot afternoons when the glacial melt above accelerates.
Route B // Hazard Verdict
Dachstein Krippenstein — The 5 Fingers & Alpine Shark
STANDARD // RT
weather and visibility: The karst plateau is very difficult to navigate in fog; the grey rocks blend perfectly with grey clouds.
alpine karst holes: Limestone terrain naturally features deep 'Doline' (sinkholes).

Required Gear Comparison

Le Bout du Monde (Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval)
Lightweight, waterproof hiking shoes (the valley floor is often sodden with water spray and small streams crossing the path)Waterproof jacket (hikers will likely get sprayed by the waterfalls if the wind picks up)Camera with a wide-angle lens (the scale of the cirque is nearly impossible to capture)Binoculars (to spot chamois and ibex clinging to the impossible cliffs high above)
Dachstein Krippenstein — The 5 Fingers & Alpine Shark
Sturdy trail shoes with good tractionSun protection (karst limestone reflects 2x UV)WindbreakerCameraWater bottle

Compare with Other Routes

austria
Highway Lakes — Blindsee & Weißensee
LOW // ACCESS
austria
The Gaisalmsteig — Achensee’s Fjordside Path
STANDARD // RT
austria
Grossglockner — The Gamsgrubenweg Trail
STANDARD // RT
austria
Hochkeil — The Hidden Panorama
LOW // ACCESS
austria
Krimml Waterfalls — The Vertical Mist
STANDARD // RT
austria
Liechtensteinklamm — The Helix Chasm
LOW // ACCESS