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

Prossautal — A Glacial Box Valley in Hohe Tauern

austria/Gastein Valley, Salzburg

Le Bout du Monde (Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval) vs Prossautal — A Glacial Box Valley in Hohe Tauern: Intensity Score Comparison

Prossautal — A Glacial Box Valley in Hohe Tauern is unequivocally more demanding overall (+11 points). While Le Bout du Monde (Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval) is a serious endeavor, Prossautal — A Glacial Box Valley in Hohe Tauern pushes the limits further, particularly regarding sustained physical exertion.

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

Intensity Difference
+11 Prossautal — A Glacial Box Valley in Hohe Tauern is harder
Higher Physical Load
Prossautal — A Glacial Box Valley in Hohe Tauern
Higher Technical Seriousness
Prossautal — A Glacial Box Valley in Hohe Tauern
Greater Commitment
Prossautal — A Glacial Box Valley in Hohe Tauern
Overall HikeMetrics Score
Prossautal — A Glacial Box Valley in Hohe Tauernwins 7 of 7 metrics
0
Route A
7
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/Gastein Valley, Salzburg

Prossautal — A Glacial Box Valley in Hohe Tauern

LOW // ACCESS
Full Route Report

Deep within the Hohe Tauern National Park, the Prossautal is a valley that branches off the Kötschachtal near Bad Gastein. This long but mostly flat trail follows the Kötschach Ache river into a classic glacial box valley. The rock walls on either side rise significantly, with multiple thin waterfalls cascading down the granite faces. The trail ends at the Alpengasthof Prossau, a traditional alpine inn positioned near the base of the Tischler glacier.

Head-to-Head Metric Analysis

Intensity ScoreHigher Overall Demand
15
WINNER26
Physical LoadMore Physically Taxing
21
WINNER32
Technical SeriousnessMore Technically Demanding
5
WINNER23
DistanceLonger route
8 km
WINNER14 km
Elevation GainMore vertical
150 m
WINNER230 m
Highest PointHigher summit
1,070 m
WINNER1,278 m
Duration
1 days
1 days
Hazard Level
LOW // ACCESS
LOW // ACCESS
Crowd LevelLess crowded
5 / 5
WINNER2 / 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
Prossautal — A Glacial Box Valley in Hohe Tauern
LOW // ACCESS
length exhaustion: The 14km round trip is longer than it appears on a map, especially for families with small children.

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)
Prossautal — A Glacial Box Valley in Hohe Tauern
Light hiking shoesSun protectionWater bottleCameraLight fleece (the valley is shaded and cool)

Compare with Other Routes

austria
Highway Lakes — Blindsee & Weißensee
LOW // ACCESS
austria
Graukogel — Pine Forests & strenuous Ridges
EXPERT // HAZARD
austria
Hochkeil — The Hidden Panorama
LOW // ACCESS
austria
Liechtensteinklamm — The Helix Chasm
LOW // ACCESS
austria
Seebachtal & Stappitzer See — The Valley of Waterfalls
LOW // ACCESS
austria
Sigmund Thun Gorge — Kaprun
LOW // ACCESS