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

Sigmund Thun Gorge — Kaprun

austria/Kaprun, Salzburg

Le Bout du Monde (Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval) vs Sigmund Thun Gorge — Kaprun: Intensity Score Comparison

Le Bout du Monde (Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval) is unequivocally more demanding overall (+9 points). While Sigmund Thun Gorge — Kaprun is a serious endeavor, Le Bout du Monde (Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval) pushes the limits further, particularly regarding sustained physical exertion.

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

Intensity Difference
+9 Le Bout du Monde (Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval) is harder
Higher Physical Load
Le Bout du Monde (Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval)
Higher Technical Seriousness
Sigmund Thun Gorge — Kaprun
Greater Commitment
Sigmund Thun Gorge — Kaprun
Overall HikeMetrics Score
Le Bout du Monde (Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval)wins 5 of 6 metrics
5
Route A
1
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/Kaprun, Salzburg

Sigmund Thun Gorge — Kaprun

LOW // ACCESS
Full Route Report

Formed by the Kapruner Ache river over thousands of years, the Sigmund Thun Gorge is a narrow, deep chasm in the Kaprun valley. A maintained wooden walkway (Stege) follows the rock walls, allowing visitors to walk directly above the glacial water. The gorge is 320m long and up to 30m deep. The route continues past the gorge to the clear Klammsee lake, which offers a circular walking path and views of the surrounding Hohe Tauern peaks.

Head-to-Head Metric Analysis

Intensity ScoreHigher Overall Demand
15 WINNER
6
Physical LoadMore Physically Taxing
21 WINNER
6
Technical Seriousness
5
5
DistanceLonger route
8 km WINNER
1.5 km
Elevation GainMore vertical
150 m WINNER
40 m
Highest PointHigher summit
1,070 m WINNER
820 m
Duration
1 days
1 days
Hazard Level
LOW // ACCESS
LOW // ACCESS
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
Sigmund Thun Gorge — Kaprun
LOW // ACCESS
Standard conditions: No significant objective hazards under normal operating conditions. Gated, secured boardwalk.

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)
Sigmund Thun Gorge — Kaprun
Casual walking shoes with rubber solesLight waterproof layer (for spray)Camera

Compare with Other Routes

austria
Highway Lakes — Blindsee & Weißensee
LOW // ACCESS
austria
Hochkeil — The Hidden Panorama
LOW // ACCESS
austria
Liechtensteinklamm — The Helix Chasm
LOW // ACCESS
austria
Prossautal — A Glacial Box Valley in Hohe Tauern
LOW // ACCESS
austria
Seebachtal & Stappitzer See — The Valley of Waterfalls
LOW // ACCESS
australia
Bondi to Bronte Coastal Walk
LOW // ACCESS