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

Prossautal — A Glacial Box Valley in Hohe Tauern

austria/Gastein Valley, Salzburg
VS
Route B

St Nectan's Glen Waterfall

united-kingdom/Cornwall, England

Prossautal — A Glacial Box Valley in Hohe Tauern vs St Nectan's Glen Waterfall: Intensity Score Comparison

Prossautal — A Glacial Box Valley in Hohe Tauern is unequivocally more demanding overall (+14 points). While St Nectan's Glen Waterfall 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
+14 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 8 of 8 metrics
8
Route A
0
Route B
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.

united-kingdom/Cornwall, England

St Nectan's Glen Waterfall

LOW // ACCESS
Full Route Report

St Nectan's Glen is an enchanting, atmospheric woodland valley deeply cut into the Cornish slate near Tintagel. This short, easy 1.9-mile (3km) circular walk follows the tumbling River Trevillet through ancient, moss-draped oak trees and ferns. The destination is a spectacular 60-foot waterfall that has punched a flawless circular hole directly through the rock basin, creating a deep pool below. The glen has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to its rare flora and is considered by many to be one of the most spiritual and magical places in the UK.

Head-to-Head Metric Analysis

Intensity ScoreHigher Overall Demand
26 WINNER
12
Physical LoadMore Physically Taxing
32 WINNER
10
Technical SeriousnessMore Technically Demanding
23 WINNER
18
DistanceLonger route
14 km WINNER
3 km
Elevation GainMore vertical
230 m WINNER
60 m
Highest PointHigher summit
1,278 m WINNER
120 m
Duration
1 days
1 days
Hazard Level
LOW // ACCESS
LOW // ACCESS
Crowd LevelLess crowded
2 / 5 WINNER
5 / 5
RemotenessMore remote
2 / 5 WINNER
1 / 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
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.
Route B // Hazard Verdict
St Nectan's Glen Waterfall
LOW // ACCESS
slippery rocky tree roots: The path follows the riverbank closely. It is constantly damp, littered with smooth slate fragments, and heavily crisscrossed with massive, exposed tree roots.
river flooding: The path is safe, but entering the waterfall pool area after very heavy rain is dangerous due to the immense volume of water blasting through the rock.

Required Gear Comparison

Prossautal — A Glacial Box Valley in Hohe Tauern
Light hiking shoesSun protectionWater bottleCameraLight fleece (the valley is shaded and cool)
St Nectan's Glen Waterfall
Walking shoes or wellies (wellies are essential if you want to enter the shallow pool to stand in front of the waterfall—these can be borrowed onsite)Waterproof jacket (spray from the falls permeates the air)OS Explorer Map 111 (Bude, Boscastle & Tintagel)

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