The Raucherkarhöhle is one of Austria's most remarkable caves, forming part of the vast Schönberg Cave System - at over 159 km, the longest cave system in the country. This is a place where cavers have spent decades uncovering new passages, culminating in the historic 2007 connection with the Feuertal Cave System.

The cave lies in the Totes Gebirge range, beneath the peaks of Vorderer Raucher (1786 m) and Hinterer Raucher (1734 m), near Bad Ischl on the border between Upper Austria and Styria. The surrounding Raucherplateau is a rugged limestone landscape shaped by classic karst features - sinkholes, fissures and rocky terraces on the surface conceal a labyrinth of passages descending over a thousand metres below. It's a place for lovers of raw alpine wilderness: in summer the plateau supports sparse high-mountain vegetation, while in winter deep snow makes the area accessible mainly in the warmer months.

How to get there

• Ebenseer Hochkogelhaus — an easy approach leads to the Feuertal-Eishöhle, a popular excursion destination
• Raucherplateau area — access mainly reserved for experienced cavers and research expedition members

Practical information

• The main cave system is essentially accessible only to trained cavers as part of organised expeditions
• The Feuertal-Eishöhle ice cave often has its passage to the main system frozen shut, opening only in summer when it melts
• The area is researched and mapped by the Landesverein für Höhlenkunde Oberösterreich

A remarkably well-preserved cave bear skull was found in the nearby Bärenhöhle in 1961 - the discovery that sparked decades of exploration eventually leading to one of the largest cave systems on Earth.