Description
The ascent to the Hocheck (1,037 m) from Kaumberg, the easternmost 1000-meter peak of the Lower Austrian Alpine foothills, and the subsequent long hike over 7 further elevations along the ridge already pose a physical challenge. This route offers, besides the outstanding view from the Meyring Watchtower at the summit of Hocheck, especially during the ridge hike, beautiful views of the landscape.
This hike is physically demanding due to the many small ascents, not to mention the steep climb through the northern flank of the Hocheck. At first, you hike together with the Rooster Path and Frog Path over two hills past "Lug ins Land" to the Höfnergraben. Here meadows and pastures dominate the scene. Often, you already have the goal Hocheck in sight. After the fish ponds, the actual ascent begins, which often leads the hiker in switchbacks initially through pine, then beech forest, steep and quickly gaining altitude. The last section to the observation tower is partly rocky and lined with bizarre, wind-swept trees. After visiting the observation tower (360° panorama), you walk a short way back on the same path until the path "over the seven hills" branches off, which essentially leads along the ridge westwards. The blue marking shortens the very large round (up to Veiglkogel and to the Araburg) somewhat and leads back to Kaumberg a bit earlier.
The town of Kaumberg itself offers some sights with the barrel fountain on the main square, the gothic parish church of St. Michael, and the local history museum. A special highlight of the community and a very popular excursion destination is the widely visible Araburg castle ruin.
Starting point of the tour
Kaumberg, main square
Destination point of the tour
Kaumberg, main square
Route description From Kaumberg to the alpine Hocheck, 1,037 m
From the marketplace to the Höfnergraben, the hike is identical with the "Frog Path." After the Kirchenwirt, opposite the local history museum, a narrow path branches off left (sign: Lug ins Land – Höfnergraben, red marking) leading over to the Laabach stream. Continue on the "promenade" along the brook uphill. Over steps shortly up to a farm road and further to the ski slope, along its northern edge further uphill through beech forest, finally over meadows to "Lug ins Land" 636 m above sea level; Red Cross, rest bench. Keep left over meadows downhill and soon right follow a steep path to Hagerhof. Circling the farm on the right, the Steinbachtal is reached.
Directly opposite, a forest road ascends (marking red, "Frog Path"), which first leads along the forest edge, then over meadows past the Stickler farm over a gentle hillock (passing a house on the left) on a meadow path. The descent into the Höfnergraben is first a meadow path, then road (Höfnerhaus).
In the Höfnergraben, an asphalt road leads right downhill into the valley, after approx. 300 m a parking lot and fish ponds are reached. At these, keep left on a forest road (marking red) and at the end of the fish ponds left (200 m from the parking lot) the junction (marking red) leading to Hocheck is reached. Don't miss this junction!
A path now ascends steeply through the flank, winding in switchbacks through the pine forest in the middle section. After a stretch along the ridge, the height 950 m is reached, where the WWW 404 (yellow and red) branches off to the right, which is chosen for the return route. At the path fork with the sign "Hocheck" in red, follow it and after some rocky sections the summit with the observation tower (F. Meyringer Watch) at height 1,037 m is reached after 400 meters.
For the return route, first follow the ascent path back 400 m to the junction at 950 m. Here, sharply turn left following the WWW 404 (sign "Kaumberg town via Hochriegel – Araburg (4h)", yellow and red) steeply downhill. After a flat ridge and a small counter ascent, the path leads steeply downhill again into the saddle with the "Red Cross" at 723 m. (From here the possibility to descend right into the Höfnergraben, left to "Harras and Furth").
The ridge hike continues straight, following the red-yellow marking, crossing another six elevations in constant ups and downs. (Attention on the path south of Hochriegel: sharply right on the marking (404, red arrow, "Bannwald")!)
After a clearing, a saddle with the junction "Annaquelle, Laabachtal, Kaumberg" in blue is reached. (Red and yellow continue straight to Veiglkogel and Araburg).
Here follow the blue marking to descend to Kaumberg. Traverse the slope descending to a forest road, follow it to the left according to the blue arrows. After a slight left curve, don’t miss the right turn into a ravine (path and marking quite overgrown). Alternatively, follow the forest road a bit further downhill where the lowest point is reached (20 m before a sharp left curve) a forest path branches right down into the ravine. Through this ravine in the forest, meadow areas are reached, which are crossed along the forest edge. Again through a woodland area to a forest road that leads downhill to the Laabach (just before in the ravine the "Annaquelle"). Down valley back to the starting point.
