In the 11th stage of the trail on the Vienna Alpine Arc (WAB), the landscape becomes more alpine. The path initially passes orchards and farms before slowly ascending through mountain forests to reach the rocky high plateau of the Rax.
Description
Starting from Prein, the ascent to the Rax gradually begins, which is physically demanding via the snake path to the alpine high plateau. Once you have overcome the hardships of the ascent to the Rax, you should take your time and enjoy the crossing to the Habsburghaus. You have a magnificent view of the path covered so far between Wechsel and Semmering at the Karl Ludwig Haus. At the end of the stage at the Habsburghaus, you look towards the neighboring Schneealpe, to the Ötscher, and if you come at the right time and the weather cooperates, you experience an unforgettable sunset.
Please check here for the current opening hours of the Habsburghaus before you start your route!
Starting point of the tour
Prein, Raxalpenhof
Destination point of the tour
Habsburghaus
Route description WAB - Stage 11: Prein - Habsburghaus
This stage starts in the town center of Prein an der Rax at the hiking hotel Raxalpenhof. For about 20 minutes, we walk uphill along the main street beside the Preinerbach. Shortly after the Doderer monument, we turn right onto the narrow asphalt road and go uphill to the parking lot at Griesleitenhof. We continue hiking the forest road uphill; Haidsteig and Preinerwandsteig branch off to the right after a few minutes, but we ignore them. After 20 minutes on the forest road, we reach the upper Griesleitengraben and from here follow the steep forest path uphill to the Waxriegelhaus (no rest day). From here, we already look onto the Siebenbrunnenkessel and the snake path winding upwards. Shortly, we descend from the Waxriegelhaus across a pasture and then ascend along the snake path in long serpentine bends onto the Rax. Shortly before the Karl-Ludwig-Haus, we have two different route options: directly uphill leads a shorter but steeper path secured with steel cables, or right via the Törl on an easier but longer path. At the Karl-Ludwig-Haus, we indulge ourselves culinarily before heading on to the Habsburghaus.
The onward path leads a few minutes downhill from the Karl-Ludwig-Haus to the Törl and from here further towards the Habsburghaus on the west slope of the Predigtstuhl. We hike gently downhill into a ravine through dwarf pines before it becomes steep uphill again on the other side of the ravine, and then we continue leisurely to the Habsburghaus. In clear weather, we enjoy the sunset over the Schneealpe. If the weather is not favorable, some alpine salamanders may appear.
Directions
Coming from Vienna on the A2, switch to the S6 towards Semmering/Bruck a.d. Mur/Neunkirchen West, exit the expressway at Gloggnitz. Continue on the B27 towards Höllental, shortly after Reichenau an der Rax turn left and follow the signs to Prein. Coming from Graz on the S6, exit the expressway at Mürzzuschlag West, drive on the B23 towards Mürzsteg, turn right off the B23 at Kapellen, and follow the signs via the Preiner Gscheid to Prein.
Parking
Parking is available at the Raxalpenhof in Prein.
Take the train via Wiener Neustadt to the Payerbach-Reichenau station. Then continue with the regional bus 1748 to the center of Prein an der Rax.
More information is available at www.oebb.at
Author's tip
Combine your hike with a stay at the wellness seminar hotel Raxalpenhof**** and get pampered. Bookable packages can be found here.
Please check here for the current opening hours of the Habsburghaus before you start your route!
