Hoher Stein bei Großweißenbach

The Hohe Stein near Großweißenbach is a real primeval rock in the Waldviertel and a popular destination for hikers and nature lovers. A relaxed hike leads through quiet, untouched forests, past the rustling of the spruce trees and the gentle rippling of the Kamp Valley ("Kamptal" in German). At the top, the summit cross awaits on the rocky colossus, accessible via a small via ferrata, which will delight the particularly adventurous.

The Hohe Stein is a remnant of the ancient Variscan mountains and has been a natural monument for 30 years. Scientists believe that the mountains were around 5,000 meters high around 300 million years ago, before erosion shaped the landscape and left behind plateaus. At 659 meters, the Hoher Stein is no longer a giant, but it gives an impressive impression of the geological history of the Bohemian Massif in the Waldviertel.

Hikes on the Hoher Stein can be organized flexibly. The Naturfreundeweg 6 trail from Großweißenbach leads to the summit in around 45 minutes. Climbing is allowed on the last section before you reach the summit cross, a wooden structure that replaces the original iron cross from 1971. If you have more time, you can combine other tours, for example via the Naturfreundeweg 5 trail towards Uttissenbachmühle or trail 3 from Zwettl.

The Weißenbachklamm gorge is a worthwhile destination nearby, so that two easy tours can be perfectly combined into a day trip. The Hohe Stein offers tranquillity, an experience of nature and a piece of living geological history in the middle of the Waldviertel.