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Bärentrail Sidestep Felsengarten
Hiking tour Starting from On the road between Hausbach and Neustift, near Feuranz, municipality of Rappottenstein, directly on the Great Bärentrail
- Difficulty: Easy
- Distance: 5,07 km
- Duration: 1:45 h
- Ascent: 116 m elevation gain
- Descent: 116 m elevation gain
Particularly bizarre! On the Great Bear Trail between Hausbach, Neustift and Lembach, municipality of Rappottenstein In addition to the Big Bear Trail, the Little Bear Trail and 6 shorter Teddy Bear Trails, we have an insider tip for you: the Bear Trail Sidestep FELSENGARTEN. You can explore the trail as a stand-alone loop or as a branch trail within your Great Bear Trail hike. The start and finish are on the road between Hausbach and Neustift, at Feuranz. Lembach lies to the north of this. Features: Several bizarre rock formations in the forest, sparse pine forests, varied adventure (rocks, forest).
- Starting point of the tour
- On the road between Hausbach and Neustift, near Feuranz, municipality of Rappottenstein, directly on the Great Bärentrail
- Tour destination
- On the road between Hausbach and Neustift, near Feuranz, municipality of Rappottenstein, directly on the Great Bärentrail
- Difficulty: Easy
- Distance: 5,07 km
- Duration: 1:45 h
- Ascent: 116 m elevation gain
- Descent: 116 m elevation gain
- Fitness level required:2/6
- Overall experience:6/6
- Scenery:6/6
- Lowest point702 m
- Highest point785 m
- Round tour
- Stage tour
- Suitable for families and children
Particularly bizarre! On the Great Bear Trail between Hausbach, Neustift and Lembach, municipality of Rappottenstein In addition to the Big Bear Trail, the Little Bear Trail and 6 shorter Teddy Bear Trails, we have an insider tip for you: the Bear Trail Sidestep FELSENGARTEN. You can explore the trail as a stand-alone loop or as a branch trail within your Great Bear Trail hike. The start and finish are on the road between Hausbach and Neustift, at Feuranz. Lembach lies to the north of this. Features: Several bizarre rock formations in the forest, sparse pine forests, varied adventure (rocks, forest).
"Fichtenschluff", "Pilzstein", "Steinerner Torbogen", "Wuchtelstein", "Gletschermühle" are the names of the bizarre rock formations that are really worth seeing. The "Stone Archway" is an extremely rare geological phenomenon, as archways are usually found in the limestone mountains. The granite archway stretches between two large boulders. You can walk through the bottom and over the top. From the archway, you can look down on the "Wuchtelstein", which looks just like its name. The "Gletschermühle" is an approx. 12 m high granite tower with peculiar, hollow-like depressions reminiscent of a glacier mill. However, the rock formation has nothing to do with the ice age: The bizarre granite shapes were formed by weathering of the over 350 million year old primary rock massif. ("Real" glacier mills are spiral-shaped hollows in the ice formed by meltwater).
- safety instructions There are spots where you can climb on and through stones. Sure-footedness is required. The stones might be slippery. Stay on the marked path and keep quiet.
- Equipment Hiking boots, functional clothing, sun and rain protection, Bärentrail hiking map, first aid kit (blister plasters), sufficient provisions (water, fruit, snack). There is no possibility to stop for food on this route. Don’t forget your camera/phone, you will truly discover monstrous rock formations.
- Route description On the road between Hausbach and Neustift, located directly on the Great Bärentrail, after the village of Feuranz you will find the start/finish and info board. Follow the Bärentrail Sidestep marker signs. The path leads you uphill through sparse pine forests. Blueberry bushes as far as the eye can see. You will encounter bizarre rock formations called "Fichtenschluf" and "Pilzstein." The "Stone Archway" is particularly charming. Parallel to the 612 Vier-Märkte-Weg you then reach the "Gletschermühle." Now hike back the section to the fork in the forest on the same path, following the marker that makes the Sidestep a round trail. If you continue on the Great Bärentrail, there is a fork to the left at the high seat. If you want to return to the road, the starting point, go straight down the slope again.
- Parking Some limited parking options along the road near the start/finish board
- Getting there From Vienna: Approx. 130 km, about 1 hr 40 min: A22 Stockerau, S5 to Krems, B37 to Rastenfeld, B38 Bohemian Forest federal road to Zwettl and further towards Groß Gerungs, then to Merzenstein on B124 towards Rappottenstein.From Linz: Approx. 95 km, S10 towards Freistadt, B38 Bohemian Forest federal road to Groß Gerungs, continuing to Etzen, then from Etzen take L7309 towards Kirchbach and Rappottenstein.
- Public transport Bärentrail public transport guide online at www.baerentrail.at/oeffi-guide. You can plan your route with VOR’s route planner: www.anachb.vor.at. Or simply call a Bärentrail taxi: www.baerentrail.at/baerentrail-taxis/
- Editor’s tip Tip for strong and fast hikers: You will greatly enjoy additionally (outside the Bärentrail marking) hiking further up the mountainside at the Gletschermühle on the 612 path. There you will reach more impressive rock formations, such as the “Stone Room.” This is a natural shelter typical for granite landscapes. On the rock above there are so-called "offering bowls." A bit further on you reach the "Burgleiten." From here you have a beautiful view. This is a ruin site probably built at the end of the 12th century. The connection to the Great Bärentrail can be found by returning the same way to the large fork in the forest near the Stone Archway. There turn left and follow the Bärentrail signs.
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Bärentrail website:www.baerentrail.at/sidesteps
Bärentrail taxis:www.baerentrail.at/baerentrail-taxis/
BÄRENWALD Arbesbach:www.baerenwald.at (start and finish of the Great Bärentrail)
Waldviertel Tourism
3910 Zwettl, Sparkassenplatz 1/2/2
(T) +43 2822 54109
(E) info@waldviertel.at
(I) www.waldviertel.at
Letzte Änderung: 16 Mar 2026