Bärentrail Sidestep Rock Garden

There are places where you can climb on and through stones. Surefootedness is required for this. The stones may be slippery. Stay on the marked path and do not make noise.

Hiking shoes, functional clothing, sun and rain protection, Bärentrail hiking map, first aid kit (blister plasters), sufficient provisions (water, fruit, snack). On this route there is no place to rest or eat. Don’t forget your camera/phone; you will truly discover monstrous rock formations.

On the road between Hausbach and Neustift, directly on the Great Bärentrail, after the village of Feuranz, you will find the start/finish and info board. Follow the Bärentrail Sidestep signposts. The path leads you uphill through bright 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 Four-Markets Trail, you then reach the “Glacier Mill”. Now hike back the stretch to the forest fork on the same path, follow the marking that makes the sidestep a loop. If you continue on the Great Bärentrail, there is a fork to the left at the hunting stand. If you want to return to the road, the starting point, go straight down the slope.

A few parking spots along the road at the start/finish board

From Vienna: Approx. 130 km, about 1 hour 40 minutes: A22 Stockerau, S5 to Krems, B37 to Rastenfeld, B38 Bohemian Forest Federal Road to Zwettl and further towards Groß Gerungs, after Merzenstein on B124 towards Rappottenstein.

From Linz: Approx. 95 km, S10 towards Freistadt, B38 Bohemian Forest Federal Road to Groß Gerungs, continue to Etzen, at Etzen take L7309 towards Kirchbach and Rappottenstein.

Bärentrail public transport guide online at www.baerentrail.at/oeffi-guide.

You can plan your route with the VOR route planner: www.anachb.vor.at.

Or simply call a Bärentrail taxi: www.baerentrail.at/baerentrail-taxis/

Tip for the strong and speedy:

You will greatly enjoy it if you additionally (outside the Bärentrail marking) hike further up the mountainside by the Glacier Mill on the 612 trail. Because there you will come to more impressive rock formations, such as the “Stone Chamber”. This is a natural shelter typical for the granite landscape. On the rock above are so-called “offer bowls”. A bit further and you reach the “Burgleiten”. From here you have a wonderful view. This is a ruin complex probably built at the end of the 12th century. You find the connection to the Great Bärentrail by going back the same way – to the large forest fork near the Stone Archway – then go left and follow the Bärentrail signs.