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Gemeindealpe - Vorderötscher - Hintere Ötscher ravines - Mitterbach
Hiking tour Starting from Nature park entrance Mitterbach
- Difficulty: Difficult
- Distance: 17,69 km
- Duration: 5:50 h
- Ascent: 263 m elevation gain
- Descent: 1062 m elevation gain
Beautiful mountain tour to the Gemeindealpe and through the Ötschergräben with fantastic views of the Lower Austrian and Styrian mountains.
- Starting point of the tour
- Nature park entrance Mitterbach
- Tour destination
- Nature park entrance Mitterbach
- Difficulty: Difficult
- Distance: 17,69 km
- Duration: 5:50 h
- Ascent: 263 m elevation gain
- Descent: 1062 m elevation gain
- Fitness level required:6/6
- Overall experience:4/6
- Scenery:6/6
- Lowest point671 m
- Highest point1612 m
- Round tour
- Nice views
- With refreshment stops
- Accessibility by train and bus
- Summit tour
Description
The tour starts at the Terzerhaus at the summit of the Gemeindealpe, accessible either on foot or by chair lift. The trail then leads downhill along small paths to the Vorderötscher refuge, where you can stop for refreshments and overnight accommodation. The trail then continues downhill into the Ötschergräben, past the Schleier and Mirafall waterfalls to the Ötscherhias snack station. The trail then continues towards the Erlauf reservoir. Here you can board the Mariazellerbahn at the Erlaufklause. If you want to finish the tour on foot, you can continue along the picturesque Erlauf reservoir to Mitterbach.
- safety instructions Mountain rescue: 140International emergency number: 112Please check in advance for any trail or road closures in the Naturpark Ötscher-Tormäuer. You can find this information at https://www.naturpark-oetscher.at/aktuelles-top-informiert-im-naturpark
- Equipment Sturdy mountain footwear, rain protection, provisions, possibly sticks, first aid kit, mobile phone
- Route description The start is at the nature park entrance in Mitterbach. In Mitterbach, take the chairlift up (alternatively, from Mitterbach ascend on foot to the Gemeindealpe via trail 622 - crossing the chairlift several times - about 2 hours). From the mountain station, follow trail 05 or 622 downhill to the "Iron Hergott". There, take the right descent (Geißriedel) on a marked, initially steep path to the Vorderötscher shelter. (about 1 1/2 hours if using the lift).From the shelter, descend through the steep Greimelgraben to the Greimelsteg (752m, 20-30 minutes). Follow forest path 622 or 06B through the Ötscher ravines past Mirafall to the Ötscherhias snack station (680m, about 2 hours from Vorderötscher).At Ötscherhias, follow the railway hiking trail to the Erlauf reservoir (possibility to return by train from the Erlaufklause station with the Mariazellerbahn to Mitterbach (about 3/4 hour from Ötscherhias)) or continue on foot along the Erlauf reservoir towards Mitterbach and back to the nature park entrance (about 1 3/4 hours from Ötscherhias).
- Parking Parking is available at the nature park entrance in Mitterbach or at the Gemeindealpe lift parking lot.
- Getting there Coming from the A1, exit the motorway at St. Pölten South and follow the B20 towards Mariazell until reaching Mitterbach. Here, the parking lot at the valley station of the Gemeindealpe can be used.
- Public transport Take the Mariazellerbahn to Mitterbach station. If shortening the route, you can board at the Erlaufklause station.
- Editor’s tip At the confluence of Greimelbach and Ötscherbach (Greimelsteg), a short detour upstream to the impressive Schleierfall waterfall is worthwhile.Alternatively, it is possible to hike through the entire Ötscher ravines. From Wienerbruck, you can return to Mitterbach via the Mariazellerbahn.
Recommended period
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Ybbstaler Alps - Tourism Association
+43 5/93049
Nature Park Ötscher-Tormäuer
T +43 2728 / 21 100
Vorderötscher shelter (888m, renovated and expanded in 2014, operated from May to October, www.naturpark-oetscher.at/vorderoetscher).
Ötscherhias snack station (680m, open May to October, daily until about 5 p.m., www.oetscherhias.at).
Letzte Änderung: 16 Mar 2026