Grand Wolf Spirit Circle
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Hiking tour Starting from Pottenstein Main Square
The village of Pottenstein is located in the Triestingtal valley to the west of the town of Berndorf in a valley widening, nestled in a gently rolling landscape. In addition to the main town, the villages of Fahrafeld and Grabenweg also belong to the municipality of Pottenstein. The hiking tours in the municipality lead either to the hills of the Vienna Woods to the north of the Triesting, where the 500-metre altitude mark is rarely reached, or to the mountains around the Waxeneck (796 m) to the south of the municipality, where the altitude can easily exceed 800 meters. Cozy huts and inns invite you to take a break. You often walk through sparse black pine forests, which give the area its Mediterranean character. Deciduous and mixed forests are more common on the wetter northern slopes and at higher altitudes. An exception to this is the "Culture and Nature Trail" in the Fahrafelder Becken basin, which runs along the edge of this basin or along the Triestingtal cycle path and is flat with hardly any elevation gain. In Pottenstein, there are several culturally interesting points to visit along the hiking tours: The Ferdinand Raimund monument directly on the main square and the Ferdinand Raimund death house on the main square, the pilgrimage church "Maria Trost im Elend" and the double charnel house from the 13th century, ( ossuary behind the church, permanent exhibition "Das kleine Andachtsbild "), the "Alte Herrenhaus" of the former cloth factory with exhibition room, the vacation cross from the 16th century on the main road, the Antoniusbründl with chapel drinking water spring. This makes for varied and interesting hikes in and around Pottenstein.
The village of Pottenstein is located in the Triestingtal valley to the west of the town of Berndorf in a valley widening, nestled in a gently rolling landscape. In addition to the main town, the villages of Fahrafeld and Grabenweg also belong to the municipality of Pottenstein. The hiking tours in the municipality lead either to the hills of the Vienna Woods to the north of the Triesting, where the 500-metre altitude mark is rarely reached, or to the mountains around the Waxeneck (796 m) to the south of the municipality, where the altitude can easily exceed 800 meters. Cozy huts and inns invite you to take a break. You often walk through sparse black pine forests, which give the area its Mediterranean character. Deciduous and mixed forests are more common on the wetter northern slopes and at higher altitudes. An exception to this is the "Culture and Nature Trail" in the Fahrafelder Becken basin, which runs along the edge of this basin or along the Triestingtal cycle path and is flat with hardly any elevation gain. In Pottenstein, there are several culturally interesting points to visit along the hiking tours: The Ferdinand Raimund monument directly on the main square and the Ferdinand Raimund death house on the main square, the pilgrimage church "Maria Trost im Elend" and the double charnel house from the 13th century, ( ossuary behind the church, permanent exhibition "Das kleine Andachtsbild "), the "Alte Herrenhaus" of the former cloth factory with exhibition room, the vacation cross from the 16th century on the main road, the Antoniusbründl with chapel drinking water spring. This makes for varied and interesting hikes in and around Pottenstein.
This longer tour from Pottenstein through the Haselbachgraben to Wolfsgeist and via Wolfsföhre back to Pottenstein begins by crossing the village of Pottenstein in a westerly direction (past the pilgrimage church "Maria Trost im Elend", the Doppelkarner and the "Alter Herrenhaus").
Finally, you have to walk another 800 m along the main road 18 until you reach the Haselbachgraben. From here on, however, you are surrounded by beautiful countryside with streams, ponds, extensive meadows and mixed forests. After a short climb up the inconspicuous Wolfsgeistberg, which is approx. 490 m above sea level, you can enjoy a beautiful view as far as the Schneeberg just before the hut.
The way back leads along well-maintained paths through forests to the Wolfsföhre and the Herrgottskreuz. You descend through sparse pine forests towards Pottenstein and pass the "Kahlkopf" just before the village. You should not avoid the few meters of altitude on this small ridge, as this hill offers a very beautiful view of the villages of Berndorf and Pottenstein as well as Guglzipf, Größenberg, Hohe Wand and Mandling. Back in the village, you can also visit the "Urlauberkreuz" (vacation cross) on the main road.
Standard Hiking Gear
At the main square, turn west and, after a few meters, turn onto Hainfelderstraße (marked in red). Immediately after that, you’ll come to the church “Maria Trost im Elend,” and you should also visit the double ossuary (permanent exhibition) located behind the church. The trail continues along Hainfelderstraße, past the courthouse and the “Altes Herrenhaus” across the street. Stay on Hainfelderstraße until you reach the B 18. Passing the turnoff into Einsiedlergraben (marked and signposted in blue), continue along the B 18 for 800 m until you reach a side road. Here, the Haselbachgraben branches off to the right between the houses (faintly marked in blue). Initially on asphalt, but soon on a wide gravel road, follow the stream on level ground into the valley. After 1 km, at Point 363, the trail to Gadenweith branches off to the left; however, continue half-right (unmarked) along the forest road. Passing by extensive meadows and fishing ponds, you’ll reach a fork (200 m past the fishing ponds). Take the forest road branching off to the right, which starts out flat but then climbs steeply uphill through a side ditch. This brings you to the rest area at an elevation of 455 m. (A short detour to the left leads to the “Red Cross.”) At the rest area, follow the yellow-marked trail signs to the right and uphill. You’ll soon come to several trail forks; here, stay on the path 10 m to the right of the main trail, as the main trail is always wet and muddy. After crossing a hilltop and then heading downhill, do not take the marked trail that veers off to the left; instead, descend along the straight path leading down to the meadows (view of Schneeberg).
Continue uphill on a vehicle trail to the edge of the forest. Here, cross the gravel path and head directly onto a forest trail (“Loipe”) that leads gently into the woods. Soon you’ll come to a wide forest road, marked in blue (and labeled “Loipe”), which leads through the forest along the slope of the “Hausberg” toward Wolfsföhre. Some sections of the trail here are always damp. Head downhill through the forest—the path eventually flattens out—until you reach the “Wolfsföhre” saddle at an elevation of 435 m, where several trails intersect. Here you’ll also find the “Herrgottskreuz” and a rest area. From here, keep to the right, following the signpost for “Pottenstein and Berndorf” and the red markings. On a wide, often wet forest path, you’ll reach a forest road (signpost for Pottenstein) after 500 m on a gentle descent; follow this road just 10 m to the left before immediately turning right onto a path (red) that runs parallel to the forest road for a short distance. After crossing a small hilltop with a rest area and then descending along a clearing, you’ll reach a fork in the trail. To the left, a trail (red) leads to Berndorf; take the forest road leading downhill to the right (sign “Pottenstein, red”). You now hike through the sparse pine forests until a small hill comes into view on the left (“Kahlkopf”). Follow the trails up this hill to enjoy the beautiful view from the top (rest area). Back on the trail, follow the forest road (red) through a small valley, continuing downhill until you soon reach an asphalt road. Passing a quarry and rocky slopes, you’ll reach Blumentalgasse (red), which leads to the main street
. The route continues to the right toward the main square, but you should first take a short detour (20 m) to the left to see the “Urlauberkreuz.” Heading west on the main road, you’ll soon reach the starting point at the main square.
Parking at the Main Square
Parking Note: Please follow local parking regulations and check for any parking fees or time restrictions. We recommend checking the parking situation in advance to ensure a stress-free arrival.
Take the Leobersdorf exit on the A2 Südautobahn, then follow the Hainfelder Bundesstraße B 18 to Pottenstein; at the traffic light, turn right toward the town center.
If arriving by public transportation from the Pottenstein train station, cross the Triesting River via a footbridge from Bahngasse, then cross the B 18 and follow a footpath to Hainfelderstraße in Pottenstein.
Grand Wolfsgeist Loop
Vienna Woods Tourism
3002 Purkersdorf, Hauptplatz 11
Tel. 02231/621 76
Fax 02231/655 10
Leader Region Triestingtal
2560 Berndorf, Leobersdorfer Straße 42
Phone/Fax 02672-87001
office@triestingtal.at
Market Town of Pottenstein on the Triesting
2563 Pottenstein, Hauptplatz 13
Phone: 02672-82424
Fax: 02672-82424-31
www.pottenstein.at
Letzte Änderung: 6 Aug 2026