Nebelsteinweg II - Nr. 21

Route characteristics: 15% asphalt, 15% forest road, 70% forest trail

You start the Nebelstein Loop Trail at the Xundwärts Course (Motorikpark®) in Hirschenwies. Passing the Gasthof Nordwald and the fish ponds, continue on to the next house, where you’ll take the first right. Here, a longer, steady climb begins. At the second crossroads, keep to the right. After a short stretch on the forest road, turn left and begin the next climb through the woods. Wander through the magnificent natural surroundings and enjoy the incomparable Nordwald with all its diversity and the fresh forest air. The trail takes you past a wide variety of tree and shrub species. Pure nature!

After about a quarter of an hour, you’ll reach a forest clearing known as the Eselkopfwiese. Cross this clearing and you’ll come to a dirt road. Turn left and follow the road for about 15 to 20 minutes. From the next signpost, the Nebelstein is almost within reach. From the parking lot, walk another 10 minutes or so up a steep incline until you reach the Nebelstein Hut. Just before the hut, hiking trail No. 20 branches off to the right, leading toward Maissen.
Now all that’s left is the climb to the summit cross! You made it! Here, at 1,017 m above sea level, you’ll enjoy a breathtaking view stretching far across the Wald4tel and all the way to the Czech Republic—on a completely clear day, you can even make out the Ötscher and the Schneeberg in the distance. Maybe you’ll get lucky and spot one or two Alpine peaks through your binoculars! Located near the Czech border, the Nebelstein is the starting point and junction for numerous long-distance hiking trails, such as the North-South Long-Distance Trail (one of Austria’s oldest long-distance trails), the Thayatal Trail, the Kamptal Lakes Trail, and the Nordwaldkamm Trail.

Interesting rock formations, rock strata, and boulders hint at massive natural events from times long past. At the foot of the cliff, situated at an elevation of 1,000 meters above sea level, the Nebelsteinhut invites hikers to stop in and rest—and of course, a hearty snack is a must. The hut is open from early April through late October. The Nebelsteinhütte was voted the most popular hut in 2008 during the first-ever public poll “Mei liabste Hütt’n.” The descent from the Nebelstein completes the loop trail. You head back downhill toward the parking lot. About 50 meters before you reach it, turn right and follow the path. Here, the trail runs parallel to Hiking Trail No. 20 for about 2 km. After a stretch of forest road, the path narrows to a small trail that continues slightly downhill. After a good half hour, you’ll reach a forest clearing and walk through Hirschenwies from the other side. Passing a gray house, you’ll walk down along the edge of the forest toward the road until you reach the next intersection, where you’ll turn left. Follow this road until you reach the spot where you came from on the way there. There, turn right and head back down through the woods, past the fish ponds, and back to the Xundwärts-Parcours (Motorikpark®) Hirschenwies.