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Today, 11.02.2026
Light rain shower
Wind speed2,4 km/h
The Dirndltaler - Pielachtaler circular hiking trail No. 652
Hiking tour Starting from Ober-Grafendorf station
- Difficulty: Difficult
- Distance: 116,42 km
- Duration: 36:00 h
- Ascent: 4026 m elevation gain
- Descent: 4026 m elevation gain
115 kilometers uphill and downhill, the sections can be individually combined, the Mariazellerbahn is the connecting element. A route for young and old – at any time of the year.
- Starting point of the tour
- Ober-Grafendorf station
- Tour destination
- Ober-Grafendorf station
- Difficulty: Difficult
- Distance: 116,42 km
- Duration: 36:00 h
- Ascent: 4026 m elevation gain
- Descent: 4026 m elevation gain
- Fitness level required:6/6
- Overall experience:4/6
- Scenery:5/6
- Lowest point277 m
- Highest point936 m
- Round tour
- Stage tour
- Nice views
- With refreshment stops
Description
On the Pielachtaler circular hiking trail, you can overlook the garden of the foothills in all its richness. The path runs past flat fields, over gentle hills, and moderately difficult sections. The Mariazellerbahn is a constant companion.
The Pielachtaler circular hiking trail winds for 115 kilometers around the Pielach, one of the cleanest rivers in Europe, and its tributaries. Those who complete the entire route overcome 5,300 meters of elevation gain. A long-distance trail for ambitious hikers.
The Pielachtaler circular hiking trail No. 652 - known simply as the Dirndltaler - was originally established in 1977 by initiator Anton Stöckl. The route runs less from hut to hut and more from village to village – where countless opportunities for overnight stays and discoveries await during the descent.
- Equipment Sturdy footwear, hiking poles, provisions
- Route description Section 1:Stage 1: Ober-Grafendorf - Hofstetten-GrünauOber-Grafendorf is the ideal starting point of the long journey through the Pielach valley. The starting point is the station of the Mariazellerbahn, crossing the tracks to the right, then immediately left. At a distinctive linden tree, turn right towards Baumgarten (control point at Gh. Hehal). In Baumgarten one must be careful: since the path can be walked in both directions, there are also arrows pointing both ways. We reach a flat wooded area, soon a hill with a raised hide and beautiful views of a valley. The path continues along a short section of road to Dietmannsdorf. At the chapel, turn right leaving the road, gently uphill into a forest until reaching the Eck control point (refreshments at the Most fountain). Along the municipal road, we reach a few farms in a very beautiful location. At a distinctive tree with numerous signposts, turn left. The path leads past the farms Kleinöd, Kleinaggschuß, and Antlas, then uphill to a hill where the view to the south opens up for the first time over the Pielach valley as far as the Ötscher. Now the path follows a private road, then descends right to the church of Grünau.Stage 2: Hofstetten-Grünau - LuftContinue along a private road, then descend right to the church of Grünau. There the path turns right into the village, and we reach the control point at the church square. We follow the markings to the cemetery. Then continue straight ahead, over a meadow and shortly crossing the Grünsbach road. For a long time, we now leave the valley, going briefly steeply uphill to a private road leading to Hof Fischereck, where the view opens to the Pielach valley and Mainburg. Soon the farm Gnauöd (control point) is reached. A beautiful meadow follows, a solitary tree, and the possibility to descend to Rabenstein, the birthplace of Cardinal König. The path leads straight ahead towards the forest and further to the Mühlberg chapel. There we join the Foothills trail (04), the European long-distance trail (E4), and the Roman road (651) and leave the forest with a view of Rabenstein, its ruins, and the Geisbühel. Shortly after, at Neuhauser Höhe, the view extends as far as the Waldviertel. It goes down to Wetterlucke (refreshments at the Roman fountain) and then steeply uphill over Stierberg, on to Hohenbrand and finally to Lufthöhe (control point).Section 2:Stage 3: Luft - Grültalkogel hutAfter the former inn Luft, we reach a gravel pit, which we bypass, and after 50 minutes reach the distinctive farm Gsoll. Now the path becomes remarkably scenic. We overcome a few meters in elevation and soon reach the watershed between Mank and Pielach at 750 m. In clear weather, the view is intoxicating. Grassland dominates; we are now definitely in the alpine Mostviertel. At Eckhöhe (746 m) the path splits again: either take the shortcut north of Bichlberg and conquer Bichlberg (859 m) or bypass it south and follow the marked Pielachtaler circular hiking trail. But beware: the Roman road and the Dirndltaler separate here after a long stretch – follow the marking of the Dirndltaler (No. 652). Leaving the forest, we come onto a field path, which we follow downhill to the farm Groß-Brandgraben. From there, we go over a longer meadow section to a private road, which we leave shortly before the Schwabeck cross, and after about 50 m, reach the control point. The path becomes steep; finally, we reach Grültalkogel (886 m) and the beautifully situated Grültalkogel hut.Stage 4: Grültalkogel hut - HöbartenFrom there, a beautiful forest path leads over Walzberg and Asangkogel (view of Ötscher!). Then steeply downhill to the state road near Plankenstein, past the wayside shrine and after 50 m left onto a private road, which leads onto a meadow path. Along the houses of Eck farm, we reach a paved road and Schlagerboden. We follow the marked route with numerous curves up and down and regularly pass one isolated farm after another. After Statzgrub farm, we go around Statzberg (948 m) to the north on a beautiful forest path. Soon, from the road at a higher point, we can see Himmelbauer and a chapel. The view from there is stunning; the Ötscher is all but within reach. On some days, 'fog refugees' from the valley gather here to enjoy the view as far as the Gesäuse. Initially on flat terrain, then gently downhill, passing two farms, we reach the fourfold fork and the control point at the Höbarten most tavern. Those still with energy can refresh here, continue to Frankenfels to stay overnight, and travel by train to Laubenbachmühle the next day – or simply stay overnight at the Höbarten most tavern.Section 3:Stage 5: Höbarten - LaubenbachmühleThe following two sections are longer than the first two. It is advisable to divide the last section into two parts. From Höbarten, we go straight east and follow the trail marking towards Frankenfelsberg. After Wiesel farm, a varied section over forest and meadows past several farms follows until after some ups and downs we reach Hof Hausstein (Jakobus wayside shrine), another control point. Further at the parking lot in the direction of Nixhöhle, we reach the federal road via a saddle. From there, it briefly goes uphill and then downhill again to the impressive Laubenbachmühle station (control point), the operational center of the Mariazellerbahn.Stage 6: Laubenbachmühle - SchwarzenbachThe path now goes uphill; a beautiful trail with views of Puchenstuben leads us to the idyllic Hübergang farm. We reach a municipal road and after some curves (watch the markings!), reach the farms Eben and Fischbachmühle. The trail offers all the advantages of the foothills: a small-structured landscape, solitary trees on wide, steep meadows, views of the valleys or the surrounding slopes, and sometimes the Ötscher. Soon, we enter the ravine of Fischbachmühlrotte, turn right there, and shortly after uphill left towards the Eibeck snack station (managed, accommodation available). Then on to the saddle of Gromann (1076 m, beautiful view at the summit), into Waitzgraben and Taschelgraben to Schwarzenbach (control point). The path is impressive. In spring and early summer, the lush greenery sprouts; in summer, the forests provide shade, and in autumn, the Pielachtal Indian summer flaunts – the forest transforms into a spectacle of all possible earth tones.Stage 7: Schwarzenbach - LoichWe leave the town Schwarzenbach heading northeast. At the fire station, we cross the Pielach and pass an ascending path by Staudach farm and Perneben farm. From here, a ridge path leads past more farms. The path climbs moderately and reaches Brendtweide. Past Schnabelstein (955 m), we come upon a private road, which we turn right from and shortly after leave again to reach a cart track. This initially ascends, then after a short flat section goes steeply downhill to Hof Stuben. On the road, we turn right until the third junction. Soon we reach Hof Eben and then a forest path, which is easy to miss. This leads us back to the road after about 15 minutes. The next control point, Loich, is reached in a few minutes.Section 4:Stage 8: Loich - KaiserkogelFrom Loich, the route goes uphill on a beautiful forest path until the terrain opens up and we reach Hof Kirchner. Then do not follow the road but cross a meadow into the forest, passing numerous fruit trees and more farms to a chapel. There, turn right to a junction, then towards Am Ort. Past the farm, it is almost level until Hof Auf der Öd. Here we turn left, go through the orchard and then over a meadow. After a steeply descending forest path, we see Hof Stein (control point) about 500 m below on the right, which we reach. The private road leads us into Sois ravine. There we go left and after about 250 m right into Hachgraben. On broad and easy paths, the state road near Tradig is quickly reached. From here, turning right, after about 60 m we head toward Hauerberg. Then on a level path to Eckbauer. At the farm, we turn right and cross a meadow into a short forest section, then downhill over a meadow, past Hofstetter to Oberer (control point) and the Geiseben saddle. Then we bypass a quarry, pass Geisberg, and go down a small saddle. We reach Hof Rempelsberg, then on a drive north to the farms Gottfriedsberg and Kaiserberg. Then a short climb westward on a small saddle and right on a footpath to the summit of Kaiserkogel (716 m; control point, overnight accommodation possible).Stage 9: Kaiserkogel - Ober-GrafendorfAfter this final highlight of the circular route, the path leads us to Meiselhöhe (521 m, connecting road Plambach–Steubach). After crossing the road, we hike about 1.5 kilometers on Plambacheckstraße. Then a path leads left slightly uphill to Plambachecker Höhe (621 m), over which we can descend to Hofstetten-Grünau (1 hour). If we want to complete the circular route, we follow a private road to the right. We now make good progress over meadows and past the farms Gerstlund Maier-Fuchs (control point), a very different character than at the start of the hike. Noticeable is the large industrial site of the company Constantia-Teich, an important employer in the region. The path leads to a junction where we go left towards Badendorf and after leaving the town right. After another right curve, the path bends sharply left. We cross Rennersdorf and cross the main road. Along the Pielach, it continues to Ober-Grafendorf, where we return to the station.
- Public transport We recommend traveling with the Mariazellerbahn to Ober-Grafendorf. www.mariazellerbahn.at
- Editor’s tip Book the accommodations in advance and cover individual sections with the Mariazellerbahn!
Recommended period
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Current weather on site
5° to 9°
3° to 9°
Tomorrow, 12.02.2026
Light rain
Wind speed1,2 km/h