Details for: Nature park entrance Eibenboden: Vorderen Tormäuer - Nestelbergrunde
Brief description
A diverse hike along the gently flowing Erlauf, past waterfalls and into an enchanted village.
Description
The route starts at the nature park entrance Eibenboden and after a short stretch of forest road you enter the seemingly untouched nature of the Vorderen Tormäuer. Along the cold, clear Erlauf the path leads past Hundsbachfall and Trefflingfall to the Toreckklamm - a natural bottleneck of the Erlauf and the birthplace of the Ötscher-Tormäuer Nature Park as a protest against a planned power plant construction at this location. The Kirchensteig then leads to Nestelberg, probably the most remote place in the entire region. Formerly inhabited by woodcutter families, today just under 30 people live surrounded by pure nature. From the Kassteig you reach the former Nestelbergmühle and then back to the starting point.
Starting point of the tour
Nature park entrance Eibenboden
Destination point of the tour
Nature park entrance Eibenboden
Route description Nature park entrance Eibenboden: Vorderen Tormäuer - Nestelbergrunde
From the nature park entrance Eibenboden (445 m) go up the access road to the Eibenhöfe a bit, at the first hairpin turn turn right onto a forest path to the Eibenmühle. Then a short descent and continue along the Erlauf past the Hundsbachfall to the footbridge under the Trefflingfall (474 m, ¾ hr).
Then cross the following Toreckklamm, only a few meters wide, on a path carved into the rock. Continue 20 minutes upstream to the fork Kirchensteig/Nestelberg – from here via Nestelberg and the Brennwiese onto the "Kassteig". Descent to the former Nestelbergmühle and return to Eibenboden (approx. 2 hrs)
Directions
The nature park entrance Eibenboden is accessible via Kienberg (turnoff at the inn "Erlauftalerhof") or via Gaming (turnoff at the Mariensäule). From Lackenhof via Ötscherwiese, Raneck, Nestelbergsäge, and the Nestelberggraben.
Parking
A paid parking lot is located directly at the nature park entrance Eibenboden - day ticket for cars €5
The income from parking management benefits the maintenance of the nature park. (at the parking meter, only coin payment possible)
Author's tip
Along the Erlauf there are occasional bays to cool tired feet.
A detour to the Trefflingfall, the highest waterfall in the country, is also worth it!
