Upper Austria Mariazell route: D: 6th stage: Lackenhof - Mitterbach

Description

The penultimate stage on the Mariazell pilgrimage path starts in the three-hundred-soul village of Lackenhof, below the highest mountain of the Mostviertel, the Ötscher (1893m). From the listed church built on a hill, we hike southeast along the signposted Mariazell path, which leads us steeply up the slopes of the Ötscher. The name Ötscher probably comes from Slavic and translates roughly as "Father Mountain". Around the mountain the 170 km² large Ötscher-Tormäuer Nature Park was established in 1970, the largest nature park in Lower Austria. After almost 500 meters of ascent, we reach the Riffelsattel and hike downhill towards the Ötschergräben. Shortly after the former inn Spielbichler, the pilgrim is offered a wonderful panorama to the summit of the Ötscher in the north and the foothills of the Ötschergräben in the south. On beautiful hiking trails we reach the Schleierfall, where the magnificent gorge hike through the Ötschergräben begins. The landscape in the Ötschergräben reminds one of a Winnetou film - steep rock walls limit the gorge on both sides, turquoise water makes its way through the limestone. Only at the inn "Ötscherhias" do we leave the Ötschergräben again and continue our hike towards the Erlauf reservoir. Once again it goes uphill, we pass a mill, make a short stop at a wooden chapel and come to the elongated Erlauf reservoir. A beautifully designed nature trail leads us to Mitterbach, the endpoint of this tour.

Starting point of the tour

Lackenhof

Destination point of the tour

Mitterbach

Route description Upper Austria Mariazell route: D: 6th stage: Lackenhof - Mitterbach

From Lackenhof it gets truly alpine. Almost 500 meters of elevation gain lead steeply up to the Riffelsattel (1,283 m). Mountain enthusiasts can also take a detour to the Ötscherschutzhaus (1,418 m) or stay overnight there. Those who want to go through the Ötschergräben descend to the former inn Spielbichler (927 m) and walk through it to the Ötscherhias (681 m). This takes about 4.5 to 5 hours from Lackenhof (variant via Ötscherschutzhaus 5.5 to 6 hours). Then upwards to the Forsthaus Hagen (833 m) and directly along the Erlauf reservoir to Mitterbach (800 m), where you meet the Via Sacra coming from Vienna (almost 2 hours from Ötscherhias to Mitterbach).

Variant: From Riffelsattel you can also reach Mariazell via Feldwiesalm, the Iron Herrgott, Zellerrain and Erlaufsee. Those with good stamina can also descend to Mitterbach (800 m) via the summit of the Gemeindealpe (1,626 m).