Description
The penultimate stage of the Mariazell Pilgrimage Trail starts in the village of Lackenhof, home to three hundred people, below the highest mountain in the Mostviertel region, the Ötscher (1893m). From the listed church built on a hill, we hike in a south-easterly direction along the signposted Mariazell trail, which immediately leads us quite steeply up the slopes of the Ötscher. After almost 500 meters of ascent, we reach the Riffelsattel and hike downhill from there towards the Ötschergräben. Beautiful hiking trails take us to the Schleierfall, where the wonderful gorge hike through the Ötschergräben starts. The landscape in the Ötschergräben is reminiscent of a Winnetou film. We only leave the Ötschergräben again at the "Ötscherhias" snack station and continue our hike in the direction of the Erlauf reservoir. A beautifully laid out nature trail leads us to Mitterbach, the end point of this tour.
Starting point of the tour
Lackenhof
Destination point of the tour
Mitterbach
Route description Upper Austria Mariazell Trail: B: 6th stage: Lackenhof - Mitterbach
From Lackenhof it becomes truly alpine. It goes steeply uphill almost 500 meters in altitude to the Riffelsattel (1,283 m). Mountain enthusiasts can make a detour to the Ötscherschutzhaus (1,418 m) or even stay overnight there. Those who want to hike through the Ötschergräben descend to the former guesthouse Spielbichler (927 m) and walk through it to the Ötscherhias (681 m). From Lackenhof to here it takes about 4.5 to 5 hours (variant via Ötscherschutzhaus 5.5 to 6 hours). Now uphill 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 (just under 2 hours from Ötscherhias to Mitterbach).
Variant: From Riffelsattel you can also reach Mariazell via Feldwiesalm, the Iron Herrgott, Zellerrain and Erlaufsee. Those in good shape can also descend here over the summit of Gemeindealpe (1,626 m) to Mitterbach (800 m).
Directions
Coming from Salzburg on the A1 to the Amstetten-Ost (108) exit, then drive on L97 to Steinakirchen am Forst. Via Purgstall an der Erlauf and Scheibbs you reach Lackenhof am Ötscher.
Parking
Parking available in Weitental near the valley station of Gr. Ötscher.
By train you can get from Amstetten to Waidhofen/Ybbs. From Waidhofen to Lunz am See you can take the buses of the VOR line.
