• Drei Personen sitzen am Ufer der Scharzach im Höllental am Wanderweg 1. Wiener Wasserleitungsweg und machen Pause. Rundum sie ragen Felden und Bäume in die Höhe.
    ©© Niederösterreich Werbung/Robin Uthe

The Höllental

Wild and romantic nature experience on the Schwarza between Schneeberg and Rax.

Rugged rock faces climb steeply upwards and crystal-clear drinking water bubbles between idyllic sandbanks at the bottom of the valley. The Schwarza in the Höllental is a wonderful place to relax and refresh yourself. Hikers and mountaineers can reach legendary routes where alpine history was written. The Höllental valley between Hirschwang an der Rax and Schwarzau im Gebirge is one of the most idyllic places in the Vienna Alps.

©© Niederösterreich Werbung/Robin Uthe

Hiking along the water pipe trail

The purest drinking water flows through the Höllental valley, which has been supplying the city of Vienna for almost 150 years.

Along the historic pipeline, which follows the natural contours of the landscape, you reach the Kaiserbrunn Water Pipeline Museum on the 3.7 kilometre-long water pipeline trail.

A trip to the Reichenau spa gardens with playground and café is ideal for children.

Höllental railway & Höllental view

From Payerbach railway station, the Höllentalbahn, a narrow-gauge museum railway with lovingly renovated railcars, leads past the magnificent summer resort villas directly under the Rax. The nearby Rax cable car is the most comfortable way to reach the alpine high plateau. By the way: the most impressive view of the rugged canyon is probably from the so-called "Höllental view" at 1,620 metres above sea level, not far from the summit station of the Rax cable car.

Climbing around the Weichtalhaus

The Weichtalhaus, a cosy hostel for hikers and climbers and a worthwhile destination for culinary excursions, is idyllically situated in the middle of the Höllental valley. The climbing centre right next to the Weichtalhaus offers courses for all abilities. More than 2,000 routes lure you into the legendary rock - everyone will find a suitable level of difficulty. A total of six via ferrata routes lead from Höllental to Schneeberg and Rax.

  • A white house with a red roof, surrounded by green trees and meadows, under a blue sky.
    ©Wiener Alpen
    • Accommodation

    Gasthof Diewald

    Nr. 38, 2640 Raach am Hochgebirge
  • Wiesmath parish church with tower, stone cemetery wall and clock against a blue sky.
    ©Walter Strobl, www.audivision.at
    • Leisure activities

    Pfarrkirche Wiesmath

    Hauptplatz 1, 2811 Wiesmath
  • Lichtenegg fortified church with massive clock tower and surrounding buildings.
    ©Walter Strobl, www.audivision.at
    • Leisure activities

    Wehrkirche Lichtenegg

    Hauptstraße 20, 2813 Lichtenegg
  • Rustic fortified church in Bromberg with a broad tower and cemetery in the foreground.
    ©Walter Strobl, www.audivision.at
    • Leisure activities

    Wehrkirche Bromberg

    Hauptstraße, 2833 Bromberg
  • A woman walks along a forest path, surrounded by trees and sunlight.
    ©Luxusgämsen
    • Infrastructure

    Luxusgämsen - geführte Wanderungen

    Hochstraße 62, 2680 Semmering-Kurort
  • Person climbing on a rock face with helmet and climbing equipment, buildings and forest in the background.
    ©Raufgeklettert - Petra Weisz
    • Leisure activities

    Raufgeklettert - Kletterkurse

    Friedrich-Schillerstraße 84, 2340 Mödling
  • Yellow building with the inscription 'Restaurant Pizzeria Zum Spitz'.
    ©Wiener Alpen
    • Gastronomy

    Pizzeria Restaurant zum Spitz

    Bahnstraße 23, 2824 Seebenstein
  • Illustrative image
    • Accommodation

    Das Paradieschen

    Markt 138, 2842 Edlitz
  • Illustrative image
    • Infrastructure

    Erlebnisspielplatz Entenfuss

    Am See, 2851 Krumbach
  • Rest area with natural meadow
    ©Wiener Alpen in Niederösterreich - Wechsel
    • Distance0,69 km
    • Duration0:15 h
    • Tour

    Wildbienenweg Mönichkirchen

    Hiking tour