WAB - Regional Route M: Payerbach - Maria Schutz - Sonnwendstein

Your hikes in the Vienna Alps should be an all-around enjoyable and safe experience. Please observe the following:

Preparation

Make sure the route you choose matches your mountain experience and your fitness. Check the weather forecast in advance. Weather in the mountains can change unexpectedly quickly. Therefore, always start out properly equipped (e.g., rain protection).

Check whether the huts and snack stations you want to visit along the way are open. Inform someone about your chosen route and your planned return before you set off.

Always take suitable maps with you. Wear sturdy shoes appropriate for the hike, bring sun and rain protection as well as water and a snack. Take your mobile phone with you and save the mountain rescue emergency number: 140

We start the hike of the Regional Route M at Payerbach-Reichenau train station and cross the station square to Bahnhofweg within the first few meters. After a few minutes, we reach the Payerbacherhof, cross the federal road and the Schwarza river. We walk to the parish church and turn left into the Weinwegsiedlung towards Küb. At the end of the settlement, the asphalt road changes into a cart track, which we now follow always close to the railway tracks towards Küb. We walk past the Old Post Office and turn left over a stream onto Josef Wegerer Street shortly before the railway bridge. The street leads us steadily uphill; after a few minutes, we turn left at an intersection with a hydrant. The railway hiking trail branches off to the right. We now follow the hiking trail steadily uphill to Kochhof (marked blue). Here we cross Regional Route L, pass the chapel, and follow the path down to Klamm to the station, cross the tracks, and continue following the hiking trail to Schottwien. We walk along the street through the center of Schottwien and turn away from the main street near the school grounds at the Kothbauerkurve bus stop. We cross the Griesbach, shortly afterwards turn left, and follow the road uphill until we come across a hiking trail. The ascent to the pilgrimage church Maria Schutz is interrupted only briefly by a road. After overcoming the 150 meters of elevation gain to Maria Schutz, the steep ascent to Sonnwendstein via the Gebirgsjägersteig awaits us. At Maria Schutz, we meet the end of Regional Route I, which leads via Raach to Kirchberg/Wechsel. We go past the pilgrimage church, then turn half-right shortly afterwards and then again to the right. The Gebirgsjägersteig is reached after a few moments (marked green). We cross a piste and hike the marked trail, partly extremely steep and exhausting, nearly 800 meters uphill. Near the Pollereshütte, we leave the Gebirgsjägersteig and are near the viewpoint on Sonnwendstein. Here ends the elevation-consuming Regional Route M. From here, we can directly join the Wiener Alpenbogen trail and descend to Semmering or head to Feistritzsattel.

Parking available at Payerbach station.

Coming from Vienna take the A2 to the Seebenstein junction, continue on the S6 to the Gloggnitz exit. Follow the B27 to Payerbach.

Coming from Graz, first take the S35, then the S6 to the Gloggnitz exit. Continue on the B27 to Gloggnitz.

Take the train via Wiener Neustadt to Payerbach station.

From Mürzzuschlag station, regional trains run to Payerbach-Reichenau station.

Further information can be found at www.oebb.at

Combine your hike with a stay in the gourmet room of the hiking accommodation Hotel Payerbacherhof.