WAB - Stage 12: Habsburghaus - Reichenau/Payerbach

Safe in the mountains

Your hikes in the Vienna Alps should be a thoroughly beautiful and safe experience. Therefore, please note the following:

Preparation

Make sure that the chosen route matches your mountain experience and your fitness. Inform yourself in advance about the weather forecast. The weather in the mountains can change rapidly and unexpectedly. Therefore, always start well-equipped (e.g. rain protection).

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

Mountain-appropriate equipment is absolutely necessary!

Please note that this route leads into high alpine terrain. Always take suitable maps with you. Wear sturdy shoes adapted to the route, bring sun and rain protection as well as water and a snack. Take your mobile phone and save the emergency number of the mountain rescue: 140

We start the stage across the Rax plateau from the Habsburghaus, following trail number 44 towards the Seehütte and Rax cable car. We pass the Jahnkreuz and stroll through larch paths to the Trinksteinsattel near the mountain rescue hut. In case of emergency, shelter can be found in the hut. We ascend 200 meters in altitude to the Neue Seehütte and then descend to the viewpoint. Again, we climb with magnificent views to the ridge path and the Preinerwand cross. The blue-marked ridge path to the Otto Shelter is more scenic but partly a bit narrower, yet not exposed. Alternatively, the red-marked lake trail offers a crossing to the Otto Shelter. We cross the terrace at the Otto Shelter and walk in a long right curve to the visible Törl, where we begin the descent on the Törl path. The scenic but not exposed Törl path leads us down some switchbacks. Further below, we follow the signposts to Hirschwang and Edlach and pass the Lammelbründl. We descend to the Knappenhof and continue downhill on a meadow path to the left of it. After a few minutes, we reach a trail junction where we turn left towards Hirschwang but after a few meters switch right to the red-marked hiking trail towards Hirschwang-Erlanger cross.

The forest path ends in an asphalt road that leads us to residential houses. We turn right into Trautenbergstraße and then turn right at the federal road towards Reichenau. After half an hour, we reach the town center of Reichenau.

For the onward route to Payerbach:

Shortly after the Reichenau spa theater, turn right into a parking lot. We cross the parking lot and turn left onto the promenade path beside the Schwarza river. At the viaduct, we encounter a road again and follow it toward the center. Passing the outdoor pool and pavilion, we shortly afterwards turn left over the Schwarza bridge and cross the federal road. The last meters are uphill on Bahnhofweg to the Payerbach-Reichenau train station.

Parking is available at the Raxalpenhof in Prein and at the base station of the Rax cable car.

The Habsburghaus is located in alpine terrain and only accessible on foot directly. Use the access option of the preceding stage Prein-Habsburghaus.

The Habsburghaus is located in alpine terrain and is not directly accessible by public transport. It is recommended to combine this route with the preceding stage Prein-Habsburghaus or the subsequent stage Reichenau-Knofeleben. Take the train via Wiener Neustadt to the Payerbach/Reichenau train station, then continue by regional bus 1746 or 1748 to the Rax cable car and take the cable car up to the Rax.

More information can be found at www.oebb.at and www.raxalpe.com

Please check the current opening hours of the Habsburghaus here  before starting your route!