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 Mariazeller Weg, which immediately leads us quite steeply up the slopes of the Ötscher. The name Ötscher was probably given due to its striking shape and comes from the Slavic language, meaning "father mountain". The 170 km² Ötscher-Tormäuer Nature Park, the largest nature park in Lower Austria, was created around the mountain in 1970. After an ascent of almost 500 meters, we reach the Riffelsattel and hike downhill from there towards the Ötschergräben. Shortly after the former Spielbichler inn, pilgrims are treated to a wonderful panorama of the Ötscher summit to the north and the foothills of the Ötschergräben to the south. Beautiful hiking trails take us to the Schleierfall, where the wonderful gorge hike through the Ötschergräben begins. The landscape in the Ötschergräben is reminiscent of a Winnetou film - steep rock faces border the gorge on both sides, turquoise water makes its way through the limestone. We only leave the Ötschergräben again at the "Ötscherhias" inn and continue our hike in the direction of the Erlauf reservoir. Once again uphill, we pass a mill, make a short stop at a wooden chapel and arrive at the elongated 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 Mariazeller Trail: A: 7th stage: Lackenhof - Mitterbach
From Lackenhof it becomes truly alpine. Almost 500 meters of elevation have to be climbed steeply up to the Riffelsattel (1,283 m). Mountain enthusiasts can also make a detour to the Ötscherschutzhaus (1,418 m) or even stay overnight there. Those who want to go through the Ötschergräben descend to the former Gasthaus Spielbichler (927 m) and walk through it up to the Ötscherhias (681 m). From Lackenhof to this point it takes about 4.5 to 5 hours (variant via Ötscherschutzhaus 5.5 to 6 hours). Then it goes uphill to the Forsthaus Hagen (833 m) and straight 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 the Riffelsattel you can also reach Mariazell via the Feldwiesalm, the Iron Herrgott, Zellerrain, and Erlaufsee. Those in good shape can also descend from the summit of the Gemeindealpe (1,626 m) to Mitterbach (800 m).
Directions
Coming from Salzburg on the A1 to the Amstetten-Ost exit (108), and then via L97 to Steinakirchen am Forst. Via Purgstall an der Erlauf and Scheibbs you get to Lackenhof am Ötscher.
Parking
Parking options in Lackenhof include, for example, at the fire department or at the lift station (Intersport Rent).
By train you can get from Amstetten to Waidhofen/Ybbs. From Waidhofen to Lunz am See, you can take bus MO1, and then with bus MO21 you get to Lackenhof.
