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).

Sturdy footwear is advantageous on this stage.

Attention at the Erlauf reservoir, the bridge you could shorten here is at risk of collapse!

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.

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.

Parking available in Weitental near the valley station of Gr. Ötscher.

 Mostviertel Tourismus GmbH
Töpper Schloss Neubruck, Neubruck 2/10, 3270 Scheibbs
T +43/7482/20 444
info@mostviertel.at , www.mostviertel.at

TVB Mariazeller Land

Hauptplatz 13, 8630 Mariazell

Tel.: +43 (0)3882/23 66

Upper Austria Tourism Information

Freistädter Straße 119, 4041 Linz

info@oberoesterreich.at

www.wandern.at

Useful maps:

ÖK 4319 Linz, ÖK 4320 Perg, ÖK 4326 Steyr,

ÖK 4202 Ternberg, ÖK 4203 Waidhofen,

ÖK 4203 Ybbsitz, ÖK 4204 Lunz, ÖK 4210 Mariazell

All at scale 1:50,000 (also available enlarged 1:25,000)

F&B hiking maps 261 (1:50,000), 051 (1:50,000),

052 (1:50,000), 5031 (1:35,000)

Kompass 22 (Mariazell, Ötscher, Erlauftal, 1:25:000),

Kompass 212 (Hochschwab, Mariazell, Eisenwurzen, 1:50,000),

Kompass 202 (Around Linz, Mühlviertel, Wels, Steyr, 1:50,000)

Important phone numbers:

Alpine emergency call: 140, International emergency call: 112

Recommended literature:

Pilgrimage routes to Mariazell – Volume West + South, www.styriabooks.at

Hiking experience Mariazeller Land and Ötscher, www.kral-verlag.at

Pilgrimage routes, www.kral-verlag.at

In the Hulatsch confectionery in Mitterbach there are excellent cakes and tortes.