Lackenhof - Ötschergräben - Erlaufklause

Description

We call the deep incision that the Ötschergräben has formed over millennia the "Grand Canyon of Austria." One of the most popular hikes in the Ötscher area, enchanting with its diverse and bizarre rock formations, shady gorges, and a bubbling mountain stream – the centerpiece of the Ötscher-Tormäuer Nature Park. On the well-maintained path, we reach the Ötscherhias snack station and two waterfalls up to 90 m high: the Mirafall and the Schleierfall.

Starting point of the tour

Lackenhof – town center

Destination point of the tour

Erlaufklause

Route description Lackenhof - Ötschergräben - Erlaufklause

A) Start in the town center of Lackenhof. The starting point is in the town center of Lackenhof. The first signpost (hiking trail no. 4, Austrian WWW 06, Ötscherland RWW 277/677) can be found immediately to the left of the former elementary school Lackenhof. Follow the "Ötscherweg" past the youth hostel and then always straight ahead on the forest road, mostly through the forest. Crossing the ski slopes, you reach the Riffelboden after about 45 minutes (approx. 1050 m above sea level).

B) Start in Lackenhof at the valley station of the Ötscher double chairlift (844 m above sea level), with the chairlift to the Ötscher shelter (1418 m above sea level, 12 min), descending via hiking trail no. 4 to the Riffelsattel (1283 m above sea level, approx. 20 min).

You can also reach this point from the Weitental (from the Ötscherlift valley station) via the marked trail (no. 5a) to the Riffelboden (this ascent is steeper, approx. 20 min). Here you leave the forest road straight ahead. After a short walk, the path leads to the new Ötscher family ski run and continues on the left side of the slope, up the embankment into the shady forest. After many switchbacks and a steep climb, you reach a side arm of the slope. You continue on this to later reach the Riffelsattel via a forest path on the right (1283 m above sea level, approx. 40 min, important junction, right to the Kleiner Ötscher or to the Feldwiesalm), straight ahead into the Ötschergräben and to the southern face of the Ötscher. Continue straight ahead, descending via hiking trail no. 15 to Spielbichler (927 m above sea level, about 3/4 hour), approx. 2 km forest road to the right turn into the Ötschergräben, arrival in the gorge at Schleierfall (840 m above sea level, 1 hour), hike through the beautiful “Ötschergräben gorge” to the Ötscherhias (681 m above sea level, 2 hours), ascend via hiking trail no. 15c to Hagengut (833 m above sea level), continue on the forest road to the Erlaufklause reservoir (814 m above sea level, 3/4 hour). Here, it is best to be picked up by a taxi reserved in advance or to take a ride on the Mariazellerbahn.

Special features: Schleierfall and Mirafall – both waterfalls are most beautiful during snowmelt (April, May). The best times to hike through the Ötschergräben are the months from April to September – not least because of the untouched plant life. The Ötschergräben – a botanical phenomenon! At an altitude of 500 to 1000 meters, plants grow that are otherwise only found above 1000 meters in altitude (e.g., alpine rose and gentian).