From the main square we walk along Schießstattgasse in the direction of Sebastiani/Rosenkranzweg and along the rosary stations to the Sebastiani Chapel. From there we walk along the B 20 for about 5 min until we come to the turnoff towards Lake Erlaufsee (left over the Mariazellerbahn railroad tracks).
If you want to make a detour to Mitterbach here, turn right and after about 10 min of walking you will reach the center of Mitterbach.
Back to the hiking trail: after a few minutes on the asphalt path, we turn right over a small bridge and walk along the Erlauf River to the next junction, just before Lake Erlauf. On the right we can make a detour to the lake - and take a break ;-)
or we keep immediately to the left and hike either along a forest path or immediately along the bike path in the direction of Mariazell. Once cross the main road and past the JUFA Erlaufsee to just before the train station, here keep right and on the Promenadeweg back to Mariazell (at the SOCAR gas station cross the B 20 and across the Grazer Straße to the main square).