By Bus to the Mountain – Hohe Scheibe Crossing

Accessible by public transport

Train (within 15 minutes walking distance from starting point)

Characteristics

Skill

Fitness

The tour in numbers

Level of difficulty medium

Route 17,2 km

Time 7:00 h

Uphill 1130 hm

Downhill 1050 hm

Highest point 1560 m

A technically easy, panoramic and not too long tour from the Semmering Railway World Heritage Site to the Mürzer Oberland Nature Park. An enjoyable hike in the northeast of Styria with variants to Mürzzuschlag as well as to the Preiner Gscheid and thus to the Rax.

The route often leads through forests, across meadows and alpine pastures from Spital am Semmering to Kapellen. Access or descent variants to Mürzzuschlag or to the Preiner Gscheid are possible, on weekends a cozy little refuge awaits thirsty hikers on the Hohe Scheibe.

Best season

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

More information

www.at.map24.com

Tour with public arrival.

From Spital am Semmering / train station we go over the Zatzkavillen and past the Räuberhöhlen first in the direction of "Saurücken". Passing the Franziskaquelle (wonderful panoramic resting place), we reach the Kampalpe (summit cross slightly east of the highest point) via a climb that is quite steep at the end.

Our path now continues in a westerly direction to the Drahtekogel (here the path from the Preiner Gscheid is added) and, always in a slight up and down, to the Hohe Scheibe (small refuge, summit cross, descent to Mürzzuschlag possible). Still continuing in a westerly direction, we now descend through extensive forests and via forest paths to the so-called Windlöcher (wind holes) and the Bleiweissgrube (cave, visit possible).

Finally we pass the Plodererkreuz (magnificent viewpoint) and our tour ends in Kapellen (at the former Jausenstation train station).

Most hiking and mountain tours in the Mürzer Oberland Nature Park are in alpine terrain. Especially for longer hiking and mountain tours a good physical condition as well as surefootedness and a head for heights are recommended. On the plateaus of Rax, Schneealm and Veitsch orientation can be difficult in fog or bad weather. In winter always pay attention to avalanche danger!

Mountain rescue emergency call: 140, operation centers in Neuberg an der Mürz and Mürzzuschlag.

Proper backpacking makes a lot of things easier:

Pack heavy things first. The water bottle (ideally: 1 liter or more) should always be within easy reach. All things that are often needed such as sunglasses, camera, cell phone or hiking map belong on top.

An emergency equipment including blister plaster belongs in every backpack and a clothing according to the "onion system" is always recommended! Never forget rain protection on alpine tours!

In winter, when ski touring and snowshoeing, appropriate safety equipment (avalanche transceiver, avalanche shovel and probe) is mandatory! Before the tour always call up the avalanche situation report (www.lawine-steiermark.at).

Burial search devices, avalanche shovels and probes can be rented at the nature park office for a small fee.

In the upper Mürztal there are several interesting sights such as the Neuberg Abbey, the glassblowing workshop in the Kaiserhof, the Neuberg Nature Museum with the Schliefsteiner collection or the world's largest spinning wheel in Kapellen. Also the new climate change trail in Altenberg / Rax, the waterfall to the Dead Woman at Mürzsteg / Frein or the show tunnel at Mürzufer / Krampen are highly recommended as excursion destinations.

With the BusBahnBim app of Verbundlinie, timetable information has never been easier:All connections by bus, train and streetcar in Austria can be queried by entering places and/or addresses, stops or important points.

The app is available as a free app for smartphones (Android, iOS) - on Google Play and in the App Store.

Nature Park Office Mürzer Oberland
Tel.: +43 3857 8321
www.muerzeroberland.at
Open Monday – Friday from 8:00 – 12:00

Tourism Region Hochsteiermark (TRV Hochsteiermark)
Tel.: +43 3862 55020
www.hochsteiermark.at

Mountain, Hiking, and Nature Park Guides
For information, contact the Nature Park Office Mürzer Oberland at +43 3857 8321.