We start in Wienerbruck (arrival: ride with the Mariazellerbahn from St. Sebastian to Wienerbruck) and walk a short distance along the reservoir, then turn left into the gorge and come over footbridges and footpaths, past the Lassingfall, down to the power station in Stierwaschboden. There we keep to the left, cross the bridge and hike first along the Erlauf and then along the Ötscherbach stream through an enchanting landscape with numerous pools, cascades and rock formations to the Ötscherhias snack station.
From the Ötscherhias we hike on trail 622 through the almost even more magnificent back Ötschergräben past the Mirafall to the Schleierfall junction (definitely worth a detour). Take the Greimelsteig to the right up to the Vorderötscher inn and after a well-deserved rest we hike back along the Ötscher road to the Hagengut and on to the Erlaufklause stop.
Alternative: before Erlaufklause turn right and walk along the southern shore of the reservoir Erlaufklause on a shady forest promenade to Mitterbach (walking time Erlaufklause - Mitterbach: approx. 1 hour)
From Erlaufklause or Mitterbach we return to our starting point in Wienerbruck with the Mariazellerbahn.
TIP: who does not want to walk on the Ötscher road (yet very long distance on a gravel road, about 6 km), goes the same way back through the ditches to the Ötscherhias and then turns right at the Ötscherhias up to the Hagenstraße and past the Hagengut to the stop Erlaufklause.