A diverse hike along the gently flowing Erlauf, past waterfalls and into an enchanted village.
Description
The tour starts at the Eibenboden nature park entrance and after a short stretch of forest road, you enter the seemingly untouched nature of the Vordere Tormäuer. Along the cold, clear Erlauf, the trail leads past Hundsbachfall and Trefflingfall to Toreckklamm - a natural narrowing of the Erlauf and birthplace of the Ötscher-Tormäuer Nature Park as a protest against the planned construction of a power station here. The Kirchensteig trail then leads to Nestelberg, probably the most secluded place in the entire region. Formerly inhabited by families of woodcutters, almost 30 people still live here today, surrounded by pure nature. The Kassteig trail takes you to the former Nestelberg mill and then back to the starting point.
Starting point of the tour
Nature park entrance Eibenboden
Destination point of the tour
Nature park entrance Eibenboden
Route description Nature park entrance Eibenboden: Vorderen Tormäuer - Nestelbergrunde
From the nature park entrance Eibenboden (445 m) go up the access road to the Eibenhöfe a bit, at the first hairpin turn turn right onto a forest path to the Eibenmühle. Then a short descent and continue along the Erlauf past the Hundsbachfall to the footbridge under the Trefflingfall (474 m, ¾ hr).
Then cross the following Toreckklamm, only a few meters wide, on a path carved into the rock. Continue 20 minutes upstream to the fork Kirchensteig/Nestelberg – from here via Nestelberg and the Brennwiese onto the "Kassteig". Descent to the former Nestelbergmühle and return to Eibenboden (approx. 2 hrs)
Directions
The nature park entrance Eibenboden is accessible via Kienberg (turnoff at the inn "Erlauftalerhof") or via Gaming (turnoff at the Mariensäule). From Lackenhof via Ötscherwiese, Raneck, Nestelbergsäge, and the Nestelberggraben.
Parking
A paid parking lot is located directly at the nature park entrance Eibenboden - day ticket for cars €5
The income from parking management benefits the maintenance of the nature park. (at the parking meter, only coin payment possible)
Author's tip
Along the Erlauf there are occasional bays to cool tired feet.
A detour to the Trefflingfall, the highest waterfall in the country, is also worth it!
