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Hiking tour Starting from Lackenhof, village center
Hike to the Ötscher stalactite cave in the Ötscher-Tormäuer Nature Park
Hike to the Ötscher stalactite cave in the Ötscher-Tormäuer Nature Park
The underworld of the Ötscher
The Ötscher stalactite cave is a show cave located in the Ötscher-Tormäuer Nature Park (Lower Austria). The cave was explored by forest workers who presumably entered the shaft, long known as Wetterloch, in search of silver ore and were the first people to see the natural spectacle formed from limestone deposits. The cave is decorated with stalactites and stalagmites, typical of limestone mountains (Gutenstein limestone), which can be seen particularly well in the so-called fairytale hall
The walking time without a guide is around 2.5 to 3 hours. The guided tour itself takes about 45 minutes.
Sturdy footwear
Take a warm jacket and a flashlight for the cave tour
From Lackenhof, head towards Ötscherwiese, the outermost district of Lackenhof, and further to Raneck. There, the path leads through the Schönwald, a steeply sloping beech forest that offers a wonderful view of the steep north side of the Ötscher. Here you need to pay special attention to the path, as you can only walk in single file in some parts. Past the Kerschbaum farmhouse, after the following forest section, you will find the entrance to the Ötscher dripstone cave.
Here you can now, on a guided tour through the cool cave (about 4°C), dive into a world full of fascination and eternal darkness for 45 minutes.
The Ötscher dripstone cave (commonly called Kerschbaum cave after the neighboring farmhouse) was first opened for tours in 1926. It is 575m long, with a maximum height difference of 54m. Geological measurements have shown that the cave must be between 12,000 and 1.8 million years old.
Impressive rock formations inside bear names such as High Dome, Hall of the Fiery Tongues, Fairy Tale Hall, or Magic Corridor. At the cave's deepest point, there is a lake larger than 100m².
The descent continues to the Schindlhütte (currently closed!) over the Roßkogel, varied on forest paths and down the iron adventure walkway. Many years ago, metal street artist Joe Wahler designed an impressive metal structure spanning the wild romantic Roßkogelgraben.
Parking lot in Raneck. Also at the tour's end point, at the Schindlhütte (currently closed!), there are several parking spaces.
Take the A1 at Ybbs exit - Erlauftal federal road B25 to Grubberg - turn onto B71 at the junction to Langau/Maierhöfen - turn left to Lackenhof, continue to the district of Raneck
Lines of VOR or by post bus. Timetable information at: www.vor.at, T +43 810/222324
Verbund line, www.verbundlinie.at
In the Ötscher dripstone cave, you enter the Fairy Tale Hall: many dripstones have special names due to their shapes.
Ybbstaler Alps
T +43 5/93049
info@ybbstaler-alpen.at
Letzte Änderung: 30 Apr 2026