Mitterbach - Erlauf reservoir - Hagengut - Ötscherhias

Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 6,94 km
Duration: 2:00 h
Ascent: 104 m elevation gain
Descent: 169 m elevation gain

Mitterbach am Erlaufsee is located on the Styrian-Lower Austrian border on the Via Sacra in the middle of the Ötscher-Tormäuer Nature Park. The intact environment, oxygen-rich air combined with unique flora characterize Mitterbach.

Starting point of the tour: Village square Mitterbach
Tour destination: Ötscherhias

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Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 6,94 km
Duration: 2:00 h
Ascent: 104 m elevation gain
Descent: 169 m elevation gain

Fitness level required:3/6
Overall experience:5/6
Scenery:5/6
Technical difficulty:3/6
Hiking difficulty:3/6

Lowest point: 705 m
Highest point: 838 m

Tour route
Nice views
With refreshment stops
Suitable for families and children

Downloads

Mitterbach - Erlauf reservoir - Hagengut - Ötscherhias
(GPX | 9.91 KB)

One of the most beautiful hiking areas in the Ötscher-Tormäuer Nature Park is the Ötschergräben. A romantic hiking trail - the Hagenstraße - leads along the Erlauf reservoir to the Ötscherstraße to Hagengut. Following the course of the Ötscher road, you take the marked turn-off and pass the "old mill wheel" in short, steep hairpin bends downhill to the "Ötscherhias" snack station. Austria's "Grand Canyon" now lies directly in front of the hiker. Along the way, there are always breathtaking views of the Ötscher.

safety instructions
Please check in advance for any trail and road closures in the Ötscher-Tormäuer Nature Park. You can find this information at https://www.naturpark-oetscher.at/aktuelles-top-informiert-im-naturpark
Route description
From the village square in Mitterbach, it takes about 10 minutes to reach the entrance to the nature park. Hagenstraße runs along the Erlauf Reservoir (blue trail marker 9a, or across the suspension bridge to the Erlaufklause—also accessible via the Mariazell Railway) to Ötscherstraße in Hagengut. Following Ötscherstraße, take the marked turnoff and pass the “old millwheel,” then descend in short, steep switchbacks to the “Ötscherhias” snack bar.
A possible continuation (not shown on this map!) runs westward through the gorge landscape of the Ötschergräben, past Mirafall and Schleierfall to the “Vorderötscher” mountain hut. From here, you can also hike up to the Gemeindealpe or the Ötscher.
Parking
Village Square Parking Lot
"Mitterbach am Erlaufstausee Nature Park Entrance" Parking Lot
Getting there
coming from Linz: A1 exit Ybbs/Donau - direction Eisenstraße - follow B25 to Mitterbach
coming from Vienna: A1 exit St. Pölten South - direction Mariazell - follow B20 to Mitterbach

Recommended period

Mitterbach Tourism Association
3224 Mitterbach, Hauptstraße 14
Tel. 03882/42 11
tourismus@mitterbach.at
www.mitterbach.at

Letzte Änderung: 26 Aug 2026