Erlaufboden: Hiking on the Rauher Kamm and in the Ötschergräben

Erlaufboden is a starting point for hikes into the Ötschergräben and the Hintere Tormäuer. Depending on the route you choose, different waypoints take centre stage: the Rauher Kamm with its climbing section, Schleierfall or the Wienerbruck power station at Stierwaschboden. So if you are looking for a hotel in Erlaufboden, it is worth considering the specific hike and how to get there; the routes do not all follow the same course or have the same transport options.

Hiking on the Rauher Kamm

One route follows the Rauher Kamm climbing section. From Erlaufboden, the 1,893-metre-high main summit of the Lower Austrian Pre-Alps is climbed via the Rauher Kamm. There is also a turnoff to the Ötscher Caves along the ridge. The difficult route from the Rauher Kamm down into the deepest gorges requires sure-footedness and a good head for heights. It can be slippery in places when wet and should only be attempted in good weather.

Ötschergräben, Schleierfall and the power station

The return route to Erlaufboden leads through the Ötschergräben, known as the “Grand Canyon of Austria.” Those who start in Trübenbach pass Schleierfall before continuing through the gorges to Erlaufboden.

One alternative route leads from Stierwaschboden through the Hintere Tormäuer to Erlaufboden, passing the Wienerbruck power station. There is a self-guided exhibition in the turbine hall; a guided tour can be arranged if you are interested.

For orientation, the waypoints can be grouped by route: Rauher Kamm marks the climbing section and the route to the summit, Schleierfall marks the route from Trübenbach, and the power station marks the alternative through the Hintere Tormäuer. If you have one of these destinations in mind, you can use it to identify the right route.

Getting there and choosing a route

The nature park hiking bus and the Mariazell Railway make car-free point-to-point hikes possible, with different starting and ending points. During the summer holidays through to the end of September, public transport to or from the route’s starting and ending points is available on Saturdays and Sundays via the Mariazell Railway and the nature park hiking bus. Check the latest service information before your hike. The route from Stierwaschboden to Erlaufboden through the Hintere Tormäuer is not connected to public transport. In the region, the Mariazell Railway is used for many hikes to return to the starting point.

For point-to-point hikes, getting to the start and returning from the finish are two separate considerations. The seasonal bus and train option does not apply to every route; check the connection for the exact route you plan to take.

A starting point in the village

A family-run inn in Erlaufboden is located in Ötscher-Tormäuer Nature Park and serves as a starting point for hikes into the Hintere Tormäuer. Erlaufboden is therefore not only the destination of routes from Trübenbach and Stierwaschboden, but also a starting point for hikes in the area.

More destinations

Discover more destinations: Eschenau An Der Traisen, Wienerbruck, Oberried, Kaumberg, Türnitz, Traisen, Hohenberg, Sankt Veit An Der Gölsen

See the main travel overview: Lilienfeld.