Wienerbruck: Hiking Trails, Ötschergräben and Power Station

Wienerbruck can be explored through a range of hiking destinations and nature and cultural themes. Trails lead to Lassingfall, through the Ötschergräben or in the direction of Mitterbach; other places to visit include the Ötscher-Basis Nature Park Centre and the Wienerbruck power station. When planning, it is worth distinguishing between the starting point, walking time and character of each tour.

Hikes to Lassingfall and through the Ötschergräben

The 90-metre-high Lassingfall can be reached from Wienerbruck in about 45 minutes on foot via a narrow but well-maintained trail. It lies directly on the hiking route between Wienerbruck and Ötscherhias. This means you can consider the waterfall as a specific hiking destination or as part of this route.

Another route leads from Wienerbruck through the Ötschergräben along the Erlauf Reservoir to Mitterbach. If you are interested in a hike with views of Ötscher and the surrounding landscape, you can also explore this topic on the “From Wienerbruck to Marienstein” tour: it starts at the entrance to Ötscher-Tormäuer Nature Park near Wienerbruck railway station. The Luchs Trail, in turn, runs through the Ötschergräben to the Ötscher-Basis Nature Park Centre in Wienerbruck. These routes have different destinations and should therefore not be treated as a single trail.

Challenging tour over the Rauher Kamm

The high-alpine “Wienerbruck – Ötschergräben – Jägerherz – Rauher Kamm – Ötscher – Riffelsattel – Erlaufklause” route differs from these hikes. From Wienerbruck, it leads through the Ötschergräben, along the southern side of Ötscher and over the Rauher Kamm. Because of the significant elevation gain, it is suitable only for experienced hikers who are sure-footed and have a head for heights. This restriction is an important part of choosing a tour: the route is not comparable to an outing focused solely on the walk to Lassingfall.

Nature park centre, views and nature learning

Ötscher-Basis serves as an information centre and starting point for activities in Ötscher-Tormäuer Nature Park. From the rooftop terrace of Ötscher Tower, you can take in views of Ötscher-Basis, the reservoir and the surrounding area. At Ötscher Tower, the Nature Workshop with its outdoor classroom also invites you to learn about local wildlife and plant life. Alongside the hiking trails, views and nature education are therefore options in their own right.

Wienerbruck power station and Via Sacra

The Wienerbruck power station was built between 1907 and 1911 to generate traction current for the Mariazell Railway. It is open to visitors during the hiking season; from the Ötscher-Basis Nature Park Centre in Wienerbruck, it can only be reached on foot, in about 45 minutes. Check visitor opening times before travelling. The power station features a family-friendly exhibition on the history and present of electricity generation and the Ötscher region.

The Via Sacra also connects Wienerbruck with a long-distance cultural route: the stage from Annaberg to Mariazell passes through Joachimsberg and Wienerbruck before continuing to Josefsberg, Mitterbach, St. Sebastian and Mariazell. If you want to explore hiking and cultural themes together, you can distinguish this sequence of stages from the individual excursion destinations around Ötscher-Basis.

Which walking time suits your plans?

The walk to the power station and the walk to Lassingfall are each listed as taking about 45 minutes, but their starting points and destinations differ: you can reach the power station only on foot from Ötscher-Basis, while Lassingfall can be reached from Wienerbruck via the trail described above. These times help you compare the two walks, but say nothing about the duration of the other tours mentioned. To plan a suitable day, you can first decide whether you want to focus on a single waterfall, a hike through the Ötschergräben, a high-alpine route or a cultural stop.

Discover more destinations: Lilienfeld, Türnitz, Sankt Aegyd Am Neuwalde, Erlaufboden, Rohrbach an der Gölsen, Hohenberg, Ramsau Bei Hainfeld, Mitterbach Am Erlaufsee.

Return to the main travel overview: Lilienfeld.