Übelbach: Hiking Trails, Water Knowledge and Culture

Übelbach offers a variety of ways to enjoy a trip that combines hiking, nature and local history. Highlights include the Water Discovery Trail along the Übelbach, hikes on the Gleinalm and cultural and historical sites in the village. You can decide which of these will shape your stay by exploring the different trails and sights.

Hiking and Landscapes

The Gleinalm is part of the foothills of the Eastern Alps and is characterized by gentle mountain ridges. A well-marked hiking trail leads from the market town of Übelbach via Krautwasch to the Gleinalm Refuge. It is about 9 kilometers long; it takes around two and a half hours to reach the refuge. The 2026 regional excursion brochure also lists easy to more challenging hikes starting at the refuge by the Maria Schnee pilgrimage church on the Gleinalm.

The Three Birches hike offers another way to take in the landscape: it includes a scenic rest area beneath three birch trees, with views of Übelbach and the Graz Mountainland. If you choose a route primarily by the type of activity, there is also a mountain biking option: the moderately difficult Silberberg Loop passes through Krautwasch and Silberberg, is 30.8 kilometers long and follows asphalt and gravel roads. The hiking trail to the Gleinalm Refuge, by contrast, has both an approximate distance and a walking time.

Trails, Water and Activities

The “WWW-WasserWissensWelt” Water Discovery Trail consists of 14 information boards along the Übelbach. Aqualina, the trail’s mascot, represents a three-dimensional model of the water molecule H₂O and accompanies visitors along the trail. The historical trail presents local history in an entertaining, child-friendly way at around ten stops along the Sängersteig.

The Übelbach Silver Trail also offers a variety of impressions along its route: it follows forest paths, forest roads and short stretches of asphalt. In places, it runs alongside the historical trail and the forest education trail. The Bachweg includes the “Park of the Love-Struck Trees.” The “Edible Landscape” in Übelbach is considered an accessible, hands-on natural environment and is associated with biodiversity and environmentally conscious living.

The recreation area at Pastner Pond has beach volleyball and a multi-use sports court; in winter, the area serves as an ice-skating rink. So, in addition to the hiking and cycling trails, there are activities to enjoy at the recreation area.

Churches and Local History

Übelbach parish church is a late Gothic hall church with wall piers. It houses the Madonna of Übelbach, created around 1435/40. The Maria Schnee pilgrimage church stands on the Gleinalm, where pilgrimage routes pass by, including the Way of St. James.

The entrance hall of the Maria Schnee pilgrimage church is freely accessible during the day in summer and can be used for prayer and meditation. Check this seasonal access information before your visit. Other places also recall the region’s history: St. Michael’s Chapel commemorates the historic silver mining industry. The “Old Hammer Lord’s House” is an old manor house dating from the era of the hammer mills on the Übelbach.

Getting There by Train

Übelbach can be reached on the S11. From Graz, take the S1 to Peggau-Deutschfeistritz, then continue on the S11. Check the current timetable before you travel so you can plan your journey accordingly.

Discover more destinations: Hart, Nestelbach bei Graz, Lieboch, Mantscha, Neureiteregg, Attendorf, Kleinstübing, Sankt Peter

For the broader travel overview: Graz-Umgebung.