Obdach: Hiking, Cross-Country Skiing and Culture

Obdach combines hiking and winter activities with a cycling route and cultural points of interest. If you are looking for a hotel for your stay, you can start by choosing the focus of your trip: trails around the Zirbitz, a specific cross-country ski trail, or a bike tour with Obdach as the destination. The parish church of St. Giles and the route to the St. Anna viewing platform also offer ideas for a trip that takes in both the landscape and the history of the town.

Hiking in the Seetal Alps

The municipality of Obdach extends west into the Seetal Alps. There, around the Zirbitz, you’ll find a hiking area with long, far-reaching trails and magnificent views from the summit. When planning your trip, you can therefore focus on the mountain scenery and hiking.

One specific landmark is Lake Lavantsee. It lies below the summit of Zirbitzkogel at an altitude of 2,053 m and is the source of the Lavant River. The lake is most easily reached from the Waldheimhütte; the trail passes Maria in der Zirbe, the Türkenkreuz and the Köhlerhütte. Access depends on the weather. Check conditions before your visit if you plan to take this trail.

Compare cross-country ski trails

The two cross-country ski trails described here differ mainly in length and layout. The St. Wolfgang trail is 3 km long, forms a loop and is groomed for both classic cross-country skiing and skating. You can join the trail by the local history museum in St. Wolfgang or at the Gasthof & Pension Seetalblick. The Hochfeld trail in Obdach is 2.5 km long and is also suitable for both classic skiing and skating. Its access point is about 100 m before Gasthaus Pauliwirt, by the sports ground.

St. Wolfgang therefore offers the longer loop, while Hochfeld is the shorter trail. Both offer a choice of classic technique or skating; the length, loop layout and access points provide practical guidance when choosing. Grooming depends on the weather, so check conditions before setting out.

Cycling route, ski touring and local history

The Zirbenland cycling route R26 runs from Fisching or Weißkirchen to Obdach, which is listed as a destination along the route. The Rieseralm ski area is a starting point for numerous ski tours in the Seetal Alps. The cycling route and ski tours offer different ways to plan your trip.

The town’s history can also be traced to a specific date: the parish church of St. Giles in Obdach was first mentioned in official records in 1207. Another way to include the landscape and local sights in your plans is the route “From Obdach via the Erlebniswanderweg to the St. Anna viewing platform.” It starts at the Marian column in the centre of Obdach. The St. Anna viewing platform in St. Anna am Lavantegg offers views of the surrounding area. Its named starting point and destination make this route a separate option alongside the hiking trails around the Zirbitz.

Discover more destinations: Hinterwinkel, Sankt Anna Am Lavantegg, Weißkirchen in der Steiermark, Sauerbrunn, Möderbrugg, Oberkurzheim, Fohnsdorf, Judenburg.

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