Posted in:

Schneeberg – Family-friendly mountain hiking

Easy to reach with the “Salamander train”, the Schneeberg is a brilliant excursion for the entire family. No matter if you like mountain hiking or just taking in the stunning views, anyone enjoys a day out on “Snow Mountain”.

The highest mountain of Lower Austria, Schneeberg (Snow Mountain), with its 2,076-metre (6.811 ft) high summit Klosterwappen, offers family-friendly hiking and stunning views. Only about 80 km (50 mi) from Vienna, it’s a popular hiking destination for the Viennese and travellers. Hence, I boarded the yellow and green salamander train and headed to Schneeberg. Arriving at the top, enjoy the breathtaking view before you head out on the trail. Maybe even look in the “TOP ART 1800” gallery, the rusty steel tube next to the station or inside the Elisabeth chapel. Nonetheless, hiking is what most people come here for.

Hiking the high mountain plateau

Whichever hiking route you choose, they all start at the mountain station of the Schneebergbahn. Instead of the so often ragged peaks surrounded by steep ascents, the top of the Schneeberg is more like a plateau. I found this a nice change as I could have a good hike without long and steep ascents. Although, it’s not entirely lacking steep parts. The last serpentine up to the Fischerhütte reveals if you are fit or not.

Furthermore, descending from the Klosterwappen peak requires that you are steady on your feet. However, finding your way around is very easy. A very well-marked trail at the plateau takes you around in a circle. Moreover, you can see most of the routes during the hike. Nevertheless, I made a figure 8 hike out of it and got three summits for one hike.

< Click on the images to enlarge >

3-summit hike

Starting from the cog railway station at 1,798 metres (5.899 ft), I followed the gravel track until reaching Fischerhütte, just below the Kaiserstein at 2,062 metres (6.614 ft). From there, I headed for summit number two. It was easy going on the broad ridge to the highest point on the trail, Klosterwappen 2,076-metre (6.811 ft). Since the plateau is vast, it gives you completely different views, depending on the vantage point. Nonetheless, you have spectacular views from the ridge to the west, north and south. The best view to the east is from the 1,888-metre (6.194 ft) Waxriegel, just above the railway station, which is the 3rd and last peak on this hike.

ADVERTISEMENT

Eastward views

Not wanting to backtrack, I took one of the smaller tracks to the left at the Damböckhaus, the mountain hut in the middle of the plateau. Then, I ascended to the Waxriegel summit from the north side by taking the much less used and narrow trail. From there, you have great views if the air is cold and transparent, to Vienna, Hungary, and even Slovakia. At the Waxriegel, you can see the rail station, which is only a 10-minute hike away. The 7,7 km (4.8 mi) took me about 3,5 hours, including plenty of time to have lunch and enjoy the stunning views.

Food for both body and soul

Arriving back at the station, I had some time to spend before catching the train down to Puchberg. The Berghaus restaurant next to the station serves the standard Austrian menu items, such as; Frankfurter sausages, Wienerschnitzel, Kaiserschmarrn and, of course, the famous Schneebergkrapfen (flaky pastry with cranberries and whipped cream). Enjoy your meal inside the 1898-built mountain lodge or outside on the terrace with fabulous views.

ADVERTISEMENT

Schneeberg Railway

The rack railway is brilliant, allowing anyone to travel up the mountain to enjoy the views. Although with prams and wheelchairs, you would have to navigate gravel to get around the area around the station, it should be ok. The train ride mostly goes through thick forests, but here and there, you get some great views. Sit on the left side on the way up and on the right side going down for the best view. The rack (or cog) railway, which starts at Puchberg station at 577 m (1.893 ft) above sea level, was completed in 1897 after a 2-year construction period. Emperor Franz Joseph I, was astonished by the technical achievement and the stunning views when he travelled by steam train on the Schneeberg Railway on June 18, 1902.

Connection to Vienna

Today the regular traffic on the line is done by diesel-electric trains, which bring up to 100-120 guests up or down a track at the most has an incline of 19 %. However, you can opt for a nostalgic steam train trip on Sundays and Bank Holidays. Check the Schneebergbahn website for more info. If you don’t have you’re on transport when travelling to Austria, you can still enjoy this mountain experience. You can travel directly by train from Vienna via Wiener Neustadt by regular passenger trains arriving in Puchberg. The cog railway and the regular trains share the station, making it easy to change.

Booking.com
  • Italian flagthrowers at the Medieval FEstival in Mauterndorf, Austria.

    Posted in:

    Medieval Festival in Mauterndorf

    Time travel a few hundred years back to the Middle age when the entire village was full of people dressed in historical costumes, and armed knights roamed the streets mingling with flame breathers. The Middle Ages come alive at what has become the legendary folk festival in Mauterndorf, an hour’s drive from Salzburg. Every July […]

    Read more

  • Rosshütte funicular railway, Seefeld, Tyrol, Austria

    Posted in:

    5 fantastic places in Austria accessible by funicular railway

    Austria has short urban funicular railways and longer tracks that take you up the mountains. A funicular railway consists of two vehicles that counterbalance one another rather than independently operated railway cars. Furthermore, they are usually barrier-free and perfect if you are a wheelchair user or travel with a stroller. 1. Hallstatt – Salzbergbahn A […]

    Read more

  • Posted in:

    Discover Vienna’s colorful markets

    Markets always add life and colour to a city. Moreover, they are a great way to get to know a city’s people and culture. Vienna has made a conscious effort to preserve some of the traditional markets. Not only as points of sale but also as local meeting places. Nonetheless, a few markets, such as […]

    Read more

  • A family with a wheel cahir user in the Austrian Alps

    Posted in:

    Barrier-free holiday in the Austrian Alps

    Although barrier-free travel in Austria is not readily available everywhere, slowly but surely, more and more destinations offer at least some access for guests with restricted mobility or families with small children in strollers. Focus on mobility Whether hiking with a pram, wheelchair, or walker, or with other impairments, if you are looking for comfortable […]

    Read more

  • Railjet from the Austrian State Railway in a winterlandscape

    Posted in:

    6 cool ski resorts reachable by train in Austria

    Austria’s airports are well-connected to major cities and central train stations. Therefore, we have put together a list of excellent ski resorts that are easily reachable by train, including some info on how to get there from the airport. Moreover, many ski resorts offer inexpensive or free transfers to and from the nearest train station […]

    Read more

  • Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse

    Posted in:

    Self-drive holiday from Salzburg

    We put together some suggestions for a self-drive from Salzburg that gives you a variety of experiences. Visit historic villages and medieval castles, get back to nature on fantastic family-friendly hikes in the Alps, enjoy a relaxing lakeside stay and drive on some truly stunning roads. So let’s hit the road! Historic Mauterndorf, Lungau Starting […]

    Read more

Advertisements

Share, , Google Plus, Pinterest,

Written by Arnold Weisz

Globetrotting multilingual communications specialist born in Vienna, Austria – with passion for scuba diving, golf and culinary delights! 15 years of experience as a scuba- and travel reporter for among others: X-Ray Dive Magazine and Dykking.