Trans Nationalpark Et 03 (Windischgarsten-St.Gallen)

The starting point of the stage is north of the historic main square of Windischgarsten in the Hauptstraße. Between the Grassecker bakery and the Kemmetmüller Hotel, a small lane runs north between the houses. At the end turn left and just after the bridge turn left again into Ufergasse. You will now reach the main road again. After a few metres, keep straight on into Salzastraße, which you now drive slightly uphill - always following the largest street - out of the village. Leave Villa Sonnwend on your left (or turn into the route here if you have stayed overnight at Villa Sonnwend). At the next crossroads, take the right-hand road towards Ruhrbauer. This road leads uphill and soon becomes a forest road, which is beautifully situated along a stream. The forest road soon becomes a narrower cart track and later briefly a meadow path, which now takes you alternately uphill and downhill to an asphalt road. The road takes you to some houses, which you drive around on the right - this is how you reach the crossroads with the many signposts that you already passed at the end of the last stage. You turn left into the uphill road that you descended on the last stage and ride the previous day's route in the opposite direction - past a car park and later on a forest road - up to the start of the Haslersgatter car park.

At the three forks in the forest roads, take the right-hand uphill road, which, after the short uphill passage, takes you mostly slightly downhill along the beautiful ridge (or just to the left of it) until you reach another forest road. Follow it slightly uphill to the Hanslalm and from there always downhill past the beautifully situated Kreuzau to the Zickerreith Hütte (refreshment stop) on the Hengstpass road. From there, take the road on the left uphill to the Hengstpass and then descend for about 10 km to Unterlaussa with the village of Dörfl.

You drive through the village and then turn right at the end over a bridge into a small, slightly uphill asphalt road. The road becomes a forest road, which you follow - always following the signposts - uphill to the Teufelskanzel (a vantage point over the valley) and further to a nameless saddle. From the saddle, simply descend the forest road - you can branch off once to the left onto a parallel wide forest path that soon joins the forest road again - until you reach a small asphalt road. Take the right-hand downhill road and follow it through the valley down to the Spitzenbachgraben. Here you turn left onto the road and soon right again onto an uphill road. Follow this road over a last small hill and down the other side to the main road of St. Gallen. Turn left here and ride across the main square to the finish of the stage in front of the municipal office on the other side of the square.

Fair-Play- Rules for mountain bikers

Mountain biking is an exciting sport and nature experience! It can quickly happen that you forget everything around you. But be careful, you are not alone on the trails! A sensible and considerate riding style is a guarantee for a safe and accident-free mountain biking experience. A few simple rules help to avoid conflicts in the first place

Cycling and mountain biking in the National Park area is only allowed in the period from 15 April to 31 October 2 hours after sunrise to 1 hour before sunset!

Exception is the Langfirst mountain bike trail, here the biking season only starts on June 1st.

Riding is only allowed on the approved and marked paths! Driving bans and closures also apply to mountain bikers.Attention to other nature users! Approach hikers or riders slowly and use your bell if necessary.

Avoid unnecessary noise and show consideration for the animals. This also includes riding only in daylight.

Mountain bikers are guests in the forest - behave accordingly respectfully towards landowners, foresters and hunters. The approach to grazing animals should be at walking pace to avoid panic reactions of the animals. Important - After passing through, all pasture gates must be closed!

Leave nature as you would like to find it yourself - without litter, this belongs in the trash can.On all mountain bike routes the road traffic regulations (StVO) apply. Always ride responsibly and with foresight. The bike must be technically perfect and equipped accordingly (brakes, lights, bell).

A first aid kit is included in the rucksack as well as a mobile phone (Euro-emergency call 112), a repair kit, warming clothes, rain protection, light and sufficient food and drink.

Gloves and glasses protect hands and eyes.

Maps or GPS are valuable orientation aids.

Uphill and downhill always wear a helmet!

Charging stations along the stage:

Hengstpass: Zickerreith Hütte (closed on Mondays; only for consumption; bring your own charging cable)Hengstpass: Karlhütte (closed on Fridays; only for consumption; bring your own charging cable)Hengstpass: Laussabaueralm (closed Monday-Wednesday; only for consumption; bring your own charging cable)Refreshment stops:

Hengstpass: Zickerreith Hütte (closed on Mondays)Hengstpass: Karlhütte (closed on Fridays)Hengstpass: Laussabaueralm (closed Monday-Wednesday)

www.oebb.at

www.busbahnbim.at

http://www.transnationalpark.at/

 Es wird empfohlen, sich vor der Buchung mit dem Trail Info- & Buchungscenter in Verbindung zu setzen.

www.bookyourtrail.com

Tourismusverband Steyr und die Nationalpark Region

 Stadtplatz 27,  4400 Steyr

 Infobüro: Reichraming

 Tel.: +43 7252 53229-40

reichramming@steyr-nationalpark.at

 www.steyr-nationalpark.at

Tourismusverband Gesäuse

Hauptstraße 35, 8911 Admont, Österreich

Tel. +43 (0) 3613 21160 10

Email: info@gesaeuse.at

www.gesaeuse.at

http://www.transnationalpark.at/ Maps and information material at all information points in the national parks