7-Point Trail in the Mürzer Oberland Nature Park - Mariazeller Land

Characteristics

Skill

Fitness

The tour in numbers

Level of difficulty medium

Route 17,7 km

Time 6:00 h

Uphill 550 hm

Downhill 930 hm

Highest point 1463 m

The 7-Point Trail in the northeast of Styria connects the Niederalpl Pass in the Mürzer Oberland Nature Park with the Mariazell Basilica via a beautiful hiking route. This extensive day hike follows the traditional Mariazell pilgrimage paths 405 and 406, leading hikers through the gentle alpine region between the Mürzer Oberland Nature Park and the Mariazeller Land, all the way to the Magna Mater Austriae.

For more information, you can explore the interactive video about the trail: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6WqeyvoI_4

From Niederalpl, the route follows a gentle up and down path across the extensive alpine meadows of Herrenboden until reaching Mooshuben. From there, we descend slightly into Halltal before tackling a short but steep ascent over Kreuzberg, which leads us to Mariazell.

Here are the 7 points along the trail:

Marterl at Plodererhof
Madonna at Herrenboden
Paulaquelle
Siebenbrunn
Pilgerkreuz, Mooshubenwirt
"Luckertes Kreuz"
Mariazell Basilica

This scenic route offers beautiful views and rich cultural history along the way, making it a fulfilling pilgrimage.

Best season

January

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

More information

www.at.map24.com

From Vienna, take the route via Mürzzuschlag and Neuberg an der Mürz to Mürzsteg. From there, continue on to Niederalpl.

From Graz, head through Kapfenberg and Turnau to Seeberg. Continue from there to Wegscheid, then turn right to reach Niederalpl.

Parking is sufficiently available at Niederalpl, while parking in Mariazell is partly subject to fees.

We start at the Gasthof Plodererhof and briefly cross the ski slope of the small family ski area. Passing the Wetterinalm (open in summer), we soon reach Ochsenboden while heading east.

Our path then turns north, leading us to the beautifully located Herrenboden (staffed in summer, with a wonderful view of Hohe Veitsch). Passing the unique Madonna statue, we continue over the Naterriegel to the Pilgerkreuz at the start of Mooshuben. A rest stop at Mooshubenwirt is highly recommended before heading down into Halltal (state road).

From there, we turn left (west), taking the final steep section (up Kreuzberg) directly to Mariazell.

Most hiking and mountain tours in the Mürzer Oberland Nature Park and Mariazeller Land take place in alpine terrain. Especially for this longer hiking tour, good physical fitness and surefootedness are recommended. On some parts of the trail, orientation can be difficult in fog or bad weather.

This tour requires excellent physical fitness! Make sure to bring enough drinks and don’t forget your rain jacket.

Mountain rescue emergency number: 140, with rescue stations in Mariazell, Neuberg an der Mürz, and Mürzzuschlag.

Emergency reporting tip – Answer the six following questions:

What happened?
How many injured?
Where did the accident occur (possibly GPS coordinates)?
Who is reporting (call-back number)?
When did the accident happen?
Weather at the accident site?

Properly packing your backpack makes everything easier:

Pack heavy items first.
The water bottle (ideally 1 liter or more) should always be easily accessible.
Frequently used items like sunglasses, camera, mobile phone, or hiking map should go on top.

An emergency kit, including blister plasters, should be in every backpack, and layered clothing ("onion system") is always recommended! For alpine tours, never forget rain protection!

In addition to the waypoints, the Basilica in Mariazell is the highlight of the entire route. Other notable attractions include the Mariazell Heimatmuseum and, in the Mürzer Oberland Nature Park, the Kaiserhof Glass Manufactory, the Nature Museum, the Woodcutter Museum in Mürzsteg, and the children's playground at Appelhof.

ÖBB www.oebb.at or Verbundlinie Steiermark www.busbahnbim.at

With the BusBahnBim app from Verbundlinie, timetable information has never been easier: all bus, train, and tram connections in Austria can be searched by entering locations and/or addresses, stops, or key points.

The app is available for free on smartphones (Android, iOS) via Google Play and the App Store.

Nature Park Taxi in the Mürzer Oberland Nature Park
Tel.: +43 3857 20170
www.naturparktaxi.at

Nature Park Office Mürzer Oberland
Tel.: +43 3857 8321
www.muerzeroberland.at
Open Monday – Friday from 8:00 – 12:00

Tourism Association Hochsteiermark
Tel.: +43 3862 55020
www.steiermark.com/hochsteiermark

Mountain, Hiking, and Nature Park Guides
For information, contact the Nature Park Office Mürzer Oberland at +43 3857 8321 or the Tourist Office in Mariazell.