Summit tour: From Waldbach to the Hochwechsel, Waldbach-Mönichwald

Characteristics

Skill

Fitness

The tour in numbers

Level of difficulty challenging

Route 15,8 km

Time 3:30 h

Uphill 1223 hm

Downhill 113 hm

Highest point 1743 m

This summit tour from Waldbach takes you up to the 1743-metre-high Hochwechsel. Around 1200 meters in altitude are covered here - an e-bike is therefore particularly suitable for this tour.

The municipality of Waldbach is best known for the "Wiedners Wasserspiele". Hundreds of wooden figures, powered only by water, invite you to marvel and is a very special experience, especially for families and children.

Best season

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

More information

Waldbach-Mönichwald has been a municipality in the Hartberg-Fürstenfeld district of Styria in Austria since 2015.

By car:
From Graz: via the A2 to the Hartberg exit, then B50 and B54 via Grafendorch to Rohrbach; continue via Koglerau and Bruck, Mönichwald to Waldbach

From Vienna: via the A2 to the Pinggau exit, then on the B54 towards Hartberg to Rohrbach a. d. Lafnitz; continue via Koglerau and Bruck, Mönichwald to Waldbach

Detailed information on how to get here can be found here.
Waldbach, "Zur Post" inn, tennis court/biobath (free)

We start in the municipality of Waldbach at Gasthof zur Post.
On the main road towards Mönichwald we turn left after approx. 500 m towards Breitenbrunn, Hochwechsel and continue straight ahead for approx. 2 km.
Pass the Kumpfmühle on the right and continue for approx. 1 km until you reach a sharp left-hand bend, where you turn right towards Meisterhofer vlg. Kroner.
We continue straight on for approx. 1.3 km until we come to a stable.
Here we turn right and cross a small bridge.
From now on it goes uphill.
At the sharp S-bend (signpost Pockreiter Erhard) we continue left, at the next junction (Arzberger family) we also keep left.
Now the route continues flat for a while and we can enjoy a wonderful distant view.
We pass the farm of the Krogger family and reach a crossroads where we turn right onto the Hochwechselstraße.
After approx. 3.5 km we reach the Rabl-Kreuz-Hütte excursion destination, continue straight ahead and after another approx. 5 km we reach our destination, the Hochwechsel.

Important telephone numbers:

European emergency call: 112

Emergency call mountain rescue: 140 (if possible, please provide GPS data)

Rescue: 144

Fire department: 122

Police: 133

Fair play rules for cyclists

Plan your tour carefully!

Check your bike before you set off!

Always ride with the right protective equipment!

Always ride with a helmet!

Don't forget all your equipment (repair kit, first aid kit, etc.)!

Only ride on marked paths!

Observe the road traffic regulations!

Observe driving bans and keep to opening times!

Control your speed!

Leave no tracks!

Respect other nature users!

Show consideration for animals (only ride in daylight & close pasture fences)!

Avoid noise and garbage!

Use the cycle paths at your own risk!

Beware of working machines, wood or potholes on the road, grazing livestock and vehicle traffic (forest roads are working areas and workplaces)! A few tips on correct and fair behavior: Cycling and mountain biking in the forest (oesterreich.gv.at)

Cyclists should avoid visiting the forest approx. 1.5 hours before sunrise and after sunset, as wild animals are particularly active at this time.

Plastic bottles, handkerchiefs, cigarette butts etc. have no place in the forest! Please make sure that you do not leave any garbage in the forest.

Camping and making fires is strictly forbidden in the forest!

Helmet

Sunglasses

Water bottle

Provisions for the road

Sports clothing

Rain jacket/windbreakerSturdy shoes

Repair kit (air pump, repair kit, spare tube, multitool, etc.)

Light

First aid kit

Maps

We recommend Rabl-Kreuz hut for a refreshment stop.

Timetables and travel information can be found at Österreichische Bundesbahnen (ÖBB) or at Verkehrsauskunft Verbundlinie.
For local transportation we recommend the SAM-Sammeltaxi Oststeiermark.

Please note whether you are allowed to take your bike with you if you are traveling by public transport

You can find information about the region, places to stop and stay overnight, excursion destinations, etc. here:

Eastern Styria Tourism Association

Joglland-Waldheimat office

8255 St. Jakob im Walde

Tel.: 03336/20255

Mobility Eastern Styria with shared taxi SAM