alpannonia Stage 3 Hochwechsel - Friedberg

The hike begins at Hochwechsel and heads toward Niederwechsel. At Niederwechsel—which is often windy—you can enjoy an impressive panoramic view of the surrounding mountains and far out across the plain.
The trail leads down through mountain meadows to the Vorauer Schwaig, which is not always open. It then continues through the forest, covering a short stretch along a former Roman road. The wagon tracks are still clearly visible in the rock.
The route continues to the turnoff for the Glatzl-Tra hut, which is about a 15-minute walk off the trail. From there, the path leads to the Thalberger Schwaig, where it joins the regional trail to St. Lorenzen.
The route then crosses the Hochkogel, passing several pilgrim crosses that invite you to take a contemplative break. From the Hochkogel, the trail descends somewhat more steeply to the Hilmtor and continues along forest paths to the hamlet of Dreihäuser.
Largely through the forest, the trail then leads down to Schwaighof, where beautiful views await once again. From there, it continues along meadow paths toward Bärengraben.
After crossing the Bärengraben, the trail leads downhill past the retirement home to the center of Friedberg, the hike’s destination.