Hochwechsel tour from Mönichwald

From the flower village of Mönichwald, we drive uphill on the paved municipal road to the Schwengerer inn and hotel.
Here we can take a break, enjoy the beautiful view, and recharge our batteries for the rest of the journey.
We continue on to our next destination, the cozy Spitzbauer Alpine inn. At the Alpengasthof, we can relax again after the ride and recharge our batteries with a hearty meal and chilled drinks.
A good half hour later, we arrive at the Kaltwiesenhütte. A rest is also recommended here.
After that, we need an hour's ride uphill to reach the summit of the Hochwechsel. The panoramic view is beautiful and the effort of the tour so far is quickly forgotten with refreshments at the Wetterkoglerhaus, which is right next door.
Now we descend on the Wexl Trail to the Vorauer Schwaig. This rustic hut is open during the summer months.
We continue to another hut, the Glatzl Trahütten Alm.
From there, a forest road leads downhill to the village of St. Lorenzen/Wechsel. Here you can stop at the local restaurants and take a short tour of the village.
Finally, the paved municipal road leads downhill to Bruck/Lafnitz. The route continues along the federal highway to the destination of Mönichwald.

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/windbreaker Sturdy shoes
• Repair kit (air pump, repair kit, spare tube, multitool, etc.)
• Light
• First aid kit
• Maps

Allow enough time to take breaks at the many great places to stop along the tour.

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

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
Joglland-Waldheimat
Eastern Styria

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Mobility Eastern Styria with shared taxi SAM

Overview map “Der große Jogl”: Request from the Joglland - Waldheimat tourist office at info@joglland.at or +43 33336 20255