Large Schönauklamm-circuit, Pöllau

Characteristics

Skill

Fitness

The tour in numbers

Level of difficulty medium

Route 18,3 km

Time 5:00 h

Uphill 480 hm

Downhill 480 hm

Highest point 587 m

Exciting circular hike in the south of the Pöllau Valley Nature Park through the Haidenwald forest, along the bird theme trail and through the Schönauklamm gorge.

Starting from the center of Pöllau, this hike stretches south over fields, hills and through forests along the beautiful landscape of the Pöllau Valley Nature Park. The bird theme trail and the romantic Schönauklamm gorge are the two highlights of this circular hike.

Best season

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

More information

Pöllau, Castle park

By car from Vienna

If you are driving from Vienna to Pöllau near Hartberg, take the A2 towards Graz and drive about 110 kilometers until you reach the Hartberg exit. From there, follow the B54 in the direction of Pöllau.

Shortly before Pöllau, turn left at Retter Reisen.

By car from Graz

To get to Pöllau bei Hartberg from Graz, take the A2 in the direction of Vienna. After about 30 kilometers, take the Gleisdorf West exit and then take the B54 towards Hartberg/Pöllau. Follow the B54 for about 25 kilometers until you reach Pöllau.

By car from Salzburg

To get to Pöllau bei Hartberg from Salzburg, take the A1 towards Vienna. Drive about 110 kilometers to exit 109 (Salzburg junction). There change to the A9 towards Graz. At St. Michael, follow the S6 towards Kapfenberg. Continue on the S6 until the Krieglach exit. From there, take the B72 and then the L405 to Pöllau.

Pöllau, Castle park

P&R at the pöllau bypass

Pöllau - Haidenwaldturm - Kroisbach -former GH Schrank

From the center of Pöllau (castle or churchyard) we start south across the main square, through Lamberggasse (Konditorei Ebner) and Hafnergasse, over the bridge of the Mausbach and follow the red-white-red markings no. 944 towards GH Schirnhofer - Stubenberg until we reach the observation tower in the Haidenwald.
From the Haidenwald tower, we follow the signs for "Pöllau" and "Laufstrecke" and walk in a south-easterly direction along the edge of the forest until we cross the gravel road through the Berghofer estate, Hinteregg 111, to the signpost for Ma. Fieberbründl.
Here we turn right over the small bridge and continue to follow the red-white-red markings no. 945 and white-green-white no. 9 to the Kroisbach bus stop, from where the two markings each run in a different direction.
Now follow the white-green-white no. 9 markings, descending slightly to the Kroisbach bridge. Here we join the bird theme trail and follow both markings to the fork at former GH Schrank.

GH Schrank - Schönauklamm - Platzerl am Bach - Pöllau

From former GH Schrank, our hike continues along the bird theme trail and the white-blue-white markings over the Schönauklamm gorge
At the exit of the gorge, we meet the red-white-red signpost no. 945 to Pöllau, which we follow to the Schönau landmark. Once here, turn right, following the yellow dot markings, to the "Platzerl am Bach" at the Safen.
From the "Platzerl am Bach" (next to Retter Reisen), head west over the Safenbach bridge along the asphalt road.
After approx. 300 m, turn right and follow the red-white-red markings no. 945 back to Pöllau.

Important telephone numbers:

European emergency call: 112
Emergency call mountain rescue: 140 (if possible, please provide GPS data)
Rescue: 144
Fire brigade: 122
Police: 133

The trail is easy to walk and therefore suitable for the whole family.

Tips for even more hiking fun: Rules of behaviour when hiking

A few tips on correct and fair behaviour in the forest: (Source: www.bundesforste.at)

Hikers 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 rubbish in the forest.
Camping and making fires is strictly forbidden in the forest!
In principle, every person in the forest is allowed to collect 2kg of mushrooms and berries per day for their own use. It is only prohibited if the forest owner expressly forbids it.

Small rucksack with water bottle (+ provisions)
Sturdy shoes
Appropriate clothing - preferably several layers - "onion principle"
Rain and sun protection
Hiking poles as required
mobile phone
Small first aid kit
Route description
Before starting the hike, check where you can stop for refreshments, including opening times, or pack suitable food and drink.

We recommend that you climb the viewing tower in Haidenwald: a wonderful panoramic view of the Pöllau Valley Nature Park awaits you.

Timetables and travel information can be found at Österreichische Bundesbahnen (ÖBB) or at Verkehrsauskunft Verbundlinie.

For local transportation we recommend the SAM-Sammeltaxi Oststeiermark. Pöllau - Schlosszwinger HF5943

Information about the region, places to stop and stay, excursion destinations etc. can be found here:

Tourism region Eastern Styria
Nature Park Pöllauer Valley office
Schloss 1
8225 Pöllau, Austria
Phone: +43 3335 4210
www.naturpark-poellauertal.at
www.oststeiermark.com

Current weather
Mobility Eastern Styria with SAM shared cab

Kompass Map, Hiking Map Nature Park Pöllauer Valley 1:30,000

Find out about maps, hiking brochures and other tour tips at the tourist office. You can also order information material on our website from the comfort of your own home.

Rother hiking guide "Oststeiermark - Von den Fischbacher Alpen bis in die Thermenregion", 50 tours, Elisabeth Zienitzer & Silvia Sarcletti paperback, ISBN-10, 376334577 available in bookshops.