Stage 18 From Glacier to Wine North Route Neuberg an der Mürz - Schneealm

Accessible by public transport

Public bus (within 15 minutes walking distance from starting point)

Characteristics

Skill

Fitness

The tour in numbers

Level of difficulty medium

Route 11,9 km

Time 5:30 h

Uphill 1297 hm

Downhill 256 hm

Highest point 1902 m

A beautiful yet demanding mountain stage through the Mürzer Oberland Nature Park in Hochsteiermark. Beginning in the idyllic village of Neuberg an der Mürz with its impressive monastery complex and ending on the vast high plateau of the Schneealm, this stage showcases the remarkable diversity of landscapes that characterise the nature park.

From lush valley floors and forested slopes to expansive alpine meadows and open mountain terrain, hikers experience the region in all its variety. The continuous ascent requires a good level of fitness, but the ever-changing scenery and spectacular mountain panoramas provide ample reward along the way.

The Mürz River has its source in the Mürzer Oberland Nature Park and grows into one of the most important rivers in Steiermark before eventually joining the Mur River, Austria's second-longest river, at Bruck an der Mur.

Dense forests, waterfalls, and striking rock formations shape the landscape of the nature park, as does the impressive Neuberg Minster, which dominates the townscape of Neuberg an der Mürz. The highest peaks in the park are found within the limestone mountain ranges of the Rax, Schneealm, and Hohe Veitsch, all of which are connected by the Hiking Trail From Glacier to Wine.

In addition to the protected landscape area of Veitsch–Schneealm–Raxalpe, the nature park is also home to the Naßköhr Moor, a protected Ramsar wetland and the largest moor complex in the Eastern Limestone Alps. This unique habitat supports a remarkable diversity of plant and animal life and is one of the region's most valuable natural treasures.

This stage also forms part of the BergZeitReise circular hiking trail, which leads through the wild and romantic mountain landscapes of Hochsteiermark.

Best season

January

February

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More information

Detailed information on how to get to Neuberg an der Mürz can be found here.

There are numerous parking spaces available in Neuberg an der Mürz.

Starting at the Neuberg Minster (Tourist Information Tel. +43 3857 8321), the route initially follows the main road for a short distance towards Mürzsteg. After just a few metres, it branches off via the district of Schlapfen and the Rudolf Trail into the Karlgraben, where we join Trail 441, which climbs steadily – and at times steeply – uphill.

Passing below the Karleck, we eventually reach a junction, where we first keep left. A little over 1 kilometre later, we meet the North Alpine Trail 01, a route we have already encountered on several stages of the Hiking Trail From Glacier to Wine. Here, we turn right and continue eastwards towards the Windberg, the highest summit of the Schneealm. The magnificent panoramic views from the top more than compensate for the often brisk winds that give the mountain its name.

From the summit, the route descends gently onto the vast Schneealm Plateau, where three mountain huts invite hikers to rest and enjoy regional specialities: the Michlbauer Hut (Tel. +43 664 9235900), the Schneealm House (Tel. +43 3857 2190 or +43 664 2495353), and the Lurgbauer Hut (Tel. +43 676 6335456).

All three huts offer traditional cuisine featuring products from the Mürzer Oberland Nature Park and provide overnight accommodation. The first two are located close together at the foot of the Windberg, while the Lurgbauer Hut lies just over 3 kilometres beyond the Schneealm House on the route towards the Rax, which awaits on the following stage.

Emergency call mountain rescue: 140

Tips when reporting an emergency – Answer these six WH questions: What happened? How many people are injured? Where did the accident happen (are there GPS coordinates)? Who is reporting the incident (callback number)? When did the accident happen? What is the weather like at the site of the incident?

Proper backpack packing makes many things easier: Pack heavy things first. The water bottle should always be within reach in a side pocket. All the things that are often needed, such as sunglasses, camera or hiking map, belong on top. An emergency kit, including blister plasters, belongs in every rucksack and it is always advisable to dress in layers.

Accessible by train and bus: detailed information about arriving by ÖBB (Austrian Federal Railways) can be found at www.oebb.at or on the Verbundlinie Steiermark website www.busbahnbim.at

With Verbundlinie’s BusBahnBim route planner app, planning your journey has never been easier: simply enter towns and/or addresses, stop names or points of interest to check all bus, train and tram connections in Austria. The app is available free of charge for smartphones – on Google Play and in the App Store

Steiermark Tourismus, Tel. +43 316 4003
www.steiermark.com

Kompass WK210 Wiener Hausberge, Schneeberg-Rax-Semmering-Bucklige Welt-Mürztal www.kompass.at

Freytag & Berndt WK22 Semmering · Rax · Schneeberg · Schneealpe www.freytagberndt.at