Partially opened, Roadblock

From Kapfenberg to the Aflenzer Bürgeralm and Hike to Höchstein

Accessible by public transport

Train (within 15 minutes walking distance from starting point)

Characteristics

Skill

Fitness

The tour in numbers

Level of difficulty medium

Route 59,9 km

Time 7:00 h

Uphill 1440 hm

Downhill 1440 hm

Lock away

Partially opened

Sperre Radweg Thörlgraben

More information about the road closures

Starting in Kapfenberg, this bike & hike tour follows a former railway line into the valley towards the Hochschwab region. A scenic panoramic mountain road then climbs to Aflenzer Bürgeralm. Towering limestone cliffs, flower-filled alpine meadows and gentle hiking trails characterise the walk to the summit of Höchstein.

Supported by the Austrian Federal Government, the Province of Styria and the European Union (LEADER).

Starting in the historic industrial town of Kapfenberg, home to the well-known Burg Oberkapfenberg, this bike & hike tour follows the Seeberg Cycle Route (R13) along a former railway line into the valley towards the Hochschwab region. Passing through Thörl, with the ruins of Schachenstein Castle, the route continues to the climatic health resort of Aflenz, where Kassecker Square commemorates the renowned "Hochschwab painter".

From Aflenz, the scenic ascent along the Panorama Mountain Road leads to Aflenzer Bürgeralm, where the tour changes from cycling to hiking. Crossing open alpine meadows and typical limestone landscapes, the technically easy trail climbs to the small but scenic summit of Höchstein. The route across the plateau, with its dramatic rocky escarpments and magnificent views into the heart of the Hochschwab Massif, is a highlight in itself.

Conclusion: A varied bike & hike tour combining urban heritage, a spectacular panoramic mountain road and the peaceful alpine landscapes of the Hochschwab—ideal for slowing down, unwinding and reconnecting with nature.

Lock away

Partially opened

Sperre Radweg Thörlgraben

Best season

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

More information

Take the S6 Semmering Expressway and exit at Kapfenberg.

If you are continuing by car to Aflenz, follow the road through the Thörlgraben Valley from Kapfenberg to Aflenz Kurort.

For detailed directions, please use the route planner.

Travel by train to Kapfenberg Railway Station.

The BusBahnBim app from the Styrian Transport Association makes journey planning easier than ever. Simply enter a destination, address, stop or point of interest to access timetable information for bus, train and tram connections throughout Austria.

The app is available free of charge for Android and iOS devices via Google Play and the App Store.

If travelling by car to Kapfenberg, free parking is available at the Festplatz car park. If travelling to Aflenz Kurort, free parking is available in Bürgergraben, which is also an ideal starting point for the tour.