Especially bizarre! On the Great Bärentrail between Hausbach, Neustift and Lembach, municipality of Rappottenstein
Besides the Great Bärentrail, the Small Bärentrail and 6 shorter Teddy Bärentrails, we reveal a secret tip: The Bärentrail Sidestep FELSENGARTEN. You can explore the path as an independent loop or as a side route within your Great Bärentrail hike. Start and finish are on the road between Hausbach and Neustift, near Feuranz. Lembach lies to the north. Feature: several bizarre rock formations in the forest, sparse pine forests, varied adventure (stones, forest).
Popis
"Fichtenschluff," "Pilzstein," “Stone Archway,” "Wuchtelstein," "Gletschermühle" are the names of the bizarre rock formations that are really worth seeing. The "Stone Archway" is an extremely rare geological phenomenon because archways are usually found rather in limestone mountains. The granite stone arch extends between two big rock blocks. You can go under it and over it. From the arch, you look down to the “Wuchtelstein,” which looks just as its name suggests. The "Gletschermühle" is an about 12 m high granite tower with peculiar, bowl-shaped depressions that resemble a glacial mill. However, the rock formation has nothing to do with the Ice Age: the bizarre granite shapes were formed by weathering of the more than 350 million years old primordial rock massif. (“Real” glacial mills are spiral-shaped hollow forms in ice formed by meltwater.)
Výchozí bod trasy
On the road between Hausbach and Neustift, near Feuranz, municipality of Rappottenstein, directly on the Great Bärentrail
Cílový bod trasy
On the road between Hausbach and Neustift, near Feuranz, municipality of Rappottenstein, directly on the Great Bärentrail
Popis trasy Bärentrail Sidestep Felsengarten
On the road between Hausbach and Neustift, located directly on the Great Bärentrail, after the village of Feuranz you will find the start/finish and info board. Follow the Bärentrail Sidestep marker signs. The path leads you uphill through sparse pine forests. Blueberry bushes as far as the eye can see. You will encounter bizarre rock formations called "Fichtenschluf" and "Pilzstein." The "Stone Archway" is particularly charming. Parallel to the 612 Vier-Märkte-Weg you then reach the "Gletschermühle." Now hike back the section to the fork in the forest on the same path, following the marker that makes the Sidestep a round trail. If you continue on the Great Bärentrail, there is a fork to the left at the high seat. If you want to return to the road, the starting point, go straight down the slope again.
Příjezd
From Vienna: Approx. 130 km, about 1 hr 40 min: A22 Stockerau, S5 to Krems, B37 to Rastenfeld, B38 Bohemian Forest federal road to Zwettl and further towards Groß Gerungs, then to Merzenstein on B124 towards Rappottenstein.
From Linz: Approx. 95 km, S10 towards Freistadt, B38 Bohemian Forest federal road to Groß Gerungs, continuing to Etzen, then from Etzen take L7309 towards Kirchbach and Rappottenstein.
Parkování
Some limited parking options along the road near the start/finish board
Bärentrail public transport guide online at www.baerentrail.at/oeffi-guide. You can plan your route with VOR’s route planner: www.anachb.vor.at. Or simply call a Bärentrail taxi: www.baerentrail.at/baerentrail-taxis/
Tip autora
Tip for strong and fast hikers: You will greatly enjoy additionally (outside the Bärentrail marking) hiking further up the mountainside at the Gletschermühle on the 612 path. There you will reach more impressive rock formations, such as the “Stone Room.” This is a natural shelter typical for granite landscapes. On the rock above there are so-called "offering bowls." A bit further on you reach the "Burgleiten." From here you have a beautiful view. This is a ruin site probably built at the end of the 12th century. The connection to the Great Bärentrail can be found by returning the same way to the large fork in the forest near the Stone Archway. There turn left and follow the Bärentrail signs.
