Classic route to Waxeneck shelter

Popis

For this comfortable but relatively long hike, you start in the Berndorf urban area, at the station, making public arrival possible. Initially, the hike leads through the urban area and the Krupp settlements uphill to the Margarethenkirche and the school buildings, then through new residential areas to reach the water tower (accessible by car up to this point). Here you leave the town area and hike on mostly good paths, often through black pine forests and beech forests, with a steady ascent over 8 km to the highest point of the hike (768 m). From here, you descend a few meters to the Waxeneck shelter (also accessible by car from Hals), from whose terrace you can enjoy a beautiful view over the Gutenstein Alps up to the Schneeberg during a break. There is a playground for the little hikers. Although there are combination options, e.g., via Heuschober and Geyergraben, the classic route leads back to Berndorf on the ascent trail, where you can also visit the town’s sights (Margarethenkirche, Stilklassen, Kruppmuseum) at the end.

For the hiker, many varied hiking options open up starting from the town, allowing a choice between short, educational hikes (forest nature trail) and long, extensive hikes (Waxeneck). A special highlight of every visit to Berndorf is always the climb to the viewing tower on Guglzipf with its panoramic view.

Výchozí bod trasy

Berndorf, Bahnhofstraße

Cílový bod trasy

Berndorf, Bahnhofstraße

Popis trasy Classic route to Waxeneck shelter

From the station – there is a large white orientation board opposite – turn into Hernsteiner Straße, cross Neugasse and ascend after Brunntalgasse – here yellow signposts – on the ramp-like Kruppstraße up to Kruppplatz (monument). Cross the square straight ahead and continue on Kruppstraße to Margarethenkirche. Bypass this to the right (blue and yellow marking, white board) and turn right into Schubertstraße continuing to Wasserturmweg. Here the yellow marking separates from the blue marking (white boards). The yellow marking leads to Steinhof.

Just after the water tower, turn right – marked in blue – onto a sandy road that leads along the water reservoir and the dog training area into the forest. Follow the blue marking further on a nice footpath, slightly uphill, through woods and under a high-voltage power line. On the way, you reach a crossroads where a red marked trail (Pöllau-Pottenstein) crosses. Here is a rest area. About 50 m further lies the Pöllinger Kreuz, then a white signboard guiding the way ahead. The path ascends slightly again, then narrows before at a rest bench the green marked trail from Pottenstein joins in. There is also a white board with handwritten walking times. Follow the blue marking further to a rest bench with a table. Here the blue marked path crosses towards Pöllau or Grabenweg. There follows a slightly steeper section at an altitude of 599 m. At a forest road junction, the red marked trail to the Alten Brunnen diverges diagonally left (yellow boards). A few minutes later, about 400 m on, a second path branches off toward Alten Brunnen and Steinhof. On this path, the Hallour cave can be reached in about 40 minutes (this would be an alternative for the return route via Steinhof to Berndorf). The path continues pleasantly to the “Josef-Koczirz-Rast”. Here, on the left, the green marked path goes to Geyersattel and Hohe Mandling. A wooden board points out the way ahead, you soon pass a clearing with a view of Heuschober and Schneeberg in the distance. Back in the forest, past the “Johann-Laister Memorial Cross”, straight over a crossing forest road and to a small hillock. Level and through a small hollow, finally ascending again, you reach a forest road junction where the yellow marking branches left to Geyersattel and Hohe Mandling (white signboard). Here keep right on the road, past some weekend houses, straight to the Waxeneck shelter of the Berndorf-Pottenstein Friends of Nature (viewing terrace, playground). After the break (open Thursday – Sunday and holidays, at the hut on the edge of the terrace by the parking lot there are drinks for self-service) choose the ascent route for the return. Alternatively, the comfortable route via Geyersattel to Steinhof and Berndorf is also possible if you want variety. Here you would also come back to the water tower or the station.