Hiking between the Czech Republic and Austria – Nordwaldkamm trail
Hiking Collection by Valerie
14
Tours
97:02 h
210 mi
25,300 ft
It’s not every day that you get to take on a truly long-distance hike; the kind that makes you proud just for being there. Many hikers dream of such an adventure, but don’t know where to begin. First, you have to decide where to go, then you need to plan the route in detail, choose where to sleep, where to eat...
In the beginning, this can seem quite overwhelming. However, I have a wonderful Tour for you to test the waters of long-distance hiking. This route is not so difficult that you need alpine experience and just challenging enough that you feel very proud of your achievement at the end.
The route in question is the Nordwaldkamm trail, the oldest long-distance hiking trail in Austria. On 24 June 2020, the trail celebrated its 60th birthday. But this old-timer has not lost any of its charm over the years. On the contrary, the classic Nordwaldkamm trail was even extended in 2012 to include a return route – the Nordwaldkamm trail II. Following its 330-km (205-mile) length, you explore the wonderful border between the Czech Republic and Austria.
I’ve summarised the trail in 14 stages for you here. With the help of this Collection and by following the blue and white ridge markers, you can’t get lost. On the Nordwaldkamm trail I, you hike from the distinctive rocks of the Dreisesselberg mountain in Bavaria, through the forest to the Nebelstein peak in the Waldviertel region of northwestern Austria. If you still have the legs afterwards, you can continue along the Nordwaldkamm trail II on the Czech side of the border. Otherwise, you can catch public transport home from the Harbach municipality, below the Nebelstein (and still give yourself a good pat on the back).
So the inspiring stages and route planning are now clear, but what about accommodation? At the end of each stage, I introduce you to a place to stay if camping is not your thing. You can travel to and from the start and finishing points (Dreisesselberg or Hochstein) by car or public transport, but you do have to factor in a short walk to reach the trail. All that is left is to pack your bag and your adventure on the Nordwaldkamm trail can begin!
P.S.: Don't forget to collect stamps on the way to receive your well-deserved badge at the end.
On The Map
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Last updated: March 29, 2023
Tours
- 06:1913.0 mi2.1 mph1,700 ft2,900 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
Your Nordwaldkammweg adventure begins on the original part of the path and also directly with a summit, the Hochstein. From the large parking lot below the Dreisesselberg you make your way up here. And you are officially at the starting point of your long-distance hike.
The view up here is correspondingly…
by Valerie
- 06:2614.0 mi2.2 mph1,275 ft2,675 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Well rested and full of vigor, you start day 2 of your long-distance hike. Today it’s not going as high as yesterday. After a short ascent from Schöneben up to the Sulzberg, you stay more and more down in the valley with leisurely ups and downs. From Sulzberg you first hike over the wooden meadow and…
by Valerie
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- 08:2017.6 mi2.1 mph2,975 ft2,250 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Stage 3 of the Nordwaldkammweg has a good 28 kilometers and a nice steady up and down waiting for you. Let's go in Haslach - depending on your mood, you can of course take your time for the sights there or get yourself a delicious snack at the market. Then you tackle the first ascent directly and march…
by Valerie
- 06:1013.5 mi2.2 mph1,325 ft1,950 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Day 4 of your Nordwaldkammweg adventure begins with making your way out of the city and back into nature. Via the south-eastern exit of the village you march briskly towards the valley of the Große Rodl and then always towards Schenkenfelden.
And because it has been so leisurely so far, the first ascent…
by Valerie
- 07:5216.9 mi2.1 mph2,625 ft1,400 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
At the Wanderstein in Freistadt you start stage 5 of the Nordwaldkammweg. You march east along the city moat. At the Feldaist Bridge, you can then choose between two route options: You can either hike over the Zelletau and St. Oswald or over the Alm to the Braunberg.
This tour describes the variant over…
by Valerie
- 07:2015.9 mi2.2 mph2,025 ft1,800 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Today it's almost 26 kilometers from Sandl to the Nebelsteinhütte, the last destination on the Austrian side for the time being. You start from your overnight accommodation in Sandl in the direction of Rosenhofer Teiche. They are a particularly idyllic piece of earth. Bathing is unfortunately forbidden…
by Valerie
- 05:2011.6 mi2.2 mph875 ft2,375 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
Stage 7 is the first time we cross the border into the Czech Republic. The last part of the Nordwaldkammweg I is in front of you. But don't worry: when you arrive at Gratzen, the Nordwalkammweg II follows directly. If you like.
It starts in the cozy Nebelsteinhütte. If you haven't done it at the end of…
by Valerie
- 06:3413.9 mi2.1 mph2,100 ft1,400 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
Time for part 2 of the Nordwaldkammweg. Well rested and ready for the 22 kilometers that are on the plan today, you should perhaps take a moment to take a closer look at Gratzen. His castle or the baroque pharmacy from the 17th century, for example, are always worth a visit. Then the way will lead you…
by Valerie
- 06:1714.0 mi2.2 mph1,475 ft1,325 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Woke up in the untouched nature of the Czech Republic and today it goes on just as untouched. With the village of Sofienschloss you have also arrived in the European Green Belt. This is a nature conservation initiative through which the border strip of the Iron Curtain, which has largely been left close…
by Valerie
- 07:1716.0 mi2.2 mph1,650 ft2,050 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
For the next two nights it's back to Austria. So from your accommodation you are steadily walking towards the border. You wander through beautiful forests. (Almost) always close by: the Maltsch. Sooner or later you will cross it over an old bridge near Mairspindt, which forms the border crossing here…
by Valerie
- 07:4517.4 mi2.2 mph1,725 ft1,525 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
You will stay in Austria a little longer. Today it's 28 kilometers from Eisenhut to Rading. To do this, you switch back and forth between the two countries. From your last stage destination you first march uphill to the national border and then always along it to the height of the Czech town of Böhmisch…
by Valerie
- 08:4719.1 mi2.2 mph2,675 ft1,925 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Back in Rading and full of fresh energy, you start a new stage. Today, almost 31 kilometers and the return to the Czech Republic are on the program. To do this, you first walk from Rading towards Weigetschlag and from there to the extraordinary mushroom stone, for which only a minimal but worthwhile…
by Valerie
- 06:0414.0 mi2.3 mph800 ft1,250 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Can you believe it Today is the penultimate stage of your Nordwaldkammweg adventure. First of all, it lures you out of your destination St. Thomas yesterday. We head west - next stop: the Vltava reservoir.
The Nordwaldkammweg II leads you slightly downhill to the European watershed in "Korunda". This…
by Valerie
- 06:3113.1 mi2.0 mph2,125 ft625 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
Well, well rested and ready for the final round of the Nordwaldkammweg? It goes back to Austria, the goal is the impressive Dreisesselberg, which you climbed at the beginning of your adventure. The tour starts relatively leisurely at first.
The Schwarzenbergsche Schwemmkanal will pick you up from yesterday…
by Valerie
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Collection Stats
- Tours14
- Distance210 mi
- Duration97:02 h
- Elevation25,300 ft
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