Unwind on the Ysper-Weitental circular hiking trail in Austria

Hiking Collection by Tamara

Tours

51:53 h

111 mi

15,225 ft

Long-distance hiking can be so wonderful. Following the Ysper-Witental circular hiking trail in Austria, you find yourself in silent, wide forests and narrow valleys. The relatively unknown Southern Waldviertel region in Lower Austria defines the nine stages. You hike over gentle highlands, past traditional farms and giant granite boulders, to stunningly beautiful vantage points.

As the name suggests, the 180-kilometre (111 mile) Ysper-Weitental circular hiking trail is a loop so you can start at any stage. In this Collection, for example, you start in the village of Laimbach am Ostrong. If you want to arrive the day before setting off, you can stay overnight at Schreiners Waldviertel Haus.

The first stage is the longest of the nine and takes you to breathtaking peaks such as the Großer Peilstein. With the Danube Valley and an impressive pre-Alpine panorama behind you, on the second day you hike along the Kleine Ysper and then the Große Ysper rivers. On the third stage, the Ysperklamm Gorge is a particularly wild and romantic highlight. On the fourth day, you pass through the largest closed forest area in Austria, the Weinsberg Forest, in the heart of the Waldviertel. The town of Pöggstall with its majestic castle concludes stage 5.

Next, you hike up and down undulating landscapes through the green Weitental Valley. The stately Leiben Castle and the impressive pilgrimage basilica of Maria Taferl are cultural highlights on stages 7 and 8. On the last day of the Ysper-Weitental circular hiking trail, you march back to Laimbach, the starting point of your adventure, via Kollnitzberg peak, which has an observation tower.

As the stages can be quite long, you need good endurance for this route, although alpine experience isn’t required. As accommodation is often sparse at the stage destinations, I recommend booking a place to sleep in advance. If you would like to travel by public transport, you can use bus line 791: verkehrsmittel.info/linie-791-vor. The bus connects Laimbach to Melk and Pöchlarn train stations. This long-distance hiking trail is the perfect opportunity to switch off and leave your everyday life behind.

On The Map

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Ysper-Weitental Rundwanderweg

107 mi

14,725 ft

Last updated: November 12, 2021

Tours & Highlights

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Etappe 1: Laimbach nach Nöchling – Ysper-Weitental Rundwanderweg
Difficult
08:05
16.5 mi
2.0 mph
2,925 ft
2,900 ft
Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
The first stage of the Ysper-Weitental circular hiking trail is the longest of your nine-day hiking adventure and starts in Laimbach am Ostrong. If you want to arrive the day before, you can stay overnight in Schreiner's Waldviertel House. From the center of the village you head south and after a short…
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Etappe 2: Nöchling nach Ysper – Ysper-Weitental Rundwanderweg
Difficult
05:45
12.0 mi
2.1 mph
1,925 ft
2,025 ft
Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
The second stage of the Ysper-Weitental circular hiking trail begins in Nöchling. At the beginning you wander through a colorful carpet of patches of fields, farms and small forests. You cross the Kleine Ysper and then follow the babbling Losenegger Bach through its romantic gorge.

In a constant up and…
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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Etappe 3: Ysper nach Dorfstetten – Ysper-Weitental Rundwanderweg
Difficult
05:27
11.6 mi
2.1 mph
1,775 ft
975 ft
Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
After a night in Ysper you start the third stage of the long-distance hiking trail: From the market square you go northwards parallel to the Großer Ysper and after a short time you reach the idyllic forest pond. The mighty trees are picturesquely reflected in the water. The 3-Teich-Weg then leads you…
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Etappe 4: Dorfstetten nach Gutenbrunn – Ysper-Weitental Rundwanderweg
Difficult
07:06
15.8 mi
2.2 mph
1,750 ft
1,300 ft
Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
At 25.4 kilometers, the second longest stage of the Ysper-Weitental circular hiking trail awaits you today. You start in Dorfstetten and initially walk along the bank of the Kleine Ysper along the country road until you keep right at the forestry office. Still accompanied by the babbling brook, you reach…
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Etappe 5: Gutenbrunn nach Pöggstall – Ysper-Weitental Rundwanderweg
Intermediate
04:22
9.69 mi
2.2 mph
525 ft
1,875 ft
Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
After a night in pretty Gutenbrunn, you make your way to Edlesberg. You wander through a colorful mosaic of fields, hamlets and meadows. After only two kilometers you will reach the shimmering Edlesberger See, which invites you to take a break. Since the fifth stage is a little shorter at 15.6 kilometers…
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Etappe 6: Pöggstall nach Raxendorf – Ysper-Weitental Rundwanderweg
Intermediate
04:55
10.5 mi
2.1 mph
1,700 ft
1,550 ft
Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
The sixth stage of the Ysper-Weitental circular hiking trail starts in Pöggstall with its beautiful castle. At first it goes north, the path climbs steadily. With wonderful views back to Pöggstall, you hike up the slope before you dive into the forest. You cross the Loibersdorfer Bach and soon afterwards…
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Etappe 7: Raxendorf nach Leiben – Ysper-Weitental Rundwanderweg
Difficult
07:08
15.0 mi
2.1 mph
2,025 ft
2,800 ft
Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Raxendorf is the official starting point of the seventh stage of the Ysper-Weitental circular hiking trail. If you hiked far the day before, this 24-kilometer stage will be shortened by half. From Raxendorf it goes via Lehsdorf to Zeining. This is followed by a leisurely climb up to the Nonnersdorfer…
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Etappe 8: Leiben nach Maria Taferl – Ysper-Weitental Rundwanderweg
Intermediate
04:04
8.96 mi
2.2 mph
1,200 ft
725 ft
Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
You start at the mighty castle in Leiben and at the beginning of the eighth stage you hike to a viewing hill south of the village. At the top you will be rewarded with a wonderful view down into the Danube Valley. In a gentle up and down, you hike on towards Losau and then cross smaller forests and meadows…
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Etappe 9: Maria Taferl nach Laimbach – Ysper-Weitental Rundwanderweg
Difficult
05:01
11.0 mi
2.2 mph
1,450 ft
1,100 ft
Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Unbelievable, but today the last stage of the Ysper-Weitental circular hiking trail is already on the agenda: The day begins with an amazing view down into the Danube valley. If you want, you can take another look at the beautiful Maria Taferl basilica before hiking to the banks of the Marbach. Parallel…
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