Mittagstein (Raukogel)

Character:
Beautiful mountain hike on good, but in places steep and stony forest paths. Not recommended in wet conditions.

Starting/ending point:
Steinbach am Ziehberg. From the church, take the Ottenau goods road uphill and turn right to the farm of the same name (30 min. walk).


Between the Almtal valley and the Kremsmauer, a number of wooded Alpine foothills invite you to hike - such as the Mittagstein in the south of Steinbach am Ziehberg. Its name reveals that the position of the sun above its summit rock once signalled the time of the lunch break.
It is better to start in the morning, hike up towards the edge of the forest and left along the marked cart track (no. 6, 14) into the Spießengraben. Further up, we turn right onto path no. 439. Cross a forest road, then head up in or next to the steep gully of the Schartenries to another forest road. Just behind it lies the Wolfswiese, a tranquil raised bog that has emerged from a silted-up lake and harbours botanical treasures. Here, at a hunting lodge, the signposted route splits: we follow the left-hand path, which climbs up a steep forest slope with small rocky outcrops to the ridge. Follow this to the left and through steep mountain pine lanes to the summit cross, where you can enjoy a surprisingly wide view. Descend along the same route. From the junction of the direct ascent route, however, we continue straight ahead over the wooded ridge and descend to a saddle above the Wolfswiese. From there, it is only a few steps to the left to the Zimmerten fountain, next to which a small wooden hut contains votive pictures and a statue of the Virgin Mary. Finally, we hike down to Wolfswiese and return to the starting point via the ascent route described above.