Pleasure on the Alm river Stage 3 - Viechtwang to Grünau im Almtal

Viechtwang train station is a good starting point for the "Genuss am Almfuss" long-distance hiking trail. In the Gasthaus Schatzlmühle, which can be reached in just 5 minutes on foot, you could strengthen yourself before the hike.

On the way from Viechtwang to Grünau, there are many cultural highlights to admire in addition to nature.

Follow the signs towards the sports field where the Almuferweg trail offers a real attraction for children and young people. The active rest area in Scharnstein is certainly a highlight with its creative and challenging low ropes course. There is also a modern toilet facility here. The route then continues upstream to the Scharnstein alpine bridge. There you cross over the covered Hofmühlersteg to the other side of the river. This is where things get culturally interesting.
On the right-hand side is the Geyerhammer Museum, a partner company of Genuss am Almfluss, which was the largest scythe forge in the monarchy in the 19th century(www.sensenmuseum.at). Visits are possible from May to October at weekends and on public holidays. Every 2nd Saturday at 15:00 there is also a demonstration of blacksmithing using the original water hammers.

From there, the trail can be extended with a detour to the Scharnstein ruins, another highlight along the route (4 km, 280 m elevation gain, 1.5 hours). The path winds its way up to the ruins via the Thießenbachtal valley, past old residences and manor houses from the time of the "black counts". The descent is via a forest and meadow path, which takes you back to the enjoyment of the Almfluss river hiking trail.

Along the Alm, you follow partly asphalted side roads, hiking trails and forest roads to the Kothmühle (train stop with the same name nearby). There we cross the Alm river again and follow the path further upstream.

Here you have the option of continuing your journey with the Almtalbahn or hiking towards St. Konrad, where you will find the Almfluss partner farm Pührethof. On the way there you will find the Genuss am Almfluss partner business Gasthaus Taverne Thann.

From Kothmühle to Grünau im Almtal, the trail now leads directly along the river. There are many places here to cool off on hot days or simply relax on an alpine wave lounger. From spring to autumn, nature shows itself in a wide variety of colors. You hike through beautiful mixed forest past weirs, gravel and sand banks. Near the Gangljodl weir, the Forellenhof Wieselmühle, also a partner business of Genuss am Almfluss, is a great place to stop for a bite to eat. There you can observe traditional trout farming in the pond. At the Redlmühle power station, information boards provide information about energy generation using hydropower. Near-natural bypass channels allow fish to pass the weir system easily and the system is guarded by the sculpture "AlmaSulis - the power of water" made from a 300-year-old oak trunk. Now it is not far to the center of Grünau im Almtal.
Grünau im Almtal train station is also not far from the town center. For the return journey to the starting point, the Almtalbahn runs almost every hour in the direction of Wels. The OÖVV bus line 533 also runs to Scharnstein and Gmunden.

The tourist office is also located in the center of Grünau im Almtal. In the village you also have the possibility to stay overnight at the numerous Genuss am Almfluss partner businesses, such as Alpenpension Birkenhof, Pension Kasbergblick, a little outside the center at the Urlaub am Bauernhof Sportlerhof or in the Naturfreunde Sporthotel Grünau "Wimmergreuth".