Alluvial canal path

The Schwemmkanalweg is a unique circular hiking trail featuring fun puzzles along the Austrian-Czech border, where history, culture, and nature come together in a special way.
With the free app and 13 information panels, Ossi the Raven guides you along the historic Schwarzenberg Alluvial Canal. Ossi invites you to delve into the fascinating history of the canal, the border region, and the people who once lived here.

At the end of the hike, a little surprise awaits all the diligent puzzle solvers! You can pick it up at the Steilstufenwirt or during business hours at the St. Oswald bei Haslach municipal office.

The starting point is the town square in St. Oswald bei Haslach. From there, leave the town heading east on a gentle incline and hike—following the Steilstufenweg, short loop No. 70—along a dirt path toward the forest. The trail then leads downhill, somewhat more steeply, to the main boundary marker right next to the Schwemmkanal.

Upstream along the canal, the impressive “Steilstufe” marks the section of the Schwemmkanal with the steepest gradient. After the rest area near Morau, you’ll reach the former village of Asang. There, the Steilstufenweg (Short Loop No. 70) branches off to the north, while the Schwemmkanalweg continues along the canal and crosses the national border into the Czech Republic.

At the “Luagmühle” station, you have the option to take a shortcut (Schwemmkanalweg short route). To do so, follow the signs westward, turning left uphill toward the former village of Untermarkschlag.

The long route of the Schwemmkanalweg continues along the canal to the European watershed at Rosenhügel. From there, take the forest road back to the St. Oswald border crossing and, via the Reichenau Monument, return to the starting point at the town square.