Path of Mindfulness - spiritual hiking trail

Path of Mindfulness

A path that makes mindfulness with oneself and the environment perceptible through conscious experience of nature & spiritual impulses

Stage 1: 17 km | 200 m ascent

Grünau im Almtal — Almtalerhaus

Stage 2: 20 km | 200 m ascent

Almtalerhaus — Klaus/Steyrling

Stage 3: 23 km | 800 m ascent

Klaus/Steyrling — Schlierbach

Stage 4: 22 km | 600 m ascent

Schlierbach — Scharnstein

Stage 5: 15 km | 230 m ascent

Scharnstein — Grünau im Almtal

Stage 1:

The House of Mindfulness in Grünau im Almtal is the perfect place to arrive and set off. Soon you get into the flow: Along the Grünau stream it goes to the Alm river, whose babbling and glittering accompanies us for many kilometers. The Alm springs from the Totes Gebirge; on gentle riverbank paths you hike towards the mighty mountains. Along the route lies the Grünau Wildlife Park, home to brown bears and greylag geese. Stopover: recommended! At Landhaus Jagersimmerl you turn into the Hetzau valley and follow the road to the rustic Almtalerhaus, always next to the downstream babbling creek. A small detour via the idyllic Ödseen is also possible. The rugged karst peaks become increasingly larger as they peek out from behind dark green treetops, the everyday thoughts smaller and smaller as an oasis appears – the first stage destination.

Stage 2:

At Almtalerhaus awaits the most alpine stage, where you may be on your own over long distances. Nearly 200 meters of altitude have to be climbed to the Ringsattel — the transition into the Steyr valley. On the path, you should be sure of your steps over root networks.....

Stage 3:

Alternating the Steyr riverbank, you immerse yourself in the fairy-tale forest leading to the pilgrimage site Frauenstein. Magical is the light shimmering through the leaves in the morning. On a hill appears the church, which houses a cultural treasure with a Madonna of the Protective Cloak on the main altar. When you detach yourself from the heavenly view in Frauenstein, you head to Göritz near Molln to discover the power of water at the Jugendstil power plant Steyrdurchbruch. Opposite the emerald green Steyr begins the meadow and forest green of the Kremstal. At the Marienkapelle, the Prälatenweg leads to Altpernstein Castle. Gentle hills accompany you to Grillenparz and its summit larch. Simply lie in the grass and enjoy the distant view! Once more it goes downhill until the towers of Schlierbach monastery are within reach, where we find good rest at the SPES Hotel.

Stage 4:

On this section, civilization is noticeably more present: first passing through the monastery village Schlierbach. There, where farm roads lead between fields, the path below the motorway briefly recalls the hectic flow of time. When you enter Hubertusweg in Inzersdorf, it goes upwards again into green. Before the Hubertus chapel, you will marvel in retrospect at how far your own feet have carried you. The parish church Magdalenaberg is the next highlight. Poppies between the fields accompany you in early summer to the church Heiligenleiten. Back at the Alm, after a loop over Bäckerberg, you reach a mysterious place surrounded by Tibetan prayer flags: In a quadrangle courtyard is the Gomde, the international Buddhist center, the perfect place to go inward and to sleep.

Stage 5:

When the morning sun lights up the paradise garden of Gomde, the final day begins with light steps. The legs walk downhill on hiking trails and could take root for a while just before the village of Viechtwang. Here, a lime tree over 500 years old rises as a natural monument in the southeastern slopes of the Hacklsberg, providing shade and strength. Past the parish church with its onion dome tower, it goes to the already known Alm river. We stay close to its crystal-clear water and follow it through the town of Scharnstein. The raftmen's path leads back to Grünau im Almtal, where the circle closes at the House of Mindfulness. We may look back with joy, pride, and gratitude on a path that perhaps does not end here, because it will carry us onward in life.