Stage 11 Luchs Trail Göstling - Lunz am See (without shuttle)

Description:
Note:
This stage is extremely long in this form! We recommend organizing a shuttle either at the start to the Ybbstalerhütte parking lot or at the end from Seehof near Lunzer See to Lunz am See. Or spend the night at the Ybbstalerhütte (located directly on the trail).
LuchsTrail stage 11 Göstling - Lunz am See (with shuttle)Directions:
From the start in Göstling, head east and take the small "Steinbachmauer" road north of the Ybbs and parallel to the Erlauftal main road (also the Ybbstal cycle path) towards Lunz am See. Take this road to reach the main road at Kögerlwirt, cross it and turn into the themed trail "The Power of Water" at Kögerlwirt and Steinbach. The hiking trail leads on asphalt and gravel paths or on well-secured wooden paths through the romantic Noth Gorge into the Steinbach Valley and takes you past some interesting experience points that focus on "the power of water". After the Noth gorge (natural monument), you walk about 1.3 km on the asphalted Steinbachtal road to the parking lot for the normal ascent to the Ybbstalerhütte hut at the fish ponds (about 1 hour 40 min walk from Göstling).

From the parking lot, follow the signs and markings 730 meters uphill, first on the forest road, then on the marked uphill path to a hunting lodge. Cross the forest road at this point. After a spring, another forest road is reached. Follow this to the left and a little later turn right. Hike steeply up to the forest road which then leads to the Ybbstalerhütte.

From the hut, you walk in a south-easterly direction through a gently ascending, sparsely wooded karst-dry valley. The storms of recent years have also left their mark here. The trail climbs moderately past several karst depressions and sinkholes, then somewhat steeper to the Legsteinalm, where the former hut serves as a mountain rescue base. At the Legstein hunting lodge, you pass the "Jungfraunbründl". Here you are in the north-eastern part of the Dürrenstein-Lassingtal wilderness area, which covers a total area of around 7,000 hectares. The core area of this international protected area, the Rothwald primeval forest, is the largest remnant of primeval forest in Central Europe and a strict nature reserve according to IUCN category Ia. The stony path leads over karstified terrain through mountain pine lanes up to an undulating high plateau. After a good 2-hour walk from the Ybbstalerhütte, you reach the summit of the Dürrenstein (1,878m), which is adorned with a beautiful iron cross. The magnificent summit panorama tempts you to take an extended rest.

The descent to the Leonhardikreuz (1,406m) leads first through mountain pines and later across the alpine meadows of the Herrenalm. The detour (walking time approx. 10 minutes) to the hospitable Herrenalm hut, which is located slightly off the Luchs Trail, is definitely worthwhile.

On your return, the trail descends steeply from the Leonhardikreuz to the idyllic and picturesque Obersee lake - a natural gem! The trail then leads along a forest road through the wild and romantic Seetal valley. Past the interesting karst phenomenon of the "Roaring Bull" (underground waterfall) and the Ludwig Falls - the stream here plunges over a 50m high vertical wall - you come to the Mittersee. The landscape here is characterized in the east by the rugged rock faces of the "Hackermäuer" and in the west by the "Seemäuern" and the "Höherstein". From Mittersee, continue along the marked trail through the Seetal valley to the Seehof hiking starting point on Lake Lunz.

From there, you briefly walk along the road towards Lunz, but after 150 m turn left onto a road. It soon narrows into a hiking trail and leads along the southern shore of Lake Lunz - finally via the Dr. Carl Kupelwieser promenade - to the western end of the lake. Keep left behind the "Seeterrasse" restaurant and always left of the Seebach along the lakeside promenade to the beginning of Lunz. Pass the Seebach-Bad and you will come to a passage through the middle of a historic farm (Ledererhof). A bridge on the right leads across the Seebach. This is your onward route on the next stage towards Lackenhof - however, today's stage finish is in the center of Lunz at the Haus der Wildnis. To do this, follow the small road through the historic courtyard and continue in a left-hand bend around a hill until a path branches off to the right towards the church. Cross the St. Johannes bridge - a 26 m long larch wood bridge - and up to the left past the church to the meeting zone in the village: the Haus der Wildnis is now diagonally to the right on the other side of the road. You have reached your destination!

Tip:
More information at: www.luchstrail.at

It is recommended to contact the Trail Info & Booking Center before booking.

Offers at: bookyourtrail.com

Safety guidelines:
Emergency call mountain rescue: 140Equipment:
Sturdy hiking boots or good trekking shoes, hiking rucksack, water bottle, first aid kit incl. blister plasters, hiking map and smartphone, snack, sunglasses, sun cream, hut sleeping bag

You should also be well equipped for changeable weather.

Packing your rucksack correctly makes things a lot easier: pack heavy items first. The water bottle should always be within easy reach in a side pocket. All items that are often needed, such as sunglasses, smartphone or hiking map, should be on top.

Additional information:
Booking center & general information hotline
Trail Angels GmbH
Obervellach 15, 9821 Obervellach
Tel.: +43 47 82 93 093
bookyourtrail.com

Info point Lower Austria:
Mostviertel Tourismus
Töpperschloss Neubruck
Neubruck 2/10, 3270 Scheibbs
Tel.: +43 (0)7482/204 44
info@mostviertel.at

Info point Upper Austria:
Alpenland Tourismus GmbH
Bahnhofstraße 2, 4580 Windischgarsten
Info office: Reichraming
Tel.: +43 7252 53229-40
reichraming@360alpenland.com
alpenland@360.com

Information office Styria:
Tourismusverband Gesäuse
Hauptstraße 35, 8911 Admont, Austria
Tel. +43 (0) 3613 21160 10
info@gesaeuse.at www.gesaeuse.at