Description
From the state capital St. Pölten, the route quickly leads out into the green via the Traisental cycle path, with the climb to Rudolfshöhe already waiting for the first altitude meters. Back in the Traisen valley, you switch via Kaiserkogel into Dirndltal, which is now crossed from north to south by numerous MTB trekking routes with some climbs not to be underestimated.
The Josef-Franz hut at Geisbühel between Rabenstein and Kirchberg offers a nice opportunity to rest (and on weekends also for overnight stays!) and to sample one or another Dirndl product. The gently rolling Alpine foothills are increasingly replaced by more alpine terrain.
From Puchenstuben, the route runs through the Ötscher-Tormäuer Nature Park and with Annaberg, the Hubertus lake and the section over Fadental await absolute natural highlights. Freshly cooled off by Erlauf lake, you calmly roll into the finish at the famous pilgrimage church of Mariazell.
Starting point of the tour
St. Pölten, main train station
Destination point of the tour
Mariazell, basilica
Route description Multi-day route St. Pölten - Mariazell
From St. Pölten main train station, follow the signs to the Traisental cycle path (about 1.5 km). The first kilometers lead gently uphill along the Traisen river on the cycle path towards the south and traffic-free out of the city. In Reith near Wilhelmsburg, turn against the direction of the signs onto the "Sagenstein route" for the first quite steep (!) ascent to Rudolfshöhe, where the first opportunity to stop at the Ochsenburger hut awaits.
Back in the valley at Wilhelmsburg, follow more flat kilometers on the Traisental cycle path before turning right in Rotheau and a few kilometers later turning right again against the "Kaiserkogel circuit". Over Meiselhöhe, you climb Kaiserkogel along with its associated hut and then descend against the "Kaiserkogel route" down into the Pielach valley to Rabenstein.
The next section runs against part of the "Geisbühel route", where a short out-and-back section to the Josef-Franz hut makes for a worthwhile detour with a stop and, on weekends, overnight stay. Descend to Tradigist and there sharply left onto the "Dörfl auf der Eben route" (again reversed) until shortly before Kirchberg.
Continue following the "Loicher Panorama route" (in the "correct" direction) to the Günter chapel near Wallerbach. From there, go down left into the valley and at the L102 turn left again towards Schwarzenbach. Ride a few kilometers downstream to the right turn into Taschlgrabenrotte and at Waitzgraben turn into the "Eibeck circuit" and follow its signs in the direction of travel. Passing the Eibeck Alm, the route continues until you turn left in Wies onto the "Frankenfelsberg circuit" (reversed), continuing to Laubenbachgegend.
The "Mariazellerbahn route" begins and/or ends directly at Laubenbachmühle station and starts in this direction with a longer but not too steep climb over Puchenstuben towards Turmkogel and Wastl am Wald. From now on, you move within the Ötscher-Tormäuer Nature Park amidst a stunning forest backdrop and beautiful views of the Ötscher "from behind." Passing through the dreamy Gösing, continue to Reith from where you take a short section of the "Ötscher Trekking Route" and a brief climb up to Annaberg.
Continue on the "Annaberg-Hubertussee route" (in the direction of the signs) – over the Walster spring and Ulreichsberg to the rustic Wuchtl hostess near the idyllic Hubertus lake. Via Fadental, proceed through Schrottenreith to Mitterbach and reach the last natural highlight including numerous places to stop – the crystal-clear and wonderfully refreshing Erlauf lake. From there, only a few kilometers remain to the finish at Mariazell in front of the famous pilgrimage basilica.
