Scenic route from Kaiserbrunn to Knofeleben via the Miesleitensteig (A) and further up to Krummbachstein (I-) offering a stunning view towards Rax & Schneeberg
The tour starts at Kaiserbrunn and first follows the trail bypassing the Wasserleitungsmuseum and then the Miesleitensteig (A) up to the Knofeleben hut. After a well-deserved break, the tour then follows the small but scenic trail up to Krummbachstein. Shortly before the peak, some minor climbing skills are required (UIAA I-). The peak offers a stunning view towards Rax and Schneeberg, the famous Salamander cog railway and the Elisabeth Kirche. Following the Schiblsteig trail first west and then north leads then down to the Krummbachsattel. From there, the tour returns back to Knofeleben via the Wassersteig (A). The descent back to Kaiserbrunn is done again via the Miesleitensteig on the same route that was used for the ascent.
Please note that the Miesleitensteig is an easy via ferrata but crosses a slippery scree field (protected with fixed ropes, via ferrata cat. A). Furthermore, the trail up to Krummbachstein becomes very steep towards its end and requires some basic climbing skills. In addition, the Wassersteig has some exposed parts that are protected with fixed ropes (via ferrata cat. A). This tour requires a sure foot, not being afraid of heights and basic climbing skills (UIAA I-).
Tour Description
| 00:00 | Start at the parking Kaiserbrunn (GPS: 47.734649, 15.792071). Follow the trail eastwards towards Knofeleben (see signposts), passing by< first the restaurant am Wasserwerk and then the Wasserleitungsmuseum. |
| 00:05 | A few meters after the museum, turn right at the crossing and follow the marked trail (Miesleitensteig) up to Knofeleben (see signposts). |
| 01:10 | At the crossing, turn right and now follow the forest road upwards (heading south). |
| 01:20 | After a few U-turns, leave the forest road and turn left into the marked trail up to Knofeleben (see signpost). |
| 01:25 | At the crossing, keep straight and follow the forest road that leads directly to the Naturfreunde Knofeleben hut. |
| 01:35 | Well deserved break () at Naturfreundehaus Knofeleben. |
| 01:55 | Continue following the trail northwestwards towards Krummbachstein (see signposts). |
| 02:00 | At the crossing, keep right and follow the scenic green-marked trail up to Krummbachstein (see signpost). |
| 02:05 | Don’t miss the amazing view from the viewpoint. Turn left and head towards the ridge to get a super impressive view towards Rax, Schneeberg and Kaiserbrunn. Go back to the trail and continue following the green-marked trail up. |
| 02:30 | At the clearing, keep left and continue following the green-marked trail. |
| 02:45 | Enjoy the awesome and scenic view from the top of Krummbachstein, obviously best enjoyed with a self-brought refreshment (). |
| 02:55 | Continue following the yellow marked trail Schiblsteig now eastwards, first passing by the Naturfreundehütte (not serviced!). |
| 03:10 | At the crossing, turn left and now descend towards Edelweißhütte (see signpost). |
| 03:20 | At the crossing at the Krummbachsattel, turn left and find your way towards the Wassersteig. Watch out for the red-white-red markings on the trees below! |
| 03:30 | Turn left and cross the clearing towards the visible signposts on the other side. Continue following the red-white-red marked Wassersteig trail back to Knofeleben. |
| 04:20 | At the crossing, keep straight and follow the trail back to the Knofeleben hut. |
| 04:25 | Well deserved break ( ) at the Naturfreunde Knofeleben hut. |
| 05:20 | Descend back to Kaiserbrunn using the same trail as for the ascent (via the Miesleitensteig). |
| 06:40 | Back at Kaiserbrunn, end of the tour. |
At a glance
| Level | moderate |
| – UIAA Level (Climbing) | I- |
| – Via Ferrata Category | A |
| Technique | |
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| Best time in the year | |
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General Tour Data
| Area: | Wiener Alpen, Lower Austria, Austria | |
| Distance: | 18km | |
| Ascent: | 1351m (1h 35min) | |
| Descent: | 1320m (1h 15min) | |
| Highest Pt: | 1603m | |
| Lowest Pt: | 526m | |
| Duration: | 5h 15min (without breaks) 6h 40min (with breaks) |
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| Stop/Rest: | Naturfreundehaus Knofeleben (1250m) | |
| Equipment: | Comfortable hiking shoes with good grip on rocks Snow spikes (“Grödel”) in winter! Backpack with standard hiking equipment Snacks and plenty of water 1x Gipfelbier () Sun & Weather protection Camera |
| Download GPX | ||
| O | Tour at outdooractive.com |
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