Hiking Tour: “From Payerbach to Semmering via Speckbacher”

Scenic half-day tour from Payerbach to Semmering via Speckbacher Hütte, Polleroswand and the 20 Schilling Blick

This promising and scenic half-day tour starts in Payerbach (train station) and first ascends via the Stojerhöhe up to Speckbacher Hütte. After a well-deserved lunch, the tour descends towards Breitenstein but then follows the Pfeffersteig up to the scenic Polleroswand. The tour then finally descends down to the Kalte Rinne, again following the Pfeffersteig and further follows the Bahnwanderweg towards Semmering. Before arriving there, the tour detours towards the second highlight: the 20 Schilling Blick. The tour then finally follows the trail back into Semmering and ends at the train station.

Tour Description

00:00	Start at the train station Payerbach. First stock up your supplies () and then follow the trail southwards into the city of Payerbach.
00:10	Cross the main road and the Schwarza river and continue following the street southwards, bypassing the church.
00:20	At the Payerbachgraben, keep straight and continue following the road for a few meters.
00:25	Turn right into the trail heading up to Speckbacherhütte (see signposts). Keep straight all the time till reaching the Stojerhöhe.
00:55	Enjoy the scenic view from Stojerhöhe. Then continue following the forest road straight ahead towards Speckbacherhütte (see signposts).
01:10	Bypass the Josefs-Kapelle (little chapel) and continue following the forest road.
01:15	At the crossing, turn right into the trail and leave the forest road.
01:25	At the crossing, turn right and follow the trail heading directly to Speckbacherhütte.
01:30	Well-deserved lunch () at Speckbacherhütte.
02:00	After an enjoyable lunch, follow the trail back southeastwards.
02:05	At the crossing, keep straight ahead and continue following the forest road eastwards.
02:10	At the clearance, turn right and follow the trail southwards through the meadow and later through the forest.
02:25	Cross the small street and follow the Pfeffer-Steig (see signposts) on the other side.
02:27	At the crossing, keep straight and continue following the Pfeffer-Steig westwards.
02:30	At the crossing, keep straight and continue following the trail westwards.
02:35	A few meters before the house, turn left and follow the trail steeply up heading to the Polleroswand. The trail is unmarked but clearly visible. The last meters are very steep and require basic climbing skills!
02:40	Enjoy the scenic view from Polleroswand, obviously best enjoyed with a self-brought refreshment ().
02:50	Climb down and keep right. Now follow the trail eastwards alongside the ridge.
02:55	Bypass the iconic Pollerosfenster and continue following the trail eastwards. The trail will lead automatically back to Pfeffer-Steig.
03:00	Turn right into the Pfeffer-Steig and follow this trail back.
03:05	Back at the crossing, turn right and descend via Pfeffer-Steig.
03:10	Immediately after crossing the railway tracks through the viaduct, turn right and follow the trail up, alongside the railway track.
03:15	Keep left and descend down to the Kalte Rinne viaduct.
03:20	Cross the railway tracks again through the viaduct and follow the street westwards for a few meters. At the first possibility, turn sharp left and follow the Bahnwanderweg towards the Ghega-Museum.
03:25	Bypass the Ghega-Museum and continue following the Bahnwanderweg southwards.
03:30	At the crossing, keep slightly right and follow the marked trail.
03:35	At the crossing, turn left into the marked trail, heading back and then alongside to the railway track.
03:50	At Rotgraben, keep left and follow the road to the viaduct.
03:55	Cross once again the railway track through the viaduct and then keep right. Follow the gravel road eastwards towards 20 Schilling Blick (see signposts).
04:05	Turn left into the marked trail (leaving the street). Continue following the trail towards 20 Schilling Blick.
04:15	Keep straight and follow the trail heading directly to 20 Schilling Blick.
04:20	Enjoy the scenic view from 20 Schilling Blick, obviously best enjoyed with a self-brought refreshment ().
04:30	Continue following the trail around but keep right and follow the upper trail that leads around Wolfsbergkogel.
04:35	Turn left and follow the street towards the train station Wolfsbergkogel. After crossing the railway tracks, turn right and follow the Bahnwanderweg back to Semmering.
04:55	Arrive at the train station Semmering, end of the tour.

General Tour Data

Area:		Wiener Alpen, Lower Austria, Austria
Distance:		19km
Ascent:		1089m (2h 40min)
Descent:		681m (1h 25min)
Highest Pt:		1093m
Lowest Pt:		471m
Duration:		4h 05min (without breaks) 04h 55min (with breaks)
Stop/Rest:		Speckbacher Hütte (1093m) Ghega-Museum (827m)
Equipment:		Comfortable hiking shoes Backpack with standard hiking equipment Snacks and plenty of water 2x Gipfelbier () Sun & Weather protection Camera