The impressive railway hiking trail along the UNESCO World Heritage Semmering Railway can also be explored in winter with snowshoes.
Description
The railway hiking trail along the Semmering Railway is very popular. This snowshoe hike starts directly on the railway hiking trail and offers views of the legendary structures of this first mountain railway in the world. After starting at Semmering railway station, the first highlight that awaits the hiker is the double rider's station, from which you have a beautiful view of the Adlitzgraben. Continue along the railway to the famous Kalte Rinne viaduct. Immediately afterwards, you will pass the Krausel-Klause viaduct and hike comfortably to Breitenstein. Here you will leave the railway hiking trail and cross Kreuzberg and Payerbachgraben to reach the World Heritage community of Payerbach, where numerous excursion destinations await you around the Semmering Railway.
This snowshoe hike has a lot to offer, with a length of about 20 kilometres and a walking time of about 6 hours, it should not be underestimated and requires a good physical condition.
Starting point of the tour
Semmering train station
Destination point of the tour
Payerbach train station
Route description Snowshoeing: Semmering railway hiking trail Payerbach
The railway hiking trail (green markings, extra signage) begins directly at the station and will lead us largely along the Semmering railway line. We will walk past the Wolfsbergkogel station, where the path forms a small loop to the double rider’s station. The path now follows the railway line to the famous viaduct over the Kalte Rinne. Here we will descend into the valley and walk along the road to Breitenstein. There is also a variant that leaves out the path to the viaduct and leads from Wolfsbergkogel directly to the road to Breitenstein (also marked green). In Breitenstein we will go after the railway tracks on the road left and after a short time right up to the Speckbacher hut (blue marking) and over route 834 (red) to Payerbach. Another variant leads us from Breitenstein to the railway on the right and, after the health facility Breitenstein on the left, to Sommerhöhe and over the blue marked path through the Payerbachgraben back to Payerbach.
Directions
From Vienna take the A2 Südautobahn to the S6 Semmering-Schnellstraße and exit at Maria Schutz. Turn right onto L4168. Continue on Semmering/L4168 and Semmeringstraße. Turn right onto Bahnhofstraße.
From Graz take the S6 Semmering-Schnellstraße and exit at Spital/Semmering. Turn left onto Semmering Ersatz Str./B306. Continue on B306. At the roundabout, drive straight ahead to Semmering. Continue on Passstraße, this runs slightly to the right and becomes Semmering. Turn left onto Bahnhofstraße.
Parking
Free parking is available at Semmering railway station.
Semmering station can be reached by Südbahn from Vienna central train station or from Graz.
More information at www.oebb.at and www.vor.at
Author's tip
Combine your hike with a stay at the Semmering in Hotel Panhans, Hotel Belvedere or Hotel Zauberblick on Semmering or in Hotel Marienhof in Payerbach.
