WAB - Regional Route I: Kirchberg/Wechsel - Maria Schutz

This starts with a hike along Regional Route I at Kirchberg am Wechsel municipal office. The start takes us uphill past Pfarrkirche St. Jakob and then soon onto a hiking path, which ascends almost 300 metres up to the Kalvarienberg and on to the Kernstockwarte observation point (marked in red). A detour to the observation point, which doesn't need a head for heights, is worth it. The highest part of the route has not yet been reached, as we hike across forest and cart paths, some offering wonderful views and others far more shadowy, along the western edge of the Eselberg before continuing northwards on another path towards Karlshöhe. The fact that this is not the highest part of the stage becomes clear after a few kilometres.

 

 

 

 

 

We turn left at the Karlshöhe summit and follow the track to Rams (also part of the North Alpine Way, marked in red). When behind Ramswirt we turn left at the car park and walk slightly uphill along the street. Head left a few minutes after a right-hand band, then turn right almost instantly afterwards on a cart track along the ridge. We come across a road and follow this in a north-westerly direction to Raach am Hochgebirge. When in the village we keep left and follow the road to Schlagl. We cross over the country road, head through the tiny hamlet of Schlagl, then head uphill to Schanzkapelle, go through a small dip, then reach the highest point of Regional Route I. We now walk down a steep descent towards Göstritz, leave the village and the construction site of the Semmering base tunnel to the right and wander south into the Göstritzbachgraben (partially marked in green), switch over to the other side of the ditch after a few minutes, then start a slight ascent up the Parapluieweg path. The hiking route takes us ever closer to the country road and subsequently also to Maria Schutz Pilgrimage Church. Regional Route I ends here. You now have the option of staying overnight at the Kirchenwirt next door, or keep hiking along Regional Route M to Payerbach or the Sonnwendstein. Otherwise, take the bus from Maria Schutz to Semmering or to Payerbach railway station. The Viennese Alps trail can be picked up again from any point.