Hike to Dürrenstein

Description

An information board of the Dürrenstein Wilderness Area at the beginning of the tour introduces this famous mountain tour in the Ybbstaler Alps before you follow the forest road past the idyllically situated fish pond. A longer section through the alpine forest soon allows you to experience the uniqueness of the region. Passing hunting lodges and small springs, you gain the metres in altitude, and if you look down from the narrow path nowadays, you can hardly imagine that in the late 80s tractors and Pinzgauers transported the material for the rebuilding of the hut along this path.

 

 

(1878 m) with its artistic Töpperkreuz.

Starting point of the tour

Fish pond, Steinbachtal, Göstling/Ybbs

Destination point of the tour

Summit Dürrenstein

Route description Hike to Dürrenstein

The hike, on a wide path throughout, begins at the car park in Steinbachtal, 4 km from the B25. An information board of the Dürrenstein Wilderness Area invites you to take a short break before following the forest road past the idyllically situated fish pond. After 500 m, the marked uplift trail turns right off the forest road and leads through the alpine forest over a distance of 3 km and 350 metres in altitude to the Dürreck hunting lodge. This is halfway to the Ybbstalerhütte and is ideal for taking a short break in the shade. Opposite the hunting lodge the marked hiking trail continues and after a few hairpin bends you reach a small spring (does not always have water). After about a kilometre, the path forks just before a high stand. To the right, continue along the wide path marked with red-white-red painted stones (to the left is the old and narrow hiking trail, which is also marked). After a bend, you reach a forest road, which you follow on the left for 600 m (yellow arrow to the left in the direction of Ybbstalerhütte, Dürrenstein | the forest road that leads uphill on the right here is the winter trail for ski tourers) before you turn right again at the Bärenlacke onto the old supply trail and leave the last noteworthy 150 metres in altitude behind you through the so-called Höhl to the alpine pasture gate. If you look down from the narrow path nowadays, you can hardly imagine that in the late 80s tractors and Pinzgauers transported the material for rebuilding the hut along this path. After the alpine pasture gate, keep left and walk the last 700 m on the forest road or on the marked hiking trail to the hut.

 

 

From the Ybbstalerhütte, the marked trail begins and leads after about 1.5 km to the Legsteinalm. Past the mountain rescue hut you come to the Legstein spring. With a wonderful supply of fresh water, continue along the marked path. The path zigzags slightly upwards through mountain pines and across meadows. You can explore the fascinating effects of karstification and enjoy the magnificent view of the surrounding mountains. About 2.5 km further on, at a fork, follow the markings on the right towards the summit. Finally, you reach the summit of the Dürrenstein (1878 m) with its artistic Töpperkreuz.