Climbing Austria’s Schneeberg

As an outdoor enthusiast, I could hardly neglect some good hiking in Austria. Austrians enjoy walks, hikes, and all sorts of outdoor activities. I fit right in with my enthusiasm to see some of the more rugged aspects of the country. The Schneeberg seemed an obvious choice.

The Schneeberg is the highest mountain in the province Lower Austria. The summit, Klosterwappen, is 2076 meters high (a little over 6,000 feet). It is part of the Northern Calcareous Alps, located less than an hour from Vienna. Schneeberg is the eastern most mountain in the Alps that reaches at least 2,000 meters. It is considered as one of Vienna’s “local mountains,” and can be seen from the city on clear days.

My trip to the summit wasn’t as glamorous or rugged as I thought it would be. We actually took the train up to a point about 200 meters below the summit, although it still took over an hour to reach the summit. The train that goes most of the way up the mountain is called the Schneebergbahn and is a historic relic. It is over 100 years old and is a rack-and-pinion railway. It is actually a rather fun experience to ride the train and look at the scenery. It is possible to catch the train back down, but we opted to hike all the way down the mountain instead.

There are various trails that one can take to up the mountain. One very popular trail starts on the eastern side of the Schneeberg in Puchberg am Schneeberg. Puchberg am Schneeberg is a resort town with lovely spas, beautiful surroundings, and a general atmosphere of relaxation. From the south, one can access a good trail in Hollental. The summit has a lovely plateau that offers sweeping vistas. Mountain bikers are welcome on Schneeberg, and those wishing to stay can do so in one of the several mountain huts.

For rock climbers, the Schneeberg offers steep sloped on three sides, including limestone slopes. The mountain is geologically distinctive, and known for its snow, which offers skiers a challenge even into the summer. My hike down the northern slope of the mountain included a run-in with still-deep snow, even though July was on the approach.

A trip up the Schneeberg is well worth it, and when I go back I believe I will skip the train this time and climb to the top the old-fashioned way – using my feet.