Erlauftal cycle path

From the Danube through the Erlauftal valley to Lake Lunz

If you’d like to experience riverside cycling in the Mostviertel, the Erlauf Valley is the perfect place for you. By and by roaring, by and by murmuring, and then resting in silence once more: this is how cyclists experience the Große Erlauf along the 60-kilometre-long Erlauf Valley Cycle Route. Starting from Pöchlarn on the Danube, you’ll be treated to stunning views of the mountainous countryside (with the Ötscher peeking out in the distance time and again) as well as impressive river landscapes (such as the Erlauf Gorge in Purgstall).

On short exploratory trips to Wieselburg, Purgstall or Scheibbs, you’ll discover Brettljause, cider and Scheibbser Kugeln. There are plenty of cosy places to stop for refreshments along the route. The flat section of the Erlauftal Cycle Route ends in Gaming, near the famous Kartause monastery . Those with a bit more of a competitive streak can tackle the mountain stage via Pfaffenschlag to Lunz am See. Families and leisure cyclists will find the link to the Ybbstal Cycle Route at Lake Lunz. The Little Erlauftal Cycle Route is also a great choice for an enjoyable cycle ride.

The Erlauftalradweg starts directly on the Danube cycle path at the mouth of the Erlauf; before Erlauf there is a short ascent to overcome; on the southern exit, the cycle route stays close to the course of the river before it leaves it in the municipality of Bergland; the route continues to Wieselburg; from Bodensdorf, the cycle route runs one level higher on a moderately busy country road for 8 kilometres, with a few bends through some rural villages to Purgstall; the following 7 kilometres to Scheibbs, which remain flat, are of cycle path quality with a water-bound gravel surface; this section is one of the most beautiful on the Erlauftal cycle path; however, the centre of the district town of Scheibbs is one of the most beautiful places on the cycle tour; the route then runs for approx. 2 kilometres on a side road through two villages before it continues on a cycle path from Miesenbach (St. Anton) parallel to the main road with two crossings towards Kienberg; after Kienberg, mixed traffic is the order of the day, initially approx. 2.5 kilometres on the main road to the centre of Gaming; Gaming is the end of the family version of the Erlauftal Cycle Route, because now the climbs begin, continuously on sections of state and main road; 2 kilometres after Gaming (431 metres), the route branches off onto an idyllic section of state road, soon after which a first shorter climb begins, followed by a short descent and the 2 kilometre climb to Pfaffenschlag with a gradient of between 8 and 10 percent; parallel to the route, the Ötscherland Express still runs between Gaming and Lunz am See on special occasions; the railway also manages this difference in altitude, albeit with a levelled route; after a rest at the Pfaffenschlager Sattel (695 metres), surrounded by farmsteads in the foothills of the Eastern Alps, the cycle route continues on a moderately busy road down to Lunz am See, where the Erlauftalradweg connects to the Ybbstalradweg.