Hike across Mount Obersberg near the village of Schwarzau im Gebirge

Three Easy Hikes with Great Views in the Vienna Alps

Starting point

The village of Schwarzau im Gebirge; parking is free here.
 

Description of the hike

Schwarzau im Gebirge is a village you pass through on the way to the Rax Mountains or Schneeberg. Directly from Schwarzau, you can hike year-round to three scenic hills—Obersberg (1,467 m), Falkenstein (1,013 m), and Handelsberg (1,371 m). All the hills are easy to hike, with no exposed sections; they can be climbed even in winter on snowshoes, and Untersberg can be reached via forest trails on cross-country skis.

A marked AV trail leads from Schwarzau to Obersberg. At the start, the path climbs up to Hirschkogel. A forest fire broke out here in 2025, and as of early 2026, burned wood was still being cleared from the hill, but it was possible to go around it. From Hirschkogel, the trail follows the ridge; in early spring, thousands of snow roses bloom here, and from the clearings, you can see into the Schwarza River valley and the neighboring Preintal. From the very start of the trail, you can also see the massive Schneeberg and the Raxalpe and Windberg plateaus. The summit of Obersberg is rounded on the south side but drops off steeply to the north. Below the summit is the Waldfreundehütte. The view here is beautiful; you can see the Heukuppe, the highest peak of the Rax Mountains, the Windberg, the Ameisbühel (Amaißbichl), which resembles Sněžka, and many others. Near the hut is a panoramic map with the peaks marked.

The marked trail continues over the Mistelbacher Höhe ridge to the peaks of Gippel (1,669 m) and Göller (1,766 m), though this is a multi-day hike requiring an overnight stay at the Gippelhütte or Göllerhütte. Below the hut, a path branches off into the Preintal valley. The trail leads past the small Obersbergalm to the Obersberger farmstead. The crossroads here are marked by the old Obersberger Linde linden tree and a wooden chapel. From there, it’s about an hour’s walk along forest paths to Schwarzau.

On the opposite bank of the Schwarza is a steep slope with numerous limestone outcrops and caves. The largest are the Frauenhöhle and Herrengrotte, which feature a small chapel. However, the dominant feature of Schwarzau is the Falkenstein rock. It offers a fantastic view of the valley and the surrounding mountains. The final of the scenic peaks is Handelsberg. The path to it leads from Falkenstein mostly through the forest or across pastures, from which there is a view of Obersberg. The summit of Handelsberg is rocky, offering a deep view of the several-hundred-meter drop below and the mountains to the north. The summit cross, encircled by a metal rose, is truly charming. The route from Handelsberg back to Schwarzau consists mainly of forest trails.
 

Difficulty

An easy mountain hike through the foothills of the Raxalpe and Schneeberg mountains, along marked trails and forest paths. However, the route is quite long, so a good level of fitness is required. The route can be divided into two sections.
 

Water availability

Refreshments are available during the season at the Waldfreundehütte on Obersberg or in the village of Schwarzau.
 

Sleeping options

There is plenty of accommodation available in the valley.
 

Mountain peaks

The route passes through the peaks of Obersberg, Falkenstein, and Handelsberg. It offers views of the Rax, Schneeberg, the Gutenstein Alps, and the Voralps.
 

Danger

The route is not dangerous; it follows mostly forest trails or wide forest roads. There are no exposed sections.
 

Food

Seasonal dining on the Obersberg—at the Waldfreundehütte or in the village of Schwarzau.
 

Attractions

Not far from Schwarzaue is another interesting mountain—the Unterberg (1,342 m)—accessible from Rohr im Gebirge or Pernitz. The Unterberg has a small family-friendly ski resort, though in recent years its season has been short due to a lack of snow. The terrain is safe, with no risk of avalanches, making it a popular winter mountain that attracts ski mountaineering enthusiasts. There is a beautiful little wooden church here and a view of Schneeberg. In spring and fall, purple crocuses bloom in the meadows.