Hiking & Nature
Hiking from the Mosthütte
The walking here begins at the door: forest first, then pasture, vineyard, and the marked loops of Schilcherland. This is foothill country, not high-alpine Austria. The useful routes are the local forest paths and GenussSchilchern wine-hiking loops, with longer Koralpe walks waiting when you want a full day.
Short door-step loops
For a first morning or a late afternoon, start with the short local loops and connectors. They are brief enough to read the ground, find the forest tracks, and still be back for dinner.
Wanderweg Pirkhof – Oberteipl
- Length
- 0.6 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Anschluss 14
- Length
- 0.6 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Wanderweg Schneiderbauer - A3
- Length
- 0.7 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Anschluss 17/18
- Length
- 0.8 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Kalvarienberg - Vb Pichling 5a
- Length
- 1 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Wanderweg S8a
- Length
- 1.1 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Wanderweg 65
- Length
- 1.2 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Wanderweg S7
- Length
- 1.3 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
The forest
The forest adjoining the property is a mixed woodland — beech, spruce, and oak — typical of the transitional zone between the Styrian lowlands and the pre-alpine Koralpe range. It is dense, quiet, and deeply peaceful. The forest paths (Waldwege) are generally well-maintained and suitable for casual walkers.
Marked trails
These routes come from the local and regional waymarked trail network. Use the map links for the exact line before you set out.
Local trails
Anschluss 14
- Length
- 0.6 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Wanderweg Pirkhof – Oberteipl
- Length
- 0.6 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Wanderweg Schneiderbauer - A3
- Length
- 0.7 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Anschluss 17/18
- Length
- 0.8 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Kalvarienberg - Vb Pichling 5a
- Length
- 1 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Wanderweg S8a
- Length
- 1.1 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Wanderweg 65
- Length
- 1.2 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Wanderweg S7
- Length
- 1.3 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Wanderweg S11
- Length
- 1.5 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Wanderweg 10
- Length
- 1.7 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Energie Spazierweg
- Length
- 1.9 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Wanderweg 61
- Length
- 1.9 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Wanderweg 23a
- Length
- 2 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Wanderweg 11a
- Length
- 2.2 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Wanderweg S2A
- Length
- 2.2 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Wanderweg S1a
- Length
- 2.3 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Wanderweg 64
- Length
- 2.4 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Wanderweg S5
- Length
- 2.4 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Sommereben Rundwanderweg 57
- Length
- 2.7 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
10
- Length
- 2.8 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Sierling - Angenofen - Rachling
- Length
- 2.9 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Wanderweg 24
- Length
- 3.2 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Wanderweg 9
- Length
- 3.3 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Wanderweg 17A
- Length
- 3.5 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Wanderweg S6
- Length
- 3.5 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Wanderweg 12
- Length
- 3.7 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Wanderweg S2
- Length
- 3.8 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Wanderweg S12
- Length
- 3.9 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Rundwanderweg 8
- Length
- 4.2 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Wanderweg 8
- Length
- 4.2 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Ligister Schmankerlweg
- Length
- 4.5 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Marhofer Genußwanderweg
- Length
- 4.5 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Rundwanderweg A1
- Length
- 4.6 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Wanderweg 13
- Length
- 4.6 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Wanderweg 62
- Length
- 4.8 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Wanderweg 14
- Length
- 5.1 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Genuss-Spazierrundweg
- Length
- 5.3 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Wanderweg 12G
- Length
- 5.4 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Wanderweg 23
- Length
- 5.6 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Wanderweg S13
- Length
- 5.6 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Wanderweg S3
- Length
- 5.6 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Rundwanderweg 5
- Length
- 5.7 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Weinberg-Rundweg
- Length
- 5.7 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Wanderweg 2
- Length
- 5.8 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
GenussSchilchern da Östliche Runde
- Length
- 6 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
GenussSchilchern da Mittlere Runde
- Length
- 6.2 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Höllerhanslweg
- Length
- 6.4 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Kastanienweg
- Length
- 6.6 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Wanderweg 13 Panoramaweg
- Length
- 6.6 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Gundersdorfer Rundwanderweg
- Length
- 6.7 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Wanderweg 22
- Length
- 6.8 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Wanderweg 4
- Length
- 6.8 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Wanderweg 11G
- Length
- 6.9 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Sommereben Rundwanderweg 60
- Length
- 7.1 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Wanderweg 17
- Length
- 7.3 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Lannach Rundweg
- Length
- 7.4 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Wanderweg 10g
- Length
- 7.4 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
GenussSchilchern da Westliche Runde
- Length
- 7.6 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Kapellenweg Rundwanderweg 3
- Length
- 7.9 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Rundwanderweg 7
- Length
- 8 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Rundwanderweg A2
- Length
- 8.2 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Wanderweg 20
- Length
- 8.3 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Sommereben Rundwanderweg 58
- Length
- 8.5 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Wanderweg S4
- Length
- 8.7 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Panoramaweg Hohenfeld
- Length
- 8.8 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Rundwanderweg A3
- Length
- 8.9 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
GenussSchilchern dort
- Length
- 9 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Rundwanderweg 6
- Length
- 9 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
St. Stefan Rundweg
- Length
- 9.2 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Ligister Keltenweg
- Length
- 9.3 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Rosenkogelweg
- Length
- 9.4 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Wanderweg 26
- Length
- 9.5 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Tier mal vier
- Length
- 10.5 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Stainzer Panoramaweg 1
- Length
- 11.4 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Georgsberg Rundweg
- Length
- 11.6 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Wanderweg S1
- Length
- 12.9 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Wanderweg 21
- Length
- 13 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
5-Schlösser-Weg
- Length
- 13.8 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Waldwanderweg
- Length
- 14.4 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Liebocher Rundwanderweg
- Length
- 14.5 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Ligister Rundwanderweg 17
- Length
- 24.8 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Ligister Rundwanderweg 18
- Length
- 35.5 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Regional trails
Mariazellerweg 506 Variante über Vocheraberg
- Length
- 2.4 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Wanderweg 574
- Length
- 2.7 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Mariazellerweg 506
- Length
- 6.4 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Wanderweg 555
- Length
- 16.9 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Wanderweg 542
- Length
- 24.1 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Wanderweg 571
- Length
- 24.6 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Wanderweg 551
- Length
- 27 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Wanderweg 569
- Length
- 32.1 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Grazer Umland Weg
- Length
- 207.9 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
National trails
Steirischer Mariazellerweg 06
- Length
- 124.2 km
- Difficulty
- not graded
Trail resources
- Komoot: Excellent for route planning and GPS navigation. Search for "St. Stefan ob Stainz".
- Bergfex: The Austrian standard for mountain hiking information, with detailed trail maps.
- AllTrails: Lists 8+ trails in the Sankt Stefan ob Stainz area with reviews.
- Local trail maps: Available at the tourist information office in Stainz.
Cycling
The Schilcherstraße region is excellent for cycling, both on-road and on gravel/forest tracks. The terrain is hilly — be prepared for climbs — but the descents through vineyards and along ridge lines are spectacular.
- Road cycling: Quiet country roads with minimal traffic. The wine road itself is a popular cycling route.
- Mountain biking: Forest trails and gravel tracks through the Koralpe foothills offer varied terrain.
Wildlife
The area is home to a rich variety of wildlife. You may see or hear:
- Deer (roe deer are common in the meadows at dawn and dusk)
- Hares in the fields
- Foxes (occasionally, at dusk)
- Woodpeckers (listen for drumming in the forest)
- Jays, buzzards, and kestrels overhead
- Salamanders near streams after rain
- In autumn, the forest is full of mushrooms (picking is allowed in Austria, but only if you can confidently identify them)
Practical hiking tips
- Footwear: Sturdy walking shoes or hiking boots for forest and mountain trails. Trainers are fine for the vineyard walks.
- Water: Carry water, especially in summer. Some mountain trails have no water sources.
- Weather: Mountain weather can change quickly. Check the forecast and bring a rain layer.
- Ticks: Present in grassland and forest edge habitats from spring to autumn. Check yourself after walks.
- Hunting season: Autumn is hunting season. Stay on marked trails and be visible.
- Navigation: Mobile signal is generally good in the valleys but patchy in dense forest. Download offline maps before setting out.
See also: The Schilcher Wine Road, Day Trips, Seasonal Guide