In the Valley of Wood (Weißsenbach/Reichraming), circular route

Description:
The Kalkalpen National Park is the largest beech forest reserve in the Alps and has been recognized since 2017 as Austria's first UNESCO World Natural Heritage site. On the circular hike "In the Valley of Wood," you gain insight into the valuable ecosystem of near-natural beech forests with their plants and animals. Here you can also observe how the forest has developed over the last decades from the former charcoal forest through managed forestry to natural forest within the national park.Directions:

Route Description

From the Weißsenbach parking lot in the Reichraming Hintergebirge, we follow the trail marker "In the Valley of Wood" and immediately cross the Reichramingbach stream. Almost without any incline, we hike along the gravel road following the Große Weißsenbach stream. After 15 minutes, we reach the Weißsenbach Chapel. It is one of the few remains of the vanished settlement in Weißsenbach, where around ten families lived until 1960. The chapel, renovated in 1999, was built in 1828 and was the center of village life especially on Sundays and holidays.

Immediately after the chapel, the Kleine Weißsenbach flows into the Große Weißsenbach. Here we turn onto the left gravel road, again following the marker "In the Valley of Wood" into the Große Weißsenbach Valley and soon reach the Bergerwies Hut (not regularly staffed). The hut was built around 1950 and served as accommodation for woodcutters and hunters.

After only 5 minutes of walking, the road makes a left bend. Here, a short detour on a trail straight ahead along the stream is definitely worthwhile. Until the flood of August 2002, there was a forestry road along the Große Weißsenbach that connected to the Ebenforstalm. Large parts of this road were washed away overnight by the floodwaters. On this section in the northern part of the Kalkalpen National Park, you can clearly see how nature, with the help of its forces, shapes new landscapes and gradually lets human structures disappear. Concrete bridges, foundations, and metal beams will remain visible for some time, but here we can witness the impressive return of wilderness.

Back at the road bend, we hike up the forested northern slope of the Stefflkogel on the gravel road.

Several stations about tree species make the walk entertaining, and a viewing platform with a magnificent view of the Große Weißsenbach Valley invites you to rest. After about an hour of walking, we turn left at a road bend onto a forest path. Through an impressive beech forest, we descend in about 20 minutes back to the Reichramingbach stream, where the loop closes. From here, it is only a short way back to the parking lot.

Tip:

You can find more information at www.kalkalpen.at

and at www.facebook.com/waldwildnis!

Equipment:
Sturdy footwear, weatherproof clothing, provisions/drinks (no refreshment options along the route)Additional information:

The stations of the theme trail "In the Valley of Wood" will be set up from 1st of May to the beginning of November. 

(depending on the snow situation)

World Natural Heritage beech forests in the Kalkalpen National Park

Order the book WildnisWandern on Amazon !

Order the book WildnisWandern on the Onlineshop of the National Park !