From Palfau we drive along the Erlauftalstraße for about one kilometre in the direction of Gams and then turn left up to the Köpplalm. On a well-maintained forest road with an average gradient of 9% we reach the highest point with 1.242m after 66,2 km next to the only 60m higher Kogel - Wolfstein.
800m later and already 120 meters of altitude difference lower is the not managed Köpplalm. The further descent is through the Krautgraben and the impressive Nothklamm out to Gams near Hieflau. After passing through the village, the trail continues on the Erlauftal road over the Radstatthöhe (average 8%, 150 metres altitude difference) to Mooslandl. There we leave the main road and take a side road, also asphalted, over the Hafnerboden to Lainbach. This is followed by 3.5 kilometres on the B115 and a short uphill stretch via Wandau to Hieflau 503m. The ascent from Hieflau to the Hochscheibenalm 1,190m in the beautiful Gesäuse National Park is about 8 km long, 6 km of which have an average gradient of 10%. The descent is via the managed Kroißenalm down to Gstatterboden. After the Nature Park Pavilion we ride 500m on the Gesaeuse road to the level crossing and then not turn left over the Enns bridge, but straight on over the Rauchboden MTB Tour 3 km to the Johnsbach train station. From the station we push the bikes 200m long, cross the railway track and the wooden pedestrian bridge over the Enns. The second day ends with the ride on the road to Johnsbach. Passing the Gasthof Bachbrücke - 596m we drive 5 kilometres later through the small, idyllic mountain village Johnsbach im Gesäuse at 760m. After the village Johnsbach follows the not very difficult, 2km long ascent into the upper Johnsbach valley.