Via the Raxenmäuersteig and Bismarcksteig to the Rax in the Mürzer Oberland Nature Park

At Preiner Gscheid we first keep slightly left uphill in the direction of Reißtalerhütte / Reißtalersteig (yellow marking, information board). Before the hut we follow the Gretchensteig right uphill (from here somewhat steeper) until just below the tree / mountain pine border. Here the Raxenmäuersteig branches off to the right, marked in blue, and leads us, always diagonally upwards, below the rock walls, to an insured climbing point (not too difficult). A few steel ropes help us up here and soon we are at the junction with the Karl Kantnersteig coming up from the Schlangenweg and also secured.

Here we quickly ascend in a few minutes to the Karl Ludwigaus on the Rax plateau.

After a rest at the hospitable hut, we descend briefly to the so-called Törl, an embrasure between Ludwighaus and Predigtstuhl. Now do not continue downhill but briefly turn left on a wide path uphill to the junction of the Bismarcksteig (marker pole). Now along the southern slopes of the Predigtstuhl, partly secured (surefootedness absolutely necessary, danger of falling!) to the Waxriegelsteig.

The secured Bismarcksteig can also be bypassed by crossing the Predigtstuhl (hiking trail).At the Waxriegelsteig the Bismarcksteig and the hiking trail over the Predigtstuhl meet again. Together we descend via the partly washed-out, but not difficult hiking trail to the Waxriegelhaus.

After another break, we hike easily downhill back to Preiner Gscheid.

This tour can be extended with any variants, made easier, but also more demanding. In the immediate vicinity of the Karl Ludwig House is the Rißtalersteieg (secured climb, ladder) or the Gretchensteig. East of the Waxriegelsteig on the plateau is the hospitable Seehütte (already in Lower Austria), another worthwhile destination.

Preiner Gscheid very difficult to reach by public transport!

Großer P am Preiner Gscheid.

If you want to entrust yourself to a tour operator, simply book with Steiermark Touristik, the official travel agency of Steiermark Tourismus: Tel. +43 316 4003 450, www.steiermark-touristik.com

Mürzer Oberland Nature Park Office, Tel. +43 3857 8321, www.muerzeroberland.at , open Mon. - Fri. from 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Styria Tourism, Tel. +43 316 4003, www.steiermark.com

TRV Hochsteiermark, tel. +43 3862 55020, www.hochsteiermark.at

Tip: the Styria Tours app, available for free on Google Play and in the App Store (Android, iOS), offers detailed first-hand information: short facts (length, duration, difficulty, ascent and descent in altitude meters, ratings), map, route descriptions, altimeter, compass, summit finder, navigation along the tour. In addition, you can create your personal favorites list of favorite tours and points, save tours and destinations offline, play social media channels and more.

Mountain, hiking and nature park guides: Information at the Nature Park Office Mürzer Oberland, Tel.: +43 3857 8321.

By the way, get your personal summit pins with the Summit Lynx App: www.summitlynx.com

In the office of the Nature Park Mürzer Oberland you will gladly receive a regional overview map free of charge.

Kompass hiking maps Vienna Hausberge, Schneeberg, Rax, 1:25.000, Freytag & Berndt hiking maps Semmering, Rax, Schneeberg, Schneealpe and Hochschwab, Veitschalpe, Eisenerz, Bruck an der Mur, 1:50.000.

Tip: the free Pocket Card hiking route "From Glacier to Wine" can be found at www.steiermark.com, the High Styrian hiking map "Hoch hinaus" and the "BergZeitReise" are available free of charge at the Nature Park office.

Wanderführer "BergZeitReise" des TRV Hochsteiermark, 2017

https://www.morawa.at/detail/ISBN-9783902656315/Jentzsch-Rabl-Axel/Klettersteigf%C3%BChrer-%C3%96sterreich