High plateau hike: Hochschneeberg – Klosterwappen (summit hike)

Hiking trails & Routes

Bezirk Neunkirchen

Puchberg am Schneeberg

High plateau hike: Hochschneeberg – Klosterwappen (summit hike)

Moderate

4.8

(394)

2,215

hikers

High plateau hike: Hochschneeberg – Klosterwappen (summit hike)

02:28

7.30km

290m

Hiking

This plateau hike from the Schneebergbahn mountain station takes you up to the Klosterwappen summit, the highest point in Lower Austria at 2,075 meters (6,807 ft). It’s a loop that offers an alpine hiking experience that’s suitable for the whole family. The Salamander playground provides entertainment at the start or end of the route. During the hike, you’ll also enjoy views of the Empress Elisabeth Memorial Church, the highest church of the Archdiocese of Vienna.

You’ll hike on wide mountain trails to the Damböckhaus, a good option for a snack break. The trail continues to wind its way over the Ochsenboden and up to the Klosterwappen, where you can enjoy the sensation of being on the highest ground in the region.

After taking photos on the summit, you’ll continue on the Schneeberg ridge to the Kaiserstein and on to the Fischerhütte, another place where you can recharge your batteries. From there, you’ll return to Ochsenboden and the mountain station.

The mountain station is accessed by a characterful cog railway, an experience in itself. Check the weather forecast carefully before committing to this hike and wear appropriate hiking footwear. Stops on the plateau, like the Damböckhaus and the Fischerhütte, allow you to take shelter if necessary and give the kids a break if you’re hiking as a family.

Last updated: October 9, 2025

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

80 m

Hochschneeberg Mountain Hut

Highlight • Mountain Hut

The area around the mountain house already offers everything your heart desires: a huge playground, the Elisabeth church, the panoramic peaks of the Waxriegel and a small adventure exhibition. Nevertheless, it is worth going a little further and hiking to the summit of the Hochschneeberg. ;-)

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260 m

Elisabeth Church on Schneeberg

Highlight • Religious Site

The term "little church" is actually an understatement, as the building, at 1,796 meters, is quite impressive and can be seen from afar. Emperor Franz Joseph had it built for his Queen Elisabeth. The church was completed in 1901, and the star mosaic in the dome is particularly beautiful.

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1.31 km

Damböckhaus

Highlight • Mountain Hut

Located in the middle of the high plateau, about a 15-minute walk from the terminus of the cog railway, lies the Damböckhaus. The refuge is a stopover on the nearly hour-long hike to the Fischerhütte.

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3.25 km

Klosterwappen

Highlight • Summit

A hike to the summit is one of the classic and most popular routes in southern Lower Austria. The "gentle giant" is equally popular in both summer and winter. The panorama is breathtaking. The next stop is the Fischerhütte (around 20 to 30 minutes on foot)

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4.02 km

Fischerhütte

Highlight • Mountain Hut

The young team of tenants of the Fischerhütte spoils the guests' palates and makes an overnight stay at 2,049 meters an experience! From here it is not far to the peaks of the Schneeberg. One of them is right behind the house. Tip: Take the landlady's fabulous, homemade muesli bars with you as a snack!

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7.30 km

End point

Train Station

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

4.86 km

1.50 km

924 m

Surfaces

5.41 km

1.73 km

< 100 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (2,050 m)

Lowest point (1,780 m)

Weather

Saturday 10 October

14°C

8°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 20.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

September 4, 2026,Schneeberg Runde, Klosterwappen und Kaiserstein

First, we took the cogwheel railway from Puchberg am Schneeberg to the Hochschneeberg train station. This journey alone offers impressive views.
Once at the top, we continued upwards to the summit, first gently, then quite steeply (approx. 35%) and over rough terrain.
Upon reaching the summit (2076 m), we were greeted by strong winds but also by beautiful views. Today, …

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October 21, 2023,Wanderung

Yes, we thought so too! So great that you were there!

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October 12, 2024,Plateauwanderung Schneeberg

Used the NÖ-CARD today.
It was very windy and foggy on the mountain with temperatures above 2 degrees Celsius.

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May 25, 2024,nordic Rundwanderung zum Hochschneeberg ! [Klosterwappen 2076m] 🏔🏔🏔🏔🏔

The monastery coat of arms on the Schneberg is the highest peak in Lower Austria. A mountain peak that is easy to climb. From Puchberg take the cog railway to the mountain station. From there it can be reached in an hour.

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July 5, 2024,Schneeberg; Klosterwappen 2075 mtr.

From the terminus of the salamander train it is at least another 1.5 hours of climbing and clambering over pebbles and boulders.
Bring water and a jacket or sweater for the top of the mountain. Your tough climb will definitely be rewarded with beautiful views.

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June 19, 2022,Schneebergtour Plateau Runde🥾

🤩Very nice panoramic tour at a pleasant 21 degrees today👌🏼😃🍺 (free up and down with the Nö Card)

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October 17, 2021,Schneebergrunde

Many people used this beautiful day to take the salamander up to the Schneeberg - so did we! From the mountain station we marched to the monastery coat of arms, the summit of the Schneeberg. On the way there, and especially up there, a pretty cold wind blew around our ears, but the distant view was a dream! Then it …

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October 22, 2023,Schneeberg- Runde. Salamander mit NÖ-Card genutzt

Almost every year we use the NÖ-Card to conquer the Schneeberg with the Salamander. The other times we do it over some sort of path 😉

Today was public hiking day again or something similar. We've been up there many times before, but today... There's an incredible amount of people out and about.

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August 9, 2025

This plateau hike from the Schneebergbahn mountain station takes you up to the Klosterwappen summit, the highest point in Lower Austria at 2,075 meters (6,807 ft). It’s a loop that offers an alpine hiking experience that’s suitable for the whole family. The Salamander playground provides entertainment

Showing Translation