01 - Overview
The Erlauf Valley Cycle Route (ERW, formerly the Ötscherland route) follows the Erlauf for some 59 kilometres from the Ötscher country down to the Danube. From the Lunzer See at the foot of the Ötscher it rolls down the valley via Gaming with its charterhouse, through the historic town of Scheibbs, the Erlauf gorge near Purgstall and the beer town of Wieselburg to Pöchlarn, where the route meets the Danube Cycle Path. Ridden this way it is mostly downhill, though the scenic upper section between Lunz and Gaming is a genuine valley descent. A short stretch of state road between Zellhof and Kienberg calls for care.
The Erlauf Valley Cycle Route links the Ötscher country with the Danube, accompanying the Erlauf from its upper reaches in the foothills of the Alps down to its mouth at Pöchlarn. It opens at the Lunzer See, the largest natural bathing lake in Lower Austria, at the foot of the Ötscher and on the edge of the Naturpark Ötscher-Tormäuer with its turquoise Erlauf gorges. Heading down the valley the path drops on a quiet secondary road to Gaming, whose mighty charterhouse marks the end of the steeper upper section. Now the valley widens: via Kienberg, where about six kilometres run along the state road, the route reaches the historic iron town of Scheibbs with its well-preserved old centre. Further north the Erlauf squeezes through the Erlauf gorge near Purgstall before the broad Mostviertel begins. In Wieselburg, known for its brewery and its large agricultural fair, a dedicated cycle bridge crosses the Erlauf. Via the village of Erlauf the path runs out flat to Pöchlarn, the Bechelaren of the Nibelungenlied and birthplace of the painter Oskar Kokoschka, where the ERW joins the Danube Cycle Path. The route runs on cycle paths and secondary roads, partly on a water-bound gravel surface, and is signed as the ERW. In the direction described here it is mostly downhill and comfortably ridden in a day, with the lower section from Scheibbs suited to families too; allow for the state-road stretch at Kienberg and a current detour at Bodensdorf (the Pulvermühlweg footbridge is closed, with a diversion via Haag and Pfarrhofgasse).
- Regions
- Lower Austria
- Start
- Lunz am See
- Finish
- Pöchlarn
- Surface
- Paved
- Network
- Regional
- Best season
- May - September
- Signposting
- fully signposted
- Road-bike friendly
- Yes · Mostly pavedwell documented
94 % paved, longest unpaved stretch 702 m.
02 - Stages
4 stages · 59 km
01Lunz am See - GamingLunz am See · Pfaffenschlag bei Waidhofen · Gaming14 km
Setting off at the Lunzer See at the foot of the Ötscher, on the edge of the Naturpark Ötscher-Tormäuer. On a quiet secondary road the route drops down the valley via Pfaffenschlag to Gaming. This upper section is the most scenic and, in this direction, an almost continuous descent; ridden the other way it would be the climbing stage of the route. At Gaming the sprawling charterhouse marks the end of the steeper upper valley.
- Ascent
- 126 m
- Descent
- 304 m
- Duration
- approx. 1.5 h
- Surface
- Quiet secondary road, paved; short gravel stretches
Surface (measured): paved
02Gaming - ScheibbsGaming · Zellhof · Kienberg · Scheibbs13 km
Beyond the Gaming charterhouse the valley widens. Between Zellhof and Kienberg the route runs about six kilometres on the state road with no alternative - the part least suited to children, where care is needed. After that it rolls on quietly into the historic iron town of Scheibbs, with its well-preserved old centre on the Erlauf.
- Ascent
- 27 m
- Descent
- 121 m
- Duration
- approx. 1 h
- Surface
- Cycle path and secondary roads; about 6 km of state road between Zellhof and Kienberg
Surface (measured): paved
03Scheibbs - WieselburgScheibbs · Purgstall an der Erlauf · Bodensdorf · Wieselburg18 km
From Scheibbs the path follows the Erlauf north. At Purgstall an der Erlauf the river squeezes through the wild Erlauf gorge. At Bodensdorf there is currently a detour because the Pulvermühlweg footbridge is closed (diversion via Haag and Pfarrhofgasse). At Wieselburg a dedicated cycle bridge crosses the Erlauf; the town is known for its brewery and the large Wieselburg fair.
- Ascent
- 27 m
- Descent
- 103 m
- Duration
- approx. 1.25 h
- Surface
- Cycle path and secondary roads, partly water-bound gravel
Surface (measured): paved
04Wieselburg - PöchlarnWieselburg · Erlauf · Pöchlarn14 km
The flat final section runs via the village of Erlauf to the Danube at Pöchlarn. The town is the Bechelaren of the Nibelungenlied and the birthplace of the painter Oskar Kokoschka, whose birthplace is now a documentation centre. At Pöchlarn the Erlauf Valley route meets the Danube Cycle Path - the ideal link into the Wachau or upstream toward Melk.
- Ascent
- 80 m
- Descent
- 113 m
- Duration
- approx. 1 h
- Surface
- Cycle path and secondary roads, paved
Surface (measured): paved 90 % · gravel 10 %
03 - Elevation
Elevation across the full distance - move the cursor to read altitude and kilometre.
Elevation profile over 59 km. Ascent 260 m, descent 641 m. Lowest point 216 m, highest point 690 m.
Elevation from OSM geometry + Digital Terrain Model (DGM) Austria (10 m).
Hover the profile to see the point on the map - and vice versa.
04 - POIs & Services
- Lunzer See (largest natural bathing lake in Lower Austria)
- Naturpark Ötscher-Tormäuer (turquoise Erlauf gorges, Ötscher)
- Gaming charterhouse (Gothic Carthusian monastery)
- Scheibbs old town (historic iron town on the Erlauf)
- Erlauf gorge
- Wieselburg brewery (since 1770) and the Wieselburg fair
- Oskar Kokoschka birthplace
- Pöchlarn - Bechelaren of the Nibelungenlied, junction with the Danube Cycle Path
Services along the route
- Bike serviceCycle shops and repair stations in Scheibbs, Wieselburg and Pöchlarn; pump stations along the valley.
- E-bikeCharging and rental stations in the market towns from Lunz am See to Pöchlarn; well developed across the Mostviertel.
- Drinking waterFountains, inns and cider taverns in the towns; well supplied along the Erlauf.
- Food & drinkCider taverns, inns and cafes across the Mostviertel; the regional specialities are cider (Most) and Wieselburg beer.
Service points along the route
- Drinking water15
- Repair station5
- Bike shop2
- Charging station29
Service points from OpenStreetMap. Coverage may be incomplete, some fountains are seasonal - verify before you rely on them.
05 - Impressions
The Lunzer See, the largest natural bathing lake in Lower Austria, at the southern start of the Erlauf Valley route.Photo: Lunzer See am Fuß des Ötschers · Leonhard Lenz · CC0 1.0 Kartause Gaming, the Gothic Carthusian monastery in the upper Erlauf valley.Photo: Kartause Gaming · C.Stadler/Bwag · CC BY-SA 4.0 Pöchlarn on the Danube with the Roman Welserturm and the parish church, at the Danube end of the Erlauf Valley route.Photo: Pöchlarn mit Welserturm · Palickap · CC BY-SA 4.0
06 - Public transit
- ÖBB Westbahn (Vienna - Linz - Salzburg)Pöchlarn at the Danube end of the route is on the Westbahn main line with hourly long-distance trains - the most convenient point to start or finish, and right on the Danube Cycle Path.
- Erlauftalbahn (Pöchlarn - Scheibbs)The standard-gauge Erlauftalbahn runs scheduled services between Pöchlarn and Scheibbs, stopping at Erlauf, Petzenkirchen, Wieselburg and Purgstall - handy for riding the valley in sections. Check bicycle carriage in advance.
- Bus to the upper Erlauf valley (Gaming, Lunz am See)Passenger rail between Scheibbs and Kienberg-Gaming was discontinued at the end of 2010; Gaming and Lunz am See have no scheduled rail and are reached by regional bus from Scheibbs. Check the current connection on verbundlinie.at.
The most convenient place to start or finish is Pöchlarn on the Westbahn, right on the Danube Cycle Path. To ride the route downhill in the direction described here, take the train to Scheibbs and continue by bus to Gaming or Lunz am See; an easy day ride is also the descent from Scheibbs (station) to Pöchlarn. At the Danube end the ERW joins the Danube Cycle Path.
07 - GPX & TCX download
Download for GPS devices & apps
Clean track with elevation - imports as a single tour, compatible with Komoot, Garmin, Wahoo, Strava, RideWithGPS, OsmAnd.
Download stages individually (4)
Route derived from OpenStreetMap geometry - may differ slightly from on-the-ground signage. © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0) · Elevation © DGM Austria (CC BY 3.0 AT). Redistribute with attribution.