Erlaufschlucht Hike

Hi everyone,

On Sunday, May 3rd., I are plan a hike in the Erlaufschlucht (Erlauf Gorge). This gorge is one of the most impressive gorges in Lower Austria (see a few photos from below). In principle, the path is easy. At the beginning there are stairs (see photo below). Physically, it is an easy hike as there are only a few meters of altitude. In the gorge we will walk very slowly because there is a lot to see and we will take many small breaks. At the end of the gorge we will take a lunch break at about 12 o'clock on the banks of the Erlauf. Then we will visit the freely accessible Schauboden camp cemetery, a cemetery of prisoners of war from the Second World War. After we have visited the Türkensturz (a different Türkensturz than on the last hike) we take a second longer lunch break at the Martinskirche at about 2pm. At about 15:30h we will be back at Purgstall/Erlauf trainstation and drive together to Vienna.

Meeting Point & Travel
📍 Meeting point: Wien WESTBAHNHOF
at the ticket machine next to the ÖBB Infopoint (same level where the trains leave, see photo below).
Anyone who wants to have a group ticket (Einfach-Raus-Ticket) has to be at the meeting point at 7:50am.
People who don't need a group ticket or buy their ticket themselves should be at the meeting point at 8:05am.

We will take the 08:18 am train to Pöchlarn trainsation and change to a local train to Purgstall/Erlauf trainstation. The expected arrival in Purgstall is 10:19h. So be aware, it is a tow hours trip. If the train to the transfer station in Pöchlarn is delayed, then we have to wait about 1 hour for the next connecting train. We could take a short walk in Pöchlarn during this time.
The return trip is expected to be at 15:39h. The trains run every hour.

• Distance: approx. 15 km
• Elevation: approx. 140 m ascent
• Walking time: approx. 5 hours

🥪 We don’t plan to stop at huts or restaurants during the hike, so please bring your own snacks and drinks (at least 1.5 liters of water).
🌧️ Weather can be changeable, so basic rain protection is recommended.
🥾 Please wear sturdy hiking shoes. Some sections may be muddy, depending on the weather.
Please note that there are no public toilets on the trail itself.
🧢 Please bring sun protection (hat, sunscreen, sunglasses), especially on warm or sunny days.

I will send a weather update on Friday evening to everyone registered.
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Important Notes
⚠️ Disclaimer: As always, this is a free, private leisure activity. I’m not a certified hiking guide, and participation is at your own responsibility and risk.

Looking forward to sharing this hike with you!
Christian

*General Information to the "Einfach-Raus" Group Ticket
We will use a group ticket, and it requires some coordinatin:
How it works:
It is one ticket for a group of 2–5 people.
We will form these groups at the meeting point at 08:15; please be on time if you want to participate.
You must travel together for both the departure and the return journey.
You cannot split off and take a different train home if you are on a group ticket.
The cost:
The more people in a group, the cheaper it gets.
Expect to pay between €10 and €19 per person.
To be fair, we can either pay by specific group size or pool all the money and split it equally.
Cash is mandatory:
Please bring physical cash and coins.
We need to collect the money before buying the tickets to make sure everyone gets their change back quickly.
Information regarding this ticket:
https://www.oebb.at/en/tickets-kundenkarten/freizeit-urlaub/einfach-raus-ticket
If you prefer not to be tied to a group, or if you aren’t sure when you want to head back to Vienna, do not join the group ticket.
Instead, buy the VOR Freizeitticket; it costs €19.90 for the day in Lower Austria.
This will also be your option if you arrive too late for the group ticket or one group doesn't have enough participants for a group ticket.
Information regarding this ticket:
https://www.vor.at/en/tickets/ticket-overview/leisure-ticket