Autumn Hike: Gmünd & Blockheide

Hi everyone!

On Saturday, October 3rd, 2026, I’m planning a beautiful autumn hike through the Waldviertel, starting and finishing in Gmünd.
One of the highlights of the hike is Blockheide Nature Park, famous for its impressive granite rock formations, huge rounded boulders and typical Waldviertel landscape. Please bring a valid travel document as we are likely to enter Czech Republic too along the route.

This is a long but technically easy hike. There are no major climbs, so the main challenge is the distance rather than the elevation.

We’ll walk at a comfortable, social pace and take short breaks along the way, but please make sure you have the relevant fitness for this hike.

Meeting point:
Franz-Josefs-Bahnhof, 07:00 a.m., near the ticket machines
Train:
The REX41 leaves Franz-Josefs-Bahnhof at 07:32 and should arrive in Gmünd around 09:38.
Return trains to Vienna run every 1-2 hours, I'd expext us to catch the 17:08 train in Gmünd and arrive Vienna 19:27.
Please arrive early so we can buy the group tickets!
Ticket options and costs are explained in detail at the end of this event description.*

Hike Details
Distance: approx. 22 km
Walking time: approx. 6 hours
Elevation: ↗️ approx. 200 m up
Difficulty: Technically easy, but moderate, as basic fitness is required to complete the distance.

Info and Route descritpion:
https://www.bergfex.at/sommer/niederoesterreich/touren/wanderung/4834368,naturknallweg/
The hike will be combined with this tour around Blockheide:
https://www.bergfex.at/sommer/niederoesterreich/touren/wanderung/3367102,gmuend-blockheide-mit-wackelsteinen/

What to Expect
We’ll walk together at a relaxed, social pace, staying as a group throughout the day.
This is not a race or performance hike — the focus is on shared experience, conversation, and enjoying the landscape at an unhurried rhythm.
We’ll take regular short breaks whenever useful.
🥪 If you don't want to consume food at the hut you are welcome to bring your own snacks. Please also bring at least 2.5 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, only at the trainstation.

⚠️Important
Since we are likely crossing an international border on foot, please do not forget your passport or national ID card (Personalausweis).
Even though there are usually no border controls between Austria and Czechia, you are legally required to carry a valid travel document.
Each person is responsible for their own documents and entry requirements.

Disclaimer and Weather
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.
I will send a weather update to everyone registered on Thursday evening.
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Looking forward to seeing you for this hike!
Jörg

Ticket options
"Einfach Raus Ticket"
We will use a group ticket, and it requires some coordination.
It is one ticket for a group of 2–5 people.
We will form these groups at the meeting point at 07:00. 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 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.
Please bring physical cash and coins as we need to collect the money before buying the tickets to make sure everyone gets their change back quickly.
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.

https://www.vor.at/en/tickets/ticket-overview/leisure-ticket