Hiking with dogs on the Peilstein, Wienerwald, Lower Austria

The Hundereise team heads out one Sunday a few weeks ago for a group hike in the southern Wienerwald. The 716-metre Peilstein lies in the municipalities of Altenmarkt and Weissenbach. A circular route from Maria Raisenmarkt towards the Peilsteinhaus catches our eye.

Martina picks us up with Atlas, Tiago & Neroli in Baden. Murphy hops onto the back seat next to Atlas, everyone buckles up and off we go!

The destination: the Peilstein!

First we park near the cemetery in Maria Raisenmarkt, where we let the dogs out and adjust their harnesses and leads. We briefly head the wrong way, but then we're on the right track — a short stretch along the road through the village.

We pass the pilgrimage church and then take the lane up to the right towards Groisbach. The Galgo boys, the Frenchie boy, Martina and I walk past a few detached houses (complete with a dog behind a fence) until a yellow sign on the left points us to the forest path towards the Peilsteinhaus, which we follow.

Along pleasantly shaded forest trails, the four dog lads hike with us through the Wienerwald. After about 15 minutes we turn left again onto a steeper section leading up to the Arnstein ruins.

Break time at the Arnstein ruins.

At the Arnstein ruins, first mentioned in writing in 1170, two climbers are on site — we watch them for a while in fascination. The ruins and the Peilstein are generally a popular climbing area. We also admire the Arnstein cave, which is accessible for around 15 metres, and find ourselves a cosy spot in a rocky niche on the back side of the ruins for a well-earned break.

Neroli, Tiago and Atlas take the time to rest, while Murphy uses it to score chunks of cheese and sausage from our breakfast. Refreshed, we hoist our rucksacks back onto our shoulders, take the leads in hand and hike on towards the Peilstein summit.

Ascent to the Peilsteinhaus.

The forest path leads us past the Schloßberg (606 m) until we cross a paved road running from Schwarzensee to Holzschlag. After sections that alternate between steeper and flatter trails, we reach a "forest junction" where the right fork would take us down to Holzschlag — we go straight ahead instead to reach the Peilsteinhaus.

The final 35 metres of elevation gain are tackled and conquered by all six of us. At the Peilsteinhaus, alongside refreshments in the form of "kids' drinks" (raspberry soda & lemon soda, water for the dogs), we find a climbing school, a generous children's playground and a viewing tower from which the hills of the Wienerwald as well as the Schneeberg can be seen.

The Peilsteinhaus

Facts

Location: Lower Austria, Wienerwald
Altitude: 716 m
Accommodation: dormitory and private rooms
Sleeping spots: 57
Breakfast between 07:00 and 09:00

Opening times

Monday and Tuesday are rest days, unless it's a public holiday.
2020 summer closure from 08.08. to 18.08.
Check the website for current holiday closures

Back via Holzschlag.

As it's quite a warm summer's day, we forget to admire the summit cross after our well-deserved break and head straight back down the way we came towards the "forest junction". There we turn left and make our way down an initially rather steep but wide forest path.

It doesn't last long and brings us onto flat ground, where we stroll past a vast meadow and the Gasthaus Holzschlag into the village of the same name. From there we turn right towards the forest, where after a while we reach the start of the forest path that leads us back to Maria Raisenmarkt.

Back at the car, the furry noses get one last drink, and after roughly 3 hours of hiking and 2 half-hour breaks, we drive home tired but proud.