Peaceful Snowshoeing in the Viennese Alps

Vienna is at the far eastern edge of the Alps, but that famous mountain range reduces to rolling hills by the time it touches the Austrian capital. There are, however, tall peaks about an hour’s drive southwest of the capital. These are the Wiener Hausberge, also known as the Viennese Alps.

They include the 2,007-metre Raxalpe (The Rax) and the 2,076-metre Schneeberg. These two are the highest among a cluster of mountains in their corner of the Alps. Both are well-known summer destinations, when the Viennese come to high elevation to escape the heat. Fewer people come in winter, but the mountains remain popular for snowshoeing, skiing, and white-coated vistas from the numerous roadways, cableways, and guesthouses in the area.

The Wiener Hausberge are proud and formidable, but several routes lead safely along their narrow ridges and steep slopes, with huge views over the valleys below. Due to the vast and varied terrain, winter routes of all lengths and difficulties are possible–everything from a simple loop near the cableway to a long and wild traverse of the range.

Adventures in this guidebook are spread throughout the Hausberge region, and range from very easy to very hard. If you don’t have equipment, rentals are available near the start of most trails. Guided trips can also be arranged for nearly any of them. Use the descriptions here as a starting point for booking your trip, then use the maps for navigation while on the trail.