Erlauf Valley Cycle Path (formerly Ötscherland Cycle Route)

<p>The Erlauf Valley Cycle Path starts directly at the Danube Cycle Path at the Erlauf confluence; a short climb must be overcome before Erlauf; on the southern exit, the cycle route still stays close to the river course before moving away from it in the municipal area of Bergland; continues to Wieselburg; from Bodensdorf the cycle route runs 8 kilometers flat at a higher level on moderately trafficked state road, with some curves through several rural villages to Purgstall; the following 7 kilometers to Scheibbs remain flat with cycle path quality and a water-bound gravel surface; this section is counted among the most beautiful of the Erlauf Valley Cycle Path; among the most beautiful places of the cycling tour is the center of the district town Scheibbs; afterwards, the route runs about 2 kilometers on a side road through two towns before heading from Miesenbach (St. Anton) as a cycle path parallel to the federal road with two crossings, continuing flat towards Kienberg; after Kienberg, mixed traffic is required, initially about 2.5 kilometers on the federal road to the center of Gaming; Gaming is the end of the family variant of the Erlauf Valley Cycle Path, as the climbs now begin, continuously on state and federal road sections; 2 kilometers after Gaming (431 meters), the route branches off onto an idyllic state road section; shortly after, the first shorter ascent starts, followed by a short descent and then the 2-kilometer-long climb to Pfaffenschlag with a slope between 8 and 10 percent; parallel to the route, the Ötscherland Express still runs today on special occasions between Gaming and Lunz am See; the train also manages this altitude difference but with a leveled track profile; after a break at the Pfaffenschlag saddle (695 meters), surrounded by rural farms of the eastern Alpine foothills, the cycle route continues on a moderately trafficked road downhill to Lunz am See, where the Erlauf Valley Cycle Path joins the Ybbstalradweg.</p>

<p>Connection from Gaming to the Pfaffenschlag junction 2 km on federal road</p>

<p>Via the West Motorway A1; exit Pöchlarn</p>

<p>Via the Western Railway line to Pöchlarn;</p><p>Option for further train travel to Scheibbs</p>