R1.12 Weltstein Loop
4040 Linz
„To the Roof of the World and Back“
Recommended season:
- March
- April
- May
- June
- July
- August
- September
- October
- Loop
- Scenic
- Refreshment stops available
- Family friendly
- Geological highlights
Enjoyable summit bike route from the legendary Danube River in the Machland plain up to the Weltstein (478 m) in the Aist-Naarn hill country. Includes a short walk on the last meters to the summit. River cycling along the Danube and Aist, mountain biking in the hill country, flat cycling in the Machland plain … and a 2.7 km panoramic descent with Alpine views. A true delicacy!
Highlights:
- Schwertberg (flatboat ride on the Aist)
- Aiserbühne (castle-like theater backdrop in a quarry)
- Weltstein (highest point of the loop)
- Mühlstein town Perg (Mühlstein Museum Steinbrecherhaus, Erdstall – Ratgöbluckn)
- Naarn Canal (historic wooden log rafting canal)
From the boat harbor Au on the Danube, you briefly accompany the mighty Danube on its legendary towpath upstream to the mouth of the Aist. Then you change rivers and follow the meanders of the former pearl river across the extensive Machland plain. From the beautiful bike path along the river dike, you look out grandly over fertile fields and magnificent four-sided farmsteads. From Furth, you cycle at river level – occasionally on short sandy roads – through settlements and an open industrial area. At the edge of the plain, the historic market town Schwertberg surprises with a beautiful park on the Aist River including flatboat ride opportunity and a hidden Renaissance castle.
Here begins the idyllic hilly landscape of the Aist-Naarn hill country and the 220-meter summit climb to the Weltstein. Settlement roads lead – partly steeply – up to a rural ridge. Tip: Shortly before the summit, a detour to the Aiserbühne is recommended, an old quarry with an elaborate stage castle as an open-air theatre! At the junction at the summit, the summit loop of the atypical route branches off. Over the airy ridge, you cycle gently uphill on farm roads into the rural village of Winden. A short descent offers cooling off. Then you pass through the shady mountain forest of the Jocklgraben in serpentine curves fairly steeply – but manageable with low gears – uphill. High above impresses the farming settlement Lina: rustic farmsteads, beautiful orchards, narrow fields, lush meadows, magnificent deep views ... A rural paradise on the roof of the world! A few meters later you arrive at the bike parking lot "Weltstein." The grand panoramic view delights and gives a proud sense of altitude. A short walk brings you to the legendary forest summit Weltstein (478 m). Congratulations!
As an additional reward, enjoy 2.7 km of panoramic descent with Alpine views set to the rhythm of rural cultural landscape. Pure bliss! After a short counter ascent, the summit loop ends. You then race through hidden fields down into the lonely Aisthofner Bachtal and immediately back up on the opposite slope. Through scenic farmland, you finally reach the edge of the Machland plain with gentle ups and downs – the Mühlstein town Perg. Tip: A short detour to the Mühlstein Museum Steinbrecherhaus makes the former importance of Perg conscious! The idyllic town center invites you to enjoy a relaxing break. After passing residential areas, you go out to the strictly regulated Naarn River – a historic rafting canal used to transport firewood for the metropolises Vienna and Budapest. At the sewage treatment plant, you leave the Naarn and cross the wide Machland plain on rural side roads. Large wheat, corn, and vegetable fields ... testify to fertility, beautiful farmsteads to lively tradition. At the height of the Straß farmstead, you rejoin the mighty Danube through river meadows. Now follows a relaxed cycling out on the riverbank dike along the legendary towpath. To the roof of the world and back!
Tip:Discovery trips with enjoyable stops! This route leads directly past the following culinary partners:
Safety guidelines:
The main part of this enjoyable summit bike route leads over paved side roads or farm roads and along the Danube on the well-paved towpath. Along the Aist River, it goes between the Danube and Furth via a well-paved dike bike path; afterwards, four sections (380 m, 650 m, 170 m, 200 m) run over comfortably rideable sandy roads. Basic shifting skills are advantageous for the long climb. Basic braking skills are necessary for the long descent.
Signage:
To make orientation easier for you, the Danube bike loops have been marked with their own bike guidance system. This loop follows the signage "R1.12 Weltstein Loop".
Paths covering:
further information:
- Flatly
- Board possible
Public Transit
How to get to the Upper Austria Danube region?
The fastest way to your destination – by train, bus, car, ship, or airplane.
- Spring
- Summer
- Autumn
Please get in touch for more information.
Lindengasse 9
4040 Linz
Phone +43 732 7277 - 800
Fax machine +43 732 7277 - 804
E-Mail info@donauregion.at
Web www.donauregion.at
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1. The tours presented for hiking, walking, biking and road biking, mountain biking, motorbiking, horseback riding, climbing, cross-country skiing, and going on skiing and snowshoe tours etc. are to be considered non-paid tour recommendations and only serve as non-binding information. We have no intention of concluding a contract with the users of this website. The utilisation of the data does not lead to the establishment of a contract with us.
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The tour recommendations posted were created with utmost care; nevertheless, we assume no liability for the correctness and completeness of the information.
We point out that neither the tour recommendations included on this website nor the associated data and information were posted by us, but rather by third parties (Art. 16 Austrian E-Commerce Act). We have no influence on whether the details provided (e.g. distance, level of difficulty, change in altitude, description etc.) are authentic, correct and complete. We do not review these third-party contents. For this reason, we assume no liability for the authenticity, correctness and completeness of the information.
Construction-related measures or other influences (e.g. landslides and similar occurrences) can lead to temporary or permanent changes in a route (e.g. loss of a bridge and similar occurrences). Such occurrences can lead to part of the route or the entire route becoming impassable.
The use of the data as well as undertaking (riding, walking, taking etc.) the recommended tours or using the network of paths occurs at users’ own risk and on their authority. In particular, users themselves are responsible for the choice of route, outdoor orientation, adherence to traffic rules, supplies and equipment for tours listed in Point 1 (e.g. bicycle etc.), wearing a helmet, estimating their own fitness, recognising dangers and maintaining an appropriate velocity. We exclude ourselves from any liability whatsoever for damages, in particular accidents, that occur whilst taking part in the recommended tours.
2.Some of the tours lead over roads with normal traffic conditions. Please observe that there is an increased risk which can be avoided by means of appropriate attention and proper estimation and implementation of one’s own abilities. For this reason, please travel a route that is unfamiliar to you slowly and with special care. Pay constant attention to potential dangers and always observe traffic. Do not leave the routes featured in descriptions.
The potential use of private roads, in particular forestry roads and agricultural transport roads, can be subject to legal restrictions, which must be observed and adhered to.
The normal traffic rules apply. Each user (e.g. biker, motorbiker) is responsible for adhering to these rules and maintaining his/her bike/vehicle and its equipment (lights, brakes etc.) in good working order. Each user is also responsible for ensuring that he/she rides at a velocity that is appropriate for the conditions and his/her skill level and for maintaining sufficient distance to the rider in front. We explicitly recommend adjusting velocity to correspond to the respective field of vision, wearing a helmet, using reflective clothing (or similar) and employing bicycle lights in line with regulations.
3.Each tour requires good physical fitness as well as detailed planning. We explicitly recommend only taking the tours in the case of optimal healthiness.
We recommend that you conclude an accident and liability insurance policy. Use an onboard computer that displays the respective kilometres travelled per day and is calibrated for the front wheel.
4.Special for mountain bikers – Fair-play rules:
Mountain biking is one of the most wonderful outdoor leisure-time activities. Whilst biking or on a mountain biking tour, mountains and lakes, meadows and cabins are re-discovered in new ways. A couple of rules for fair play in the forest help to avoid conflicts whilst mountain biking.
a.Pedestrians have the right of way: We are accommodating and friendly to pedestrians and hikers. Upon encountering these fellow travellers, we alert them by using the bicycle bell and slowly overtake them. We avoid paths with heavy pedestrian traffic altogether. Take nature into account: We do not leave refuse behind.
b.The braking distance should be half of the total distance visible: We ride at a controlled pace, are ready to brake and maintain a braking distance half as long as the total distance visible, especially in curves, because we always have to count on obstacles on the path. Damage to the path, stones, branches, wood piles, grazing livestock, cattle grids, barriers, tractor-type forestry machines and authorised vehicles pose dangers that we need to be ready for.
c.Don’t drink and drive!: Do not drink alcohol when mountain biking. Take care at stop-off points (dealing with bike racks, dirty shoes or clothing).
It is obligatory to provide first aid!
d.Marked routes, closed paths and blockades: Keep to the marked routes, observe the blockades and accept that these roads are primarily for agricultural and forestry use!
Blockades can often not be avoided and are in your own interest. Biking beyond the intended path and outside of opening times is punishable and turns us into illegal bikers.
e.We are guests in the forest and behave accordingly, including vis-à-vis forestry and hunting staff. Whilst mountain biking, mobile telephones and music players are forbidden! Biking requires your full attention.
f.Avoid unnecessary noise. Out of consideration to the animals living in the wild, we only bike during full daylight. As a principle, we always wear our helmet (even when riding uphill)! Don’t forget emergency supplies: We always have a repair set and bandages along.
g.Don’t overestimate your skills: We should not overdo it when it comes to biking technique and physical fitness. Take the level of difficulty posed by the route into consideration and make a precise estimate of your experience and skills as a biker (braking, bell, lights)!
h.Close gates: We approach grazing livestock at a walking pace and close every gate behind us. We should avoid causing escape and panic reactions in the animals. Nothing stands in the way of the fun and athletic challenge in the mountains and forests!
i.Traffic rules: The general traffic rules (StVO) apply for all the mountain biking routes and we adhere to them. Our bike therefore needs to be in perfect technical condition and equipped in line with the traffic rules, including brakes, a bell and lights. We inspect and service our mountain bikes regularly anyway.
5.We assume no liability for the contents of external websites; in particular, we assume no liability for their statements and contents. Moreover, we have no influence on the design or contents of the websites to which hyperlinks on www.innviertel-tourismus.at lead or from which hyperlinks lead to www.innviertel-tourismus.at. There is no on-going review of websites to which hyperlinks on www.innviertel-tourismus.at lead or from which hyperlinks lead to www.innviertel-tourismus.at. We do not appropriate the contents of websites to which hyperlinks on www.innviertel-tourismus.at lead or from which hyperlinks lead to www.innviertel-tourismus.at.
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PLEASE OBSERVE:
1. Each of your tour recommendations for hiking, walking, biking and road biking, mountain biking, motorbiking, horseback riding, climbing, cross-country skiing, and going on skiing and snowshoe tours etc., along with other details and information, is free of charge. In particular regarding the correctness of the information, we assume no liability, nor do we assume any liability whatsoever for the consequences of the use of your tour recommendation by a third party (in particular by a user of this website). We do not review the tour recommendations you post, including other details and information, at any time.
We have no intention of concluding a contract with persons who post tour recommendations and/or other details and information on this website. Posting data (information) does not imply that a contract has been concluded.
By recommending a tour, we assume special responsibility vis-à-vis other athletes. Please take this responsibility seriously and describe your tour recommendation with utmost care and to the best of your knowledge and belief.
2.Your tour recommendations must therefore clearly and unambiguously include at least the following criteria and provide a sufficiently detailed description:
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4. We are not responsible for the contents of external websites; in particular, we do not assume any liability for their statements or contents. Furthermore, we do not influence the design or contents of websites that can be accessed from www.innviertel-tourismus.at via hyperlinks or that use hyperlinks to refer to www.innviertel-tourismus.at. The websites that can be accessed from www.innviertel-tourismus.at via hyperlinks or that use hyperlinks to refer to www.innviertel-tourismus.at are not regularly monitored. Furthermore, we do not assume any claims to the websites that can be accessed from www.innviertel-tourismus.at via hyperlinks or that use hyperlinks to refer to www.innviertel-tourismus.at.