Eulenwiesen

They provide shade and though allow sufficient sunlight to pass through for the understory to grow. The larch trees on the “Eulenwiesen” enable a protected variety of flowers (pasqueflower, trumpet gentian, arnica …) and give space to matgrass and dwarf-shrub. These “Larchbergmahder” sprouted after fire clearance. Due to the many floods at the valley bottom the farmers needed new pastures and found them at about 1,700 meters above sea level. Whereas spruce trees and pine trees burned up, the larch trees only flared on the outside and were budding again the next spring. Such places of natural treasures can only be maintained through extensive care and cultivation by the farmers. Once a year the “Eulenwiesen” are therefore mowed by hand and scythed.

Round trip 1 (Alpengasthaus Gleinserhof - Eulenwiesen – Alpengasthaus Gleinserhof)

Starting and finishing point: Alpengasthaus Gleinserhof (1,412 m)
Walking time: 2 hours
Altitude difference: 250 m
Rest points: Alpengasthaus Gleinserhof (1,412 m)

JOURNEY / STARTING POINT:
In Schönberg, follow the street to the post office and then turn right. Go through a motorway underpass and on the other side, follow signs for "Gleinserhof". After approx. 15 minutes, you reach the Alpengasthaus Gleinserhof at the end of the street. There, you will find many free parking spaces.

TOUR DESCRIPTION
Leaving the Alpengasthaus Gleinserhof, follow a gently climbing forest path in the direction of the Eulenwiesen meadows. At the first sign (Eulenwiesen), turn left and after 2 bends, you reach the Eulenwiesen in one hour. On the mountain ridge, you walk through meadows surrounded by larch woods. After you have reached the highest point of the Eulenwiesen and have passed a wooden fence, branch off right and follow the downward path until you have reached the forest path in the saddle of the Gleinser Mähder valley. Following this forest path takes you comfortably back to the Alpengasthaus Gleinserhof. The entire circular route takes approx. 2 hours.

Round trip 2 (Serlesbahnen - Eulenwiesen – Serlesbahnen)

Starting and finishing point: Serlesbahnen mountain railways (mountain station 1600 m / valley station 982 m)
Walking time: 3.5 hours
Altitude difference: 450 m
Rest points: Panorama restaurant Koppeneck (1,600 m), Ochsenhütte (1,.582 m), Gleinserhof (1,.412 m)

JOURNEY / STARTING POINT:
The Serlesbahnen can be found at the valley entrance in the Mieder district. There you will find many free parking spaces.

TOUR DESCRIPTION
Leaving the Serlesbahnen mountain station, walk past the Koppeneck panoramic restaurant along the forest path in the direction of the Eulenwiesen (signposted). After a brief walk you reach the Ochsenhütte mountain hut. From there, follow the forest path further in the direction of the Eulenwiesen and in approx. 40 minutes, you reach a fork at which you turn right in the direction of Gleinser Mähder (see signposting). Continue down a relatively flat forest path for a further 20 minutes along the Gleinser Mähder. Turn left at the sign (Eulenwiesen) and after a short, steep ascent, you reach the Eulenwiesen. On the mountain ridge, you walk through meadows surrounded by larch woods. At the end of the Eulenwiesen you reach a forest path which takes you to the Gleinserhof. From there, the trail leads downwards back towards the Serlesbahnen valley station. The entire circular route takes approx. 3½ hours.