Stodertal

From Hinterstoder the Stodertal Road continues to the Dietlgut (650m/2,133ft) and ends at the hamlet of Baumschlagerreith, near the source of the Steyr. There is a chairlift from Hochhauser (660m/2,165ft) up the Schafferreith (upper station 1,153m/3,783ft; skilifts).

On the side of the River Steyr opposite Mitterstoder the Stodertal Road comes to Hinterstoder (585m/1,919ft; pop. 1,200), the chief place in the valley and a popular summer and winter sports resort. The village is beautifully situated between the Warscheneck group (2,387m/7,832ft) to the southeast and the wooded slopes of the Totes Gebirge to the northwest. A chairlift ascends to the south by way of the Hutterer Böden (1,387m/4,551ft; several ski lifts) to the Hutterer Höss (1,831m/6,008ft; good walking country with fine views). From Hinterstoder the Grosser Priel (2,523m/8,278ft), in the Totes Gebirge, can be climbed in about seven hours. A waymarked "Wild Herb Path" begins near Hinterstoder.

The town also has a natural history instructional path.

The side road from Mitterstoder to Windischgarsten (16km/10mi) traverses wooded country to Vorderstoder (808m/2,650ft), on the watershed between the Steyr and Teichl valleys. Beyond this lies the little summer resort of Rossleithen (690m/2,264ft), and 20 minutes' walk to the south the picturesque grotto of Piessling-Ursprung (500m/1,640ft).

From the bridge over the Steyr the road ascends the left bank of the river through the narrow wooded valley. 8km/5mi up the valley, below the road on the right (steps leading down), are the Stromboding Falls, 24m/80ft high. Beyond this lies Mitterstoder, from which a road runs eastward to Windischgarsten.

Traveling up the Stodertal driving tour.

Windischgarsten (603m/1,978ft; pop. 1,800), a winter sports and health resort, is beautifully located south of the Sengsen-Gebirge in the valley basin of the Teichlbach. Note the parish church (12th C.; rebuilt in the 15th C.) with wrought iron grave crosses on the external wall, the Baroque Calvary chapel, fountain in the marketplace and Roman finds. A chairlift runs eastward up the Wurbauerkogel (859m/2,818ft; summer toboggan run). A narrow mountain road (6km/4mi) climbs southeastward to the Gleinker See (807m/2,648ft), below the north face of the Seestein (1,570m/5,151ft), from where it is a five and a half hours' climb to the summit of the Warscheneck (2,387m/7,834ft; views), which can also be reached from Vorderstoder along a waymarked path.