Hiking to the water

0.0 km Götzis (hiking parking lot "Sägerweg/Örflaschlucht")

The signposting towards Örflaschlucht and Meschach starts directly at the parking lot. Initially, it goes rather leisurely between the outdoor swimming pool and Emmebach to the gorge entrance. Suddenly, the valley narrows, and the rock walls tower sky-high. It's hard to believe that the mostly small stream has carved this huge gorge. The hiking trail initially stays on the left side of the stream in the walking direction, but soon changes sides and forks at the distinctive "bend" of the gorge.

1.4 km Örflaschlucht (1)

Still following the signpost Meschach, one hikes briefly out of the gorge, then sharply left back into the gorge at the beginning of the clearing—at the fork Örflaschlucht Süd—and crosses to the left side in the walking direction again on a metal footbridge. The trail stays briefly by the stream—the access to the via ferrata and a small waterfall basin branches off on the right—and then winds as a narrow path with hairpin turns—partly thrillingly high above the gorge—up to the road to Meschach. [A medium-difficulty via ferrata (Category B/C) also runs through the Örflaschlucht, which can be used as an alternative to the hike with the necessary skills, via ferrata set, and helmet.] The hiking trail follows the road for a few meters, then turns left over steps beside it and leads above the road sometimes through the forest, sometimes along the forest edge directly to the Kuratien Church of Meschach.

2.7 km Meschach/Kuratien Church (2)

Walk past the church and follow the access road to the confluence with the Meschacher Straße. Go 50 meters downstream, slip left through the narrow passage between the yard and hedge at the house, and descend over a private property (please stay on the path!) to the upper beginning of the Örflaschlucht. A metal footbridge spans here a high stream structure with a waterfall. After crossing with an impressive deep view, go slightly uphill. Caution! Do not trip over the barely visible, ground-anchored exit rope of the via ferrata. Hiking and forest paths alternate afterwards. The destination is always Klaus (via Mathions).  

7.8 km Klaus/Parish Church (6)

From the parish church, a detour to the Broger Distillery is recommended, where "the water of life" is the focus. For the onward journey to St. Arbogast, there is a nicer route than along the road. You climb the small path Im Knorra behind the Adler inn and follow the sign with yellow-white markings uphill into the forest. This hiking trail completely avoids contact with roads and crosses them only briefly towards the Wasserhaus St. Arbogast. The cube standing amid the meadows is finally reached via the "Finnenbahn" (an explanatory board clarifies what this is) along the forest edge.

9.8 km Wasserhaus St. Arbogast (3)

After the Kneipp treatment in the Wasserhaus, go a few meters along the forest edge, then keep right past the farm through meadows back to the road and walk along it to the nearby Church of Saint Arbogast.

10.5 km St. Arbogast (4)

Follow the road briefly but turn off the sidewalk before the parking lot (where a replica of the former castle stands), cross the road, and ascend on the access road to the castle to the forest junction. It's only a few more steps to the castle ruins.

10.7 km Turnoff Castle Ruins Neu-Montfort (5)

Return from the castle to the path junction and follow the signpost towards Götzis. After a stretch through the forest, you reach a wayside shrine and then use the sidewalk along the road again. At the town sign, turn right into the forest path that leads back to the starting point.

11.9 km Götzis/hiking parking lot