Schöpfl and Gföhlberg

This circular route is a challenge due to its length. We start directly in front of the municipal office and hike eastward. At the first junction to the right (dead end), we follow the red-white-red marking (long-distance trail 04). At the end of the lane, a roughly 700 m long meadow path begins to the first farm, then continues partly as an asphalted farm road, forest path, and gravel road. At the Forsthof Icelandic horse farm, the long-distance trail 04 branches off to the left, but we turn right at the horse paddock. The marking remains red-white-red, sometimes also marked with 04 and 404 (?). At the forest edge, we take the Heinrich-Gith Trail. Alternatively, the slightly flatter Pensioners' Trail is also available. At half the ascent, we can plan a rest at a spring, where we also rejoin the Pensioners' Trail. After about 1.5 hours, we reach our first destination, the Schutzhaus at Schöpfl. After a recommended stop, be sure to enjoy the breathtaking view from the Matras lookout. Then follows a beautiful hike (marked white-red-white, partly white-blue-white) on forest and meadow paths, always slightly downhill, along the Schöpfl ridge down to Klammhöhe. Upon reaching the state road, we unfortunately must walk on it for about 900 m to Klammhöhe. From Café Restaurant Klammhöhe, our path ascends again through the forest to the Gföhlberg Hut (Elsbeerweg). Via Leopold Dworak Trail, still marked white-red-white, we reach the Gföhlberg summit (no view). At the following junction, where several hiking trails converge, we turn left and now follow the white-blue-white marking to the end of Elsbeerweg (ascent to the Gföhlberg Hut from the north side). Over the now following meadow path (white-blue-white, 622) we join the long-distance trail 04, 404, which leads us to the state road. A short stretch on this, past the castle, we turn right into a forest and meadow path. At the Black Cross, a rest would be recommended, if only because of the beautiful view. From now on, we follow the white-green-white marking to Laaben.