The records of mining history* in Unterlaussa date back to the 12th century. From 1919 to 1964, large quantities of bauxite were mined in the Reichraminger Hintergebirge, around the Blahberg. In addition to mining facilities, such as Europe's longest material cable car at 13.5 km, there were also houses and barracks where miners lived with their families.
Along a length of about 800 meters on the Hintergebirgsradweg, visitors can see on their phone displays the houses and barracks, the cable car station with the associated material cable car, as well as the infrastructural facilities of the former Weißwasser mining settlement realistically on both sides of the path. With a click, information about the respective buildings can be retrieved on the display.
The experience path "Virtual Weißwasser" was initiated by the Knappenhaus Unterlaussa association. With this project, the association expands its museum offerings with a unique attraction of its kind. This tourist offer is especially aimed at visitors of the Kalkalpen National Park, schools, universities and universities of applied sciences, and visitors of the Knappenhaus Unterlaussa mining and local history museum.
NOTE!
Please download the Android app to your smartphone before visiting the experience path. There is no internet connection on site!
Download the Android app for free! (iOS app available soon)
We start at the Weißwasser parking lot and hike 150 meters downhill to the Weißwasser - Hischkogelsattel road junction. Turn left here and walk comfortably along the forest road by the Sonnbergbach, downstream. After about 600 meters, the Augmented Reality STATION 3 is on the left side of the road (the experience path also works in the opposite direction). For the "Virtual Weißwasser" experience path, continue along the forest road (Hintergebirgsradweg) towards the Weißwasser bivouac site. The same way leads back to the starting point.
The path runs along a forest road with little incline and is also suitable for families with children. Total distance from the Weißwasser parking lot round trip: 3.5 kilometers / approximately 1 hour walking time.
Der Nationalpark Biwakplatz Weißwasser liegt im Reichraminger Hintergebirge in Weißwasser unweit des Hintergebirgsradweges am Saigerinbach.
**ACHTUNG - Waldbrandschutzverordnung 2026 in Kraft getreten. Am Biwakplatz Weißwasser ist bis 31. Oktober 2026 kein Feueranzünden erlaubt!**
Maximale Aufenthaltsdauer 2 Nächte
Schlafplätze Platz für zirka 13 Zwei-Personen-Zelte
BITTE UM VORANMELDUNG im Nationalpark Besucherzentrum Ennstal, Telefon + 43 7254 / 84 14-0
Zur Erhaltung des Biwakplatzes wird ein kleiner Unkostenbeitrag einbehalten: Euro 5,- für Erwachsene/Nacht und Euro 3,- für Kinder/Nacht. Werfen Sie diesen bitte gemeinsam mit der Anmeldung in einem Kuvert in die Anmeldebox am Biwakplatz ein.
Ausstattung Feuerstelle**, Holz zum Feuermachen, Toilette, befestigter Untergrund zum Schlafen, kein Trinkwasser!
Nicht vergessen ausreichend Proviant, Trinkwasser, Schlafsack, Isomatte, Zelt oder Biwaksack, Regenschutz, wetterfeste und warme Bekleidung, Haube, Taschenlampe
Ein Aufenthalt am Biwakplatz bedeutet Natur erleben und Ruhe genießen: Youtube/Eine Nacht am Nationalpark Biwakplatz
Für ein RÜCKSICHTSVOLLES MITEINANDER bitte FOLGENDE REGELN EINHALTEN.
** Auf Grund der anhaltenden Trockenheit ist im Bezirk Steyr-Land am 30. April 2026 eine Waldbrandschutz-Verordnung in Kraft getreten. Das heißt, in Waldgebieten sowie in deren Gefährdungsbereichen ist jedes Anzünden von Feuer und das Rauchen verboten. Gefährdungsbereich ist überall dort gegeben, wo die Bodendecke oder die Windverhältnisse das Übergreifen eines Bodenfeuers oder eines Feuers durch Funkenflug in den benachbarten Wald begünstigen. Übertretungen dieser Verordnung können mit Geldstrafe bis zu 7.270 € oder mit Freiheitsstrafe geahndet werden. Waldbrandschutz-Verordnung tritt erst mit Ablauf des 31. Oktober 2026 außer Kraft.
Der Parkplatz Weißwasser liegt im zentralen Reichraminger Hintergebirge und ist nur über die Ortschaft Unterlaussa mit Kraftfahrzeugen erreichbar!
Augmented Reality STATION 1
Starten Sie Ihre virtuelle Zeitreise in die verlassene Bergbausiedlung Weißwasser!
Hier zu entdecken: Seilbahn-Zentralstation; Transformator und E-Werkstatt; Magazin und Laborbaracke; Hangbaracke und vieles mehr...
Bitte laden Sie die Android App vor dem Besuch des Erlebnisweges auf Ihr Smartphone. Es besteht keine Internetverbindung vor Ort! (App für IOS in Kürze verfügbar)
Augmented Reality STATION 2
Starten Sie Ihre virtuelle Zeitreise in die verlassene Bergbausiedlung Weißwasser!
Hier zu entdecken: Konsumbaracke; Küchenbaracke; Schule und Administration und vieles mehr...
Bitte laden Sie die Android App vor dem Besuch des Erlebnisweges auf Ihr Smartphone. Es besteht keine Internetverbindung vor Ort! (App für IOS in Kürze verfügbar)
Augmented Reality STATION 3
Starten Sie Ihre virtuelle Zeitreise in die verlassene Bergbausiedlung Weißwasser!
Hier zu entdecken: Tischlerei und Sägewerk; Mechanische Werkstatt; LKW Garage und vieles mehr...
Bitte laden Sie die Android App vor dem Besuch des Erlebnisweges auf Ihr Smartphone. Es besteht keine Internetverbindung vor Ort! (App für IOS in Kürze verfügbar)
Hier im Umkreis stand einst die Bergarbeitersiedlung Weißwasser. In mühevoller Arbeit holten Menschen Eisenerz, Gagat, Kohle und vor allem Bauxit aus der Erde.
Infotafel zum AR-Erlebnisweg: Der Museumsverein Knappenhaus Unterlassa initierte im Reichraminger Hintergebirge den Erlebnisweg "Virtuelles Weißwasser". Mittels Augmented Reality wird auf eine Weglänge von rund 800 Meter entlang des Hintergebirgsradweges am Display Ihres Handys die historische Bergbausiedlung wieder sichtbar. Neben Bergbaueinrichtungen, wie z.B. der mit 13,5 km längsten Materialseilbahn Europas, standen HIER in Weißwasser Häuser und Baracken wo Bergarbeiter mit ihren Familien wohnten.
Getting there
Linz, Salzburg: Take highway A1 to the Voralpenkreuz - switch to Pyhrn motorway A9 towards Graz until the Roßleithen/Windischgarsten exit - 4580 Windischgarsten town center - via Hengstpass state road to 4581 Rosenau am Hengstpass - continue on L550 over the Hengstpass summit to 8934 Unterlaussa town center, turn left - to the Mining Museum Knappenhaus - follow the Weißwasser farm road over Mooshöhe to the Weißwasser parking lot.
Vienna: Take highway A1 to the "Amstetten-West" exit - follow B121 to 3335 Weyer - turn right after Weyer, take B115 to 8934 Altenmarkt bei St. Gallen town center - cross the Enns bridge and follow the Hengstpass state road L550 towards Unterlaussa town center, turn right - to the Mining Museum Knappenhaus - follow the Weißwasser farm road over Mooshöhe to the Weißwasser parking lot.
From Graz: Take highway A9 to the "Trieben" exit - via L713 to 8911 Admont - continue on B117 to 8934 Altenmarkt bei St. Gallen town center - cross the Enns bridge and follow the Hengstpass state road L550 towards Unterlaussa town center, turn right - to the Mining Museum Knappenhaus - follow the Weißwasser farm road over Mooshöhe to the Weißwasser parking lot.
Weißwasser Parking Lot - free of charge
Please get in touch for more information.
Vis-à-vis users
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.
The data may only be used for private use; any commercial use is prohibited. In particular, it is not permissible to offer the data on commercially run websites, file-sharing platforms etc. or to use it to develop commercial products. Downloading data does not imply that users are granted rights to the data concerned.
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.bergethermestadt.at lead or from which hyperlinks lead to www.bergethermestadt.at. There is no on-going review of websites to which hyperlinks on www.bergethermestadt.at lead or from which hyperlinks lead to www.bergethermestadt.at. We do not appropriate the contents of websites to which hyperlinks on www.bergethermestadt.at lead or from which hyperlinks lead to www.bergethermestadt.at.
Vis-à-vis bloggers
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:
• Starting point
• Detailed route description
• Distance/Overall distance
• Level of difficulty
• Dangerous spots
• Average duration of trip
• Change in altitude
• Finishing point.
If possible, please provide the change in altitude.
3.When you post a tour recommendation, you give us the order to save your tour recommendation and/or the details you provide on our website and to make it/them accessible to third parties, in particular to users of this website, in the long term. We reserve the right to block or delete tour recommendations and/or other details and/or information that you post, either partially or entirely, at any time without providing a justification. Should this occur, it grants you no rights whatsoever.
Thank you for your efforts!
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.bergethermestadt.at via hyperlinks or that use hyperlinks to refer to www.bergethermestadt.at. The websites that can be accessed from www.bergethermestadt.at via hyperlinks or that use hyperlinks to refer to www.bergethermestadt.at are not regularly monitored. Furthermore, we do not assume any claims to the websites that can be accessed from www.bergethermestadt.at via hyperlinks or that use hyperlinks to refer to www.bergethermestadt.at.