Winter Hiking In Vienna's National Forest
Snowy trails and frosty foliage adorn the trails in the Vienna Forest.
The trees and bushes in Vienna's National Forest (the Wienerwald) frost over this time of year, creating a spectacle of snow and ice not to be missed. From the Cobenzl Parkplatz stop on the 38A bus line, a short hike to the Hermans Kogel provides the most gratifying array of scenery. Thick spikes of frost cover the leaves and trees, while deep snow lines the trails. The hike also serves as excellent, but not overly strenuous, exercise. A couple of good inclines will get your heart rate up on the route to the Hermans Kogel. The hike should take about 30-45 minutes in each direction. A guest house along the way provides a nice warm-up and rest stop.
The Hermans Kogel itself is a picturesque and satisfying endpoint. It is an old Medieval looking stone hunters' tower that is now used as a scientific data gathering station for things such as weather monitoring. To get to the starting point of the hike, take the U4 metro line to Heiligenstadt. Then take the 38A bus line to Cobenzl Parkplatz (make sure the bus is going to Kahlenberg or Leopoldsberg). A few feet from the bus stop at Cobenzl Parkplatz, you will find a large wooden trail map posted along the street. Follow the marked trails that lead to Hermans Kogel. Multiple layers of warm clothing and hiking boots are recommended.
