Ever since we’ve had two kids, we’ve been getting the NÖ-Card (Lower Austria Card – more info here:Schneeberg with kids) every year. And since we’re already invested, we try to make the most of it – even on regular weekdays. So, one Tuesday morning in late October, I checked the weather forecast: ✅. Then the availability on the Salamander train: ✅. And just like that, our plan for the day was set.
This time, we headed up the Schneeberg on the Salamander cog railway. At noon, I picked up Leno from kindergarten, he had a quick nap in the car, and 50 minutes later, we were already having a snack on the train. After a short stop at the playground near the train’s summit station, we set off on a smaller hike – not to Klosterwappen (Lower Austria’s highest point at 2076 m), but up to the Waxriegel. I figured that this route was just the right length to manage in the afternoon with two small kids, but still with a bit of a challenge.
To me, the Waxriegel (1888 m) is a perfect destination with young children: it offers beautiful panoramic views, and the summit area isn’t steep or exposed on any side. The kids could run around freely, and I enjoyed the golden autumn light. From there, we continued to the Damböckhaus hut, with Leno already running ahead. The trail is gentle enough that he could jog down safely. We visited on the very last day the hut was open and even shared a gluten-free lentil stew together.
After the hike, we walked back to the train station, stopping by the Sisi Chapel to watch the sunset. There’s something truly magical about these evenings when the sun sets before dinner – and we can share that golden light together, surrounded by the silence of the mountains, broken only (or rather constantly 😉) by the sounds of our two kids.
Route: Schneeberg cog railway summit – Waxriegel – Damböckhaus – back to the railway
Distance: 3.5 km
Elevation gain: 140 m
Time: It took us about an hour for the loop, and we spent another 1.5 hours taking breaks
📷 We also captured the mood on Instagram – check out the video https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBt_FKUsXSZ/?igsh=MTcwM3Zta3FsZDZqMg==
Sometimes all it takes is a spontaneous idea and a bit of determination – and an ordinary Tuesday afternoon can turn into a memorable adventure.