R1.04 Donauschlingen round
4040 Linz

Description: Due to necessary logging work on the right bank of the Danube between Inzell and Kobling, the Danube Cycle Path R1 is closed in this section.
This restriction also affects the e-bike circular route "Donauschlingen-Runde" R1.04, which is therefore also not passable throughout.
Duration of the closure: November 3, 2025 to February 28, 2026
In Schlögen, you have the option of taking a chargeable bike cab to the Haibach town center to bypass the closure and continue your bike tour towards Linz.
Contact: Cab Eilmansberger, Tel. +43 7718 / 7372, Mobile: +43 664 2132940, www.eiltaxi.at
"Schlögener Donauschlinge – Changing Perspectives"
Recommended season:
- March
- April
- May
- June
- July
- August
- September
- October
- Loop
- Scenic
- Refreshment stops available
- Cultural/historical value
- Geological highlights
Experience the fascination of the natural wonder Schlögener Donauschlinge up close: magnificent deep views from the roof of the natural wonder, enjoyable passage of the Danube bend, and ferry crossing at the first 180° bend! With panoramic approach over the Sauwald plateau and a short hike to the famous Schlögener Donaublick. A highlight!
Highlights:
- Meditation pyramid on Etzinger Hill (architectural highlight, view of the Alps)
- Viewing platform "Schlögener Donaublick" (famous deep view into the Schlögener bend)
- Natural wonder "Schlögener Schlinge"
- UNESCO World Heritage site Roman baths & Roman park Schlögen
- Ferry crossing
The Upper Danube Valley – with over 90 km (!) one of the longest breakthrough valleys of the Danube. And with rare gorge and mixed slope forests, a natural jewel of Central European scale. The starting point is located deep in this gorge a little upstream of the natural wonder Schlögener Donauschlinge – the Danube market Wesenufer. Today inconspicuous, it is the third oldest Danube town in Upper Austria! The name "-ufer" actually derives from "ferry crossing." There is even a former castle: Niederwesen Castle, today's Wesenufer Hotel.
The 280-meter altitude climb starts at the Danube shore up to the Sauwald plateau. In the magnificent gorge forest of the steep valley flanks, you climb on a quiet country road. Sweat flows, thoughts fly. Shortly after the ruins of Wesen Castle, the forest thins and you stand on the Sauwald plateau at the Waldkirchen crossroads. Congratulations, the hardest part of the ascent is done! Now the Sauwald panorama road begins. On gentle farm tracks you cycle over a hilly panoramic ridge. Lush meadows, fertile fields, scattered farms, small woods ... convey Sauwald countryside idyll. Breathtaking views to the Mühlviertel, over the Alpine foreland up to the Alps ... give a sense of height. Pure bliss! The panoramic view "Paschinger Hill" marks the start, a little later the impressive Etzinger meditation pyramid (642 m) is the highlight. Congratulations, you stand at the highest point of the round! Now begins the hilly descent to the roof of the Schlögener Donauschlinge. After the idyllic high village St. Agatha, you speed down through shady hillside forest in the rhythm of the curves.
At Nibelungenstrasse begins the roof plateau of the Schlögener Donauschlinge. A short ascent brings you to Haibach ob der Donau. A charming church village (= church at the center) that exudes proud and lively country idyll! Christoph Zeller, the second great peasant leader during the Upper Austrian Peasants' War in 1626, was once an innkeeper here. Nice country roads lead further over the - intersected by a ditch - slightly hilly plateau. In the mentioned forest ditch of the Fox Creek you rush briefly downhill and up again on the opposite slope. Then you enjoy a delightful ride through rural cultural landscape to the bicycle parking lot "Schlögener Donaublick." A short walk (~ 15 min) takes you through wonderful mixed hillside forest slightly downhill to the famous viewing platform "Schlögener Donaublick"! Only this magnificent deep view lets you understand the natural wonder of the Schlögener Donauschlinge: within a few kilometers, the deeply incised mythical river twice changes its direction by almost 180° – simply incredible! Afterwards, you cycle in a curve to the other edge of the plateau, then enjoy a swift forest descent through the steep valley flank to the Danube.
On the legendary towpath, you now pedal comfortably eye-level with the natural wonder through the Danube loops. The narrowness of the gorge, the lonely forests, the mighty river ... invite reflection. Today almost forgotten, the Schlögener bend once counted among the most dangerous locations on the Danube because of its rushing currents and treacherous rocks. The lovely small church in Inzell, in the heart of the second 180° bend, recalls this. According to legend, it was founded by a survivor of a shipwreck. At the first 180° bend, Roman excavations in Schlögen remind of another facet of the river. Here was a Roman small fort of the UNESCO World Heritage Danube Limes! The local Roman park lets this heritage shine in a new light again. The crowning conclusion of the natural wonder highlight: the crossing with the bike ferry from Schlögen to Au – the close-up perspective from the river! On the towpath, you cycle out leisurely along the broad Danube river. In Niederranna, over the Danube bridge, the modern version of the former ferry, and the starting point is reached again. Enjoyable cycling with changing perspectives!
Tip:Discovery trips with enjoyable stops! This route passes directly by the following culinary partners:
Safety guidelines:
This contrasting cycling round uses entirely quiet, paved (side) roads and farm tracks. Basic shifting skills are advantageous for the long uphill climb. Basic braking technique is necessary for the long descent. Please note the operating times of the Schlögen – Au bike ferry. If it is not in operation, you can, in an emergency, continue from Schlögen on the same Danube shore to Wesenufer.
Signposting:
To make orientation easier for you, the Danube cycling rounds have been marked with their own cycle guidance system. This round follows the signposting "R1.04 Donauschlingen-Runde".
Paths covering:
further information:
- Flatly
- Board possible
Public Transit
How to get to the Upper Austria Danube region?
The fastest way to your destination – by train, bus, car, ship, or airplane.
Parking
Free parking spaces in the Wesenufer district near the ship dock
- Spring
- Summer
- Autumn
Please get in touch for more information.
Lindengasse 9
4040 Linz
Phone +43 732 7277 - 800
Fax machine +43 732 7277 - 804
E-Mail info@donauregion.at
Web www.donauregion.at
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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.
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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.
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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.
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