Rosstauscherberg

The Rosstauscherberg rises to 999 metres in the Bohemian Forest of Upper Austria, just above the village of Ulrichsberg in the Rohrbach district. Its slopes feed two streams, the Hammerbach and the Ramenaibach, while the whole mountain sits inside the 9 350-hectare Natura 2000 site known as Böhmerwald-Mühltäler. The peak is also part of the 22 302-hectare Important Bird Area Böhmerwald and Mühltal, where rare birds find shelter. The mountain is built from Eisgarner Granite, which weathers into damp plateaus covered by spruce and mixed spruce-fir forests. On the eastern flank a small meadow called Seilerwiese holds a delicate sward of red fescue and mat-grass, kept thin by the thin soil and constant moisture. Three cross-country ski trails cross the slopes: the 13.2-kilometre Christian-Hoffmann-Loipe named after the local champion, the 12-kilometre Bärnsteinloipe, and the 1.8-kilometre Jägerhütte-Loipe for shorter outings. A long-distance trail, the Nordwaldkammweg and part of the European E6, crosses the summit ridge, offering wide views across the forest canopy. The same path links to the Böhmerwald’s network of marked footpaths, so walkers can choose loops of any length. Below, the streams gather into deeper valleys where beech and spruce grow close to the water’s edge, giving the whole area a quiet, unspoilt feel.