Schönauer Danube Round

Starting point:
Parking lot at the outskirts of Schönau on the Danube, next to the snack stand "Radler Treff". One crosses the reservoir dam and arrives at the national park entrance, marked by two wooden pilotis, in a long S-curve.

From the outer Schönau traverse, one immediately has impressive views of the Kühwörther water with its large reed beds. Herons can often be seen here. If you cross the flood protection dam, silver willows dominate, and water insects, snails, and freshwater mussels live in small ponds. Nettles, gooseberries, and glandular balsam grow over the year into a meter-high thicket. Along the narrow path, fresh beaver tracks can be spotted, where the low willows are gnawed. The last meters before the Danube are spanned by a bridge over a reconnected side arm. Even at moderate water levels, it flows heavily here, and in the newly formed riverbanks, the kingfisher breeds. The route along the Danube goes a few hundred meters downstream and then back inland at the next traverse. Here, numerous bird species can be observed in winter, cormorants on their sleeping trees or even sea eagles. Through the floodplain forest, one returns to the protection dam.