You have another possibility to access this stretch of the river Enns at the parking area of the Reiteralm in Gleiming. This access point is ideal for rubber boats at low water levels during summer.
Directly after the start, you encounter less difficulties and in this section of the Enns you can keep up a fast pace until you reach the swimming lake in Pichl.
After the bridge in Pichl, the Enns takes a turn to the right. On the inner side of the river you can keep on paddling more eagerly than on the opposite (left) side, where, depending on the water level, branches are hanging in the river. After the bend it becomes really smooth and after approximately 1.5 km, five gorgeous eddies await you on the right river bank. They are the perfect spot for a short break.
Now, after approximately 150 m, you change to another more challenging river stretch. Due to the Enns being a bit more narrow here and depending on the water level, a few waves, which you’ll surely enjoy, might await you here.
Immediately after the waves, the Enns becomes broader again and you can easily land on the river bank to view the following stretch. Here, you’ve got three possibilities:
- Pass the white-water hole on the left side (easy alternative)
- Pass the withe-water hole on the right side, over a small jump into the eddy (medium difficult alternative)
- In the middle, with a lot of momentum, directly into the white-water hole (most difficult alternative)
After this sportive spot you keep on going at a comfortable pace for about 2 km. Now you reach the Hutegger-rapid, which offers you a very wet pleasure and which you should best pass in the middle. In any case, this rapid has the potential to rise your adrenaline level, which is why it is great that now you can keep on going in a very relaxed way for another 2 km, until you reach the large island on the right side in front of the sand island – welcome to the perfect barbecue & chill space.
In the area of the sand island, the Enns is very broad and therefore builds several arms, of which the left arm is the deepest. Immediately after that you pass underneath the high road bridge of the western entrance to Schladming and then a 400 m-long natural slalom presents itself to you. Then you drift on in complete unison with the river, passing the hospital in Schladming until you reach the next road bridge. In case you want to avoid the step in Schladming, you have to land here and walk, but if you’ve mastered the Enns until here, this step shouldn’t be a big problem for you. At high water-levels, the step can also be taken from the left side.
After having passed this white-water stretch, you keep on going for another 200 m until you reach the large bridge of the federal road B320 on the right side. You’ve now reached the end of this stage.
Access
The access to the river in Mandling is located on the left bank, next to a field path and opposite the factory at the fire brigade’s suction point.
Exit
The exit in Schladming is on the right bank, underneath the bridge of the federal road B320.
