The Ybbstal Alps are a mountain range in the Northern Limestone Alps

Northern Limestone Alps

The Northern Limestone Alps are the ranges of the Eastern Alps north of the Central Eastern Alps located in Austria and the adjacent Bavarian lands of southeastern Germany. The distinction from the latter group, where the higher peaks are located, is based on differences in geological composition...

 and therefore belong to the Eastern Alps

Eastern Alps

Eastern Alps is the name given to the eastern half of the Alps, usually defined as the area east of the Splügen Pass in eastern Switzerland. North of the Splügen Pass, the Posterior Rhine forms the border, and south of the pass, the Liro river and Lake Como form the boundary line.-Geography:The...

. They occupy an area along the borders of Upper Austria

Upper Austria

Upper Austria is one of the nine states or Bundesländer of Austria. Its capital is Linz. Upper Austria borders on Germany and the Czech Republic, as well as on the other Austrian states of Lower Austria, Styria, and Salzburg...

, Lower Austria

Lower Austria

Lower Austria is the northeasternmost state of the nine states in Austria. The capital of Lower Austria since 1986 is Sankt Pölten, the most recently designated capital town in Austria. The capital of Lower Austria had formerly been Vienna, even though Vienna is not officially part of Lower Austria...

 and Styria. The range includes the eastern part of the Eisenwurzen, as well as the Göstling Alps and the Kräuterin

Kräuterin

The Kräuterin is a karst massif with a size of 10 km by 12 km, located in the Ybbstal Alps, Austria. Its highest peak is the Hochstadel, at 1919 meters above sea level....

 in the south. The Göstling Alps are home to the popular skiing area at Hochkar

Hochkar

Hochkar is a ski area located from Vienna. It is popular among skiers who want to leave Vienna for a day. It is about a two hour drive away.- Ski and snowboard facilities :...

 (1880 meters). Their highest peak is the Hochstadl, at 1919 meters above sea level.