Salzkammergut circular hiking trail

You will receive your detailed travel documents at the hotel.

A visit to the town of St. Wolfgang on the northern shore of lake St. Wolfgang is worthwhile in  many respects. The pilgrimage church, which is dedicated to the bishop St. Wolfgang  of Regensburg, is consecrated site and houses art-historical trasures. Directly opposite is the hotel „Weisses Rössl“, to which a musical comedy was dedicated in the 1930s. Enjoy a cup of coffee in one of the coffeehouses to get in the mood! (2 nights)

From the town of St. Wolfgang, the steepest steam cog railway in Austria, takes you to the 1782 meter-high Schafberg in 35 minutes. The nostalgic steam locomotive slowly makes its way up on a nearly six-kilometer-long route, while with a little luck you might even see a chamois. Once at the top, you can take a scenic hike on the Schafberg plateau with views of seven lakes in the Salzkammergut. There is still time for a refreshment in the mountain restaurant before the railway takes you back down into the valley.

Today’s hike takes you through the Upper Austrian St. Wolfgang via Berau und along the panoramic trail on the Bürglstein, which – particularly picturesque – runs right on the water. Via the silk-thread border into the province of Salzburg you reach Strobl. From there, the hiking trail follows the river Ischl to the town of Pfandl, where salt was produced already in the 12^th century. Then it joins the Elisabeth Forest Trail to Bad Ischl – this trail was already created in 1899. Empress Sissi often visited this natural place during her summer breaks in Bad Ischl. (2 nights)

(It is possible to take the bus from Strobl to Bad Ischl. Payment on site)

Hiking: approx. 5 hours (16 km, ascent 234 m in height, descent 296 m in height)

Short hike along the river Traun promenade to the valley station of the charming Katrin gondola cable car. In a 15-minute drive you reach a true hiking paradise at 1,400 m above sea level. The narrow, elongated hangover mountain range offers hiking and nature lovers a fine and manageable selection of trails. This circular hike offers unique views of seven lakes in four valleys and three countries.

Hiking: approx. 2 hours (4 km, ascent 290 m in height, descent 245 m in height)

The journey with the Salzkammergut Railway to the climatic health resort of Bad Goisern on Lake Hallstatt brings passengers to the Inner Salzkammergut. Here you can enjoy the lake landscape with its impressive mountain scenery, characterized by ice-age glaciers. Following the eastern path on the lake shore, spots with free access to swimming allow for a refreshing dip into the lake. Via Obertraun the path leads to Hallstatt. The almost perfect ensemble of narrow streets, historical houses, lake panorama and the cultural heritage from the ‘Hallstatt’ period makes this place world famous. During a guided tour through the world’s oldest salt mine, you will enter a fascinating underground world. Finally you will hike down the Salzberg to the centre of Hallstatt. (2 nights)

Hiking: approx. 5 hours (19 km, ascent 127 m in height, descent 102 m in height)

A hike to the south end of Lake Hallstatt and a cable car ride up to Krippenstein. This will take you in no time to the Dachstein Ice Caves, which is a world shaped by water, ice and stone. After visiting them, you can continue your journey to the summit of Krippenstein, which offers sunny hiking trails and spectacular viewing platforms, such as the “5 fingers” or the “Welterbespirale”. It is also possible to hike to the Gjaid valley station with views of the majestic Dachstein glacier (route mountain station – Gjaid opens from about mid-June – if you arrive before mid-June this part of the route is not included – the caves can be reached anyway). You will return by cable car to Obertraun and hike to Hallstatt. (Alternative return trip by bus or boat – payment on site.)

Hiking: from Hallstatt to Obertraun about 2 hours (7 km)

A well-signposted circular trail leads from Hallstatt to the waterfalls of Waldbachstrub. From a huge 90m-high gorge, which is divided into three stages, the water masses plunge roaring into the depths. Once there, the natural spectacle of the waterfalls can be admired up close. Bus ride back to Bad Ischl. (1 night)

Hiking: approx. 2 hours 7 km, ascent 183 m in height, descent 184 m in height)

The Ischl narrow-gauge railway once connected the imperial city with Lake Wolfgang. Today the bus will take you back to St. Wolfgang. Here the utilization of bee products was particularly important. Thus the pilgrims from far away sacrificed candles in front of the altar of St. Wolfgang and bought gingerbread as a souvenir. The tradition of the gingerbread bakery in St. Wolfgang goes back to the High Middle Ages. Try this delicacy best in one of the cafés!
(Individual departure or extra nights; bus payable locally, if your car is in St. Wolfgang).