Walking in the Salzkammergut: the Austrian Lake District

Nestled between Salzburg and the UNESCO-listed Dachstein massif, the Salzkammergut is Austria's lake district — a landscape of shimmering alpine lakes, wooded limestone peaks, ancient salt mines and picturesque lakeside villages that has inspired artists and travellers for centuries. Easily reached from Salzburg, it remains one of the most beautiful and accessible walking regions in the Eastern Alps.

With walks mostly graded easy to moderate and suited to less experienced walkers and families, this first edition Cicerone guidebook by award-winning author Rudolf Abraham covers 30 day walks, ranging from 5 to 20km (3 to 12 miles) and taking between 2 and 9 hours. Route descriptions are paired with 1:50,000 mapping and downloadable GPX files, with public transport and refreshment information provided for every walk.

30 walks across four areas, covering the Fuschlsee, Wolfgangsee and Mondsee in the west, the Traunsee to Bad Ischl, the Ausseerland lakes and Totes Gebirge, and the Dachstein, Hallstätter See and Gosausee, are included
The UNESCO-listed Dachstein massif is covered in depth, with walks including the Dachstein Nature Trail, Hallstätter See East Shore Trail and the Gosausee circuit beneath the dramatic glaciated limestone walls of the Dachstein
Walks are located near Hallstatt, one of Austria's most visited and photographed lakeside towns, which features prominently, with routes exploring the surrounding mountains and the ancient salt mines that gave the Salzkammergut its name
1:50,000 mapping and downloadable GPX files are provided for every walk, to help you navigate on a walking trip to the Salzkammergut
Rich practical and cultural context is included throughout, covering history, geology, wildlife, plants, accommodation and food, alongside gateway city information for Salzburg and Linz


The Salzkammergut rewards walkers at every level, from gentle lakeside strolls that take in the famous views to longer mountain routes above the tree line. This guidebook is the ideal companion for exploring one of Austria's most captivating walking regions.

Seasons

The hiking season in Salzkammergut runs from May to October, with the best months for walking being June, July and September.

Centres

Altauseer See, Bad Ischl, Dachstein, Fuschlsee, Gosausee, Grundlsee, Hallstätter See, Mondsee, Traunsee, Wolfgangsee

Difficulty

Day walks, mostly graded easy to moderate, with a few longer or more challenging routes. No special equipment or technical skills required.

Must See

Beautiful lakes including Fuschlsee, Mondsee and Traunsee below peaks such as Feuerkogel, Schafberg and Trisselwand. The Unesco-listed Dachstein massif, and the sprawling karst plateaus of the Totes Gebirge and Höllengebirge. World-famous salt mines at Hallstatt and Altausee, and beautiful towns such as Bad Ischl and St Gilgen.

Overview map

Location of walks map

Map key

Introduction

Geography and geology

Climate

Wildlife and plants

History

Getting to Austria

Getting around by public transport

Accommodation

Food

Language

Money

Phones

Maps

Waymarking

Hiking with kids

Longer routes

Low impact hiking

Safety and emergencies

Using this guide

Fuschlsee, Wolfgangsee and Mondsee

Walk 1 Fuschlsee circuit

Walk 2 Ellmaustein from Fuschl am See

Walk 3 Filbling from Fuschl am See

Walk 4 Plombergstein from St Gilgen

Walk 5 Zwölferhorn

Walk 6 St Wolfgang to St Gilgen via Falkenstein

Walk 7 Schafberg to Fürberg and St Gilgen

Walk 8 Almkogel and Eibensee from St Lorenz

Traunsee to Bad Ischl

Walk 9 Grünberg and Laudachsee

Walk 10 Vorderer and Hinterer Langbathsee

Walk 11 Feuerkogel, Alberfeldkogel and Helmeskogel

Walk 12 Grosser Höllkogel and Riederhütte

Walk 13 Offensee to Rinnerhütte and Wildensee

Walk 14 Katrin (Seven Lakes View Trail)

Walk 15 Ewige Wand

Ausseerland - Altausseer See, Grundlsee and Totes Gebirge

Walk 16 Altausseer See circuit

Walk 17 Loser

Walk 18 Trisselwand

Walk 19 Tressenstein

Walk 20 Grundlsee, Toplitzsee and Kammersee

Walk 21 Drei Seen Blick

Walk 22 Vorderer and Hinterer Lahngangsee and Pühringerhütte

Dachstein, Hallstätter See and Gosausee

Walk 23 Hallstätter See East Shore Trail

Walk 24 Hallstatt to Weisberghaus and Gjaidalm via Echerntal

Walk 25 Dachstein Nature Trail

Walk 26 Taubenkogel from Gjaidalm

Walk 27 Heilbronner Trail

Walk 28 Vorderer Gosausee and Hinterer Gosausee

Walk 29 Löckermoos

Walk 30 Gosausee to Theodor-Körner Hütte

Appendix A Route summary table

Appendix B Gateway cities: Salzburg and Linz

Appendix C Further reading

Appendix D English-German glossary

Appendix E Useful contacts