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  • Writer's pictureMartha Ecker

15 Salzkammergut hiking trips by locals!

Updated: Jun 18, 2023

There are so many hiking options in the Salzkammergut area - so here is a list of our personal favorites for you! Sorted by time and difficulty:


Salzkammergut hiking trips in 1-3 hours


Siriuskogl & a great restaurant with a view

1h + / diffculty 1/5 / view 3/5 / eating 5/5 / child friendly TOPTIP!

A local weekend favorite with a renowned restaurant on top! Walk up to the top of the Siriuskogel and enjoy the excellent cuisine. There are several ways to hike/ walk up, all take about 1 hour if you start from our Heritage Boutique Apartments Bad Ischl.


Comfy traditional country walk

2-3h / difficulty 1/5 / view 3/5 / a classic

Great for warmer days! Walk along the Ischl river to to town of Pfandl and back via the Elisabeth-Waldweg and Kalvarienberg.


Hohenzollern Wasserfall

1-3h / difficulty 1/5 / view 2/5 / good for hot days

On foot to the Hohenzollern waterfall - perhaps combined with a hike around the Jainzen (3h).


beautiful (half)day Salzkammergut hikes and day tips


Lake Gosau - a local favorite!

Gosausee - lake Gosau
1/2 - 1 day / difficulty 1/5 / view 5/5 / eating 5/5 / child friendly / TOPTIP!

If you have time for one specific lake in Salzkammergut - do this one! It is truly breathtaking. By bus or car to Gosau- hike around the Gosausee (suitable for children's scales!) - maybe ride the gondola to the Zwieselalm. Good inn.


Hallstatt by train & boat

1/2 - 1 day / view 5/5 / world heritage site TOP TIP!

Visit the UNESCO world heritage site Hallstatt like a local! Take the train and ship to Hallstatt - arriving in the middle of town without parking troubles - perhaps combined with a visit to the salt mine in Hallstatt, a hike on the Ostuferwanderweg along the Hallstättersee to Obertraun, or even further along the Koppentraun to the Koppenbrüllerhöhle, or to Bad Aussee -take the train back. Details


Hoisenradalm

1/2 - 1 day / difficulty 3/5 / view 3/5 / eating 4/5

On foot via the Sterzens Abendsitz over the Kaiser Jubiläumsweg to the Hoisenrad Alm. It is most beautiful if you do not take the steep shortcut through the forest to the Hoisenradalm but the Tauernweg - an ancient trade route and arrive from above to the Hoisenradalm. Good local food!


Katrin - Bad Ischl's own mountain by nostalgic cablecar

Katrin view from Bad Ischl
Katrin view from Bad Ischl
1/2 - 1 day / diffculty 1-5/5 / view 5/5 / food 4/5 / child friendly, TOPTIP!

Katrin is Bad Ischl's main mountain, with beautiful Salkammergut hiking options for all ages and interests. We recommend the cable car to all guests, and picking one of several scenic hikes that start from the mountain top station. Travel to the valley station of the Katrin cable car foot or by bus / car. - take the nostalgic gondola to the Katrin. If you don't have much time you can walk 1-5 minutes and enjoy a coffee or a meal at one of the two local spots (Bergrestaurant oder Hütte). You also have several different hiking options - from a quick trip to the very mountain top to a spectacular circular hiking trail with views of 7 Slazkammergut lakes to a via ferrata!


Bleckwand with a gorgeous view

1/2 day / diffculty 3/5 / view 5/5 / TOPTIP!

By car to the Bleckwand toll road - only a 1-hour walk to the fantastic view of the Schafberg and Lake Wolfgang - rest in the Bleckwand hut - circular route.

Drive by car in the direction of St. Gilgen. At the summer toboggan run turn left - direction Bleckwand. Take the toll road (bring EUR 5 in coins!) to the parking lot at the Wetzlerhütte.

Now it goes steeply uphill, after half an hour you are rewarded with a dream view. Left to the summit cross, to the rock window, and steeply downhill to the Bleckwandhütte with a viewing terrace. From now on you go back to the road via a comfortable forest path and on the road to the car.


Predigtstuhl

1/2 - whole day / diffculty 3/5 / view 5/5 / food 5/5

By car to the parking lot Predigtstuhl - here the view to the Hallstätter glacier is already wonderful - hike to the Hütteneckhütte - rest with good cuisine and fantastic view.


St. Wolfgang & Falkenstein

1/2 - 1 day / diffculty 3/5 / view 5/5 / eating 5/5 / TOPTIP!

By bus to St. Wolfgang - walk through St. Wolfgang - hike across the Falkenstein to Fürberg - rest at Gasthof Fürberg - by boat to St. Gilgen - by bus back. Detailed route.


Kleefeld & Sparber

1/2 day / diffculty 4/5 / view 5/5 / for those who enjoy a little climb

By car to Gasthof Kleefeld, Strobl, hike on the Sparber only for experienced - magnificent view of the lake and Schafberg.


Rettenbach Alm

Rettenbach Alm
1/2 day / difficulty 2-3/5 / view 5/5 / food 5/5

On foot or by cab to Rettenbach Alm - hike on a forest road past a waterfall and through a tunnel to Blaa Alm - good refreshment stop - descent to Grundlsee and return by bus.


Hütteneckalm

1/2 day / diffculty 2/5 / view 5/5 / eating 4/5 / family friendly

The easy and leisurely hike to the Hütteneckalm is particularly suitable for families. On site, children are offered a petting zoo, a playground and plenty of space to play and romp around.


Day trips of a lifetime


Krippenstein with ice cave

Whole day / difficulty 3/5 / view 5/5 / TOPTIP!

By bus or car very early to the Krippenstein cable car (Krippensteinseilbahn) - first to the middle station - ice cave - then to the top station - definitely hike to the top - maybe to the Heilbronner Kreuz.


Totes Gebirge & Grundlsee

Whole day / difficulty 5/5 / view 5/5 / for experts

On foot or by cab to Rettenbachalm - via Ischler Hütte and Appelhaus to Grundlsee.

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