10 beautiful mountain hikes around Salzburg
Summer time is mountain time…
It’s a good thing that there are lots of beautiful tours around Salzburg that are also ideal for mountain novices and leisurely hikers. We have put together some of our favorite tours around Salzburg for you here.
Attention, an announcement!
We have selected the tours in this article in such a way that they should also be manageable for beginners with a good basic level of fitness. Nevertheless, you are in alpine terrain and many accidents happen in seemingly harmless places. Please also follow the rules of the game. In other words: shoes, suitable clothing and a look at the weather beforehand. It is always best to go with someone who already has experience or join an alpine club. It goes without saying that no rubbish should be left behind.
GAISBERG
The ones with the short journey
The Gaisberg doesn’t look like much, but with a bit of skill an ascent of the harmless local mountain can be transformed into a full-fledged mountain tour. Our favorite is the route from Obergnigl. From there you hike over the wildly romantic Kühberg in the direction of the Gersbergalm and then on to the top. After the obligatory summit beer, you can go down by bus if you wish. By the way: If you cross the Kapuzinerberg beforehand, you will reach over 1,000 meters in altitude without even leaving the city area.
Starting point: Eichstrasse 66, Obergnigl
ELLMUSESTEIN
The one with the sunset over the lake
A hike to the Ellmaustein is perfect for anyone who wants to enjoy an amazing view in a short amount of time. It starts in the middle of Fuschl and in about 45 minutes you reach the summit at almost 1,000 meters. Steep initial passages are followed by paths through a picturesque forest and finally the last hill to the summit cross. Up there, Fuschl shows its best side – especially at sunset.
Starting point: Ellmaustraße (near two benches and a dwarf sign), 5330 Fuschl
UNTERSBERG
The one with the sore muscles
The Untersberg is enormously popular because of its proximity to the city. But don’t be fooled: a tour to the summit is not a snack party and only suitable for people who can walk three hours at a time uphill. The classic is the variant over the Dopplersteig, where it gets really airy, especially in the upper part. You should definitely have experience here and wear good shoes. Also very nice: from Marktschellenberg via the Toni-Lenz-Hütte and the ice cave to the Salzburg Hochthron.
Starting point via Dopplersteig: Glanegg, Rosittenstraße car park
Starting point via Toni-Lenz-Hütte: Eishöhle bus stop, 83487 Marktschellenberg
SCHOBER AND WOMAN’S HEAD
The one with the kitsch look
The approximately one-hour ascent to the Schober is short but crisp. Especially the last few meters are only suitable for sure-footed mountaineers because of the easy scrambling passages. But the view from the top is an absolute dream. Unfortunately, the mountain has been relatively crowded in recent years, especially at weekends. If you want to be (almost) alone, come early in the morning at sunrise.
Starting point: Forsthaus Wartenfels,
Vordereggstrasse 32, 5303 Thalgau
SMALL BAR STONE
The one with the maypole at the top
The people of Halle love their two “Bamstoana”, which protrude strikingly from the ground and watch over the city on the Salzach like two stone giants. Even if they seem almost invincible from below: A tour on one of the two – in the case of the Kleiner Barmstein – is a manageable and worthwhile undertaking, mainly because of the fantastic view. But please be careful: It is really steep and airy. By the way, you don’t normally expect a summit cross at the top, but a maypole.
Starting point: Dürrnberger Landstraße parking strip (Kleinkirchentalweg junction)
NOCKSTEIN
die after work
The Nockstein is perfect for anyone who doesn’t want to go on a long hike, but still wants that real mountain feeling. In no more than an hour, Mann von Koppl is on the summit. Especially in the upper part, however, you should bring a head for heights. It’s pretty steep up there. Arrived at the summit cross, you are rewarded with a view of the surrounding lakes, mountains and the city. And if you like, you can continue hiking in the direction of Gaisberg.
Starting point: Gasthof am Riedl, Eisenstraße 38, 5321 Koppl
TWELVE HORN
The one with the many huts
Many paths lead to the Zwölferhorn. If you don’t have your own car, it’s best to start from St. Gilgen – the bus connections there are quite good and you can leave directly at the valley station of the cable car. After a good hour you will reach the first plateau, where three huts – one cozier than the other – invite you to swamp. If you are motivated, you can tackle the remaining route to the summit and reach it in about an hour. The reward is a view of the sparkling blue Lake Wolfgangsee. Nice!
Starting point: Breitfeldweg, 5340 St. Gilgen
SCHAFBERG
The one with the seven lakes
The Schafberg is known in Salzburg primarily because of the traditional Schafbergbahn, which has been chugging up to the summit since imperial times. The mountain is also suitable for a multi-hour mountain tour. Mainly because of the spectacular view over the Salzkammergut. If you want to keep count: You should see a total of seven lakes on the way to the summit. Once at the top you can make a detour to the Himmelspforte and then start your way back either on foot or by train.
Starting point: valley station of the Schafbergbahn,
Markt 35, 5360 St.Wolfgang
BECK WALL
The cozy one with the alpaca
A hole in the mountain and (with a bit of luck) a free-roaming alpaca can be seen on this short but beautiful Salzkammergut tour. From the Bleckwandhütte car park (beware of the toll road!), follow a signposted fairytale path through the forest in the direction of the Naturfreundehaus. The route is mostly easy and only a little steeper in a few places. In about 30 minutes you can reach the Bleckwandhütte, which is run by the nature lovers. On the sun terrace, you have a direct view of Lake Wolfgang. shit! From there it’s another 20 minutes to the summit, where you can leaf through the famous hole in the rock.
Starting point: “Bleckwand” car park, Gschwendt 84/86, 5342 Strobl
TRATTBERG
The one with the paint on the summit
The Trattberg is located in the Trattberg alpine pasture area of the same name, which is best reached from St. Koloman. To be more precise, via the Trattbergstraße, which leads uphill on serpentines for a while. Here you also pass a barrier where you have to pay a toll of seven euros. It takes about 45 minutes from the parking lot through a cultivated alpine area – so better leave your dog in the summer and always keep a good distance from the animals. The way up is well marked and the last stretch is relatively steep and still challenges your calves a bit. Once at the top, you can then drop into the meadow and enjoy the view. Especially the small pond directly at the summit cross and the reflection in it make up for all the effort. From time to time cows come here to have a drink – by the way, we wouldn’t recommend bathing in the lake. But the view is all the more beautiful. Especially at sunset.
Starting point: Vordertrattberg car park at the Enzianhütte, St. Koloman