Hikes in Upper Austria

Upper Austria is particularly well known for its lakes in the Salzkammergut. Around Lake Traunsee, Lake Attersee and Lake Mondsee there are tours galore – here hiking dreams come true. Nestled in the magnificent pre-Alpine landscape of the Salzkammergut, there is a diversity here that leaves nothing to be desired.

Around the largest lake in the Salzkammergut, the Attersee, you will find the steep rock faces of the Hüllgebirge on the eastern shore with challenging hiking trails up to peaks with great views. On the opposite side are gentle destinations such as the Hochplettspitz. At Lake Traunsee, the Traunstein is one of the most beautiful mountain tours in Upper Austria, but there are also many easy hikes along the shore or up the Grünberg.

At Mondsee, you also have the choice between long tours and relaxed themed trails. If you can, you should definitely hike up the Schafberg. Close by, on the border between Upper Austria and Salzburg, is another hiker's paradise, Lake Wolfgang, with well-known destinations such as Zwölferhorn or Vormauerstein.

The Wolfgangsee is also a hiking paradise.

Around the highest mountain in Upper Austria (2995 m) lies the Dachstein Salzkammergut region with the towns of Bad Goisern, Obertraun, Bad Ischl and Gosau. Thanks to the good infrastructure with several cable cars, you can start your hike at a high altitude. From the Krippenstein near Obertraun, challenging tours start to the Wiesberghaus and the Simonyhütte. In Gosau there are a number of beautiful hikes, most of which are easy, except for those on the Gosaukamm, whose steep rocky peaks are reminiscent of the Dolomites.

The hiking area around Bad Ischl and Bad Goisern is particularly suitable for families, although there are of course also challenging routes here. Great are the hikes that start with a ride on the time-honoured Katrin cable car. From the top station you can hike along the mountain trail and admire the Dachstein in all its glory.

For fans of alpine hikes, the Tote Gebirge is a hot tip. The highest elevations of this impressive part of the Alps rise around the Stoder and Alm valleys. The Grosse Priel (2515 m) can be climbed from both valleys. The more solitary variant starts at the Almtalerhaus near Grünau. Many other difficult tours await here: Warscheneck and Gro&szlig Pyhrgas are among the most impressive and require stamina and surefootedness. In the valley, the region around the Schiederweiher pond and the Gleinkersee lake shows its most beautiful side. Spital am Pyhrn and Hinterstoder are the perfect base for a hiking holiday.

Although the best-known mountain destinations in Upper Austria are in the south, the north also has its charms. In the border region of Upper Austria, Bavaria and the Czech Republic, there are also mountains in the Mühlviertel with great views, which are covered by the dense green of the Böhmerwald. Adalbert Stifter already knew about the charms of this mystical landscape and set a literary monument to it.

Dreamlike views can be experienced, for example, from the Plöckenstein, the 1379 m high Grenzberg, where the famous Nordwaldkammweg also starts. In the direction of the Danube valley, the Mühlviertel region delights with mystical rivers such as the Rodltal. The three tourist regions of Böhmerwald, Mühlviertler Alm and Mühlviertler Hochland are particularly appealing to those seeking tranquillity and pleasure hikers.

The scenic charms of the Inn and Hausruckviertel are revealed in intact cultural landscapes with extensive meadows, fields and forests. You hike along easy paths over hills and are rewarded with wonderful views of the Alps. In between you are welcomed by time-honoured towns, with cosy inns and pretty B&Bs. This part of Upper Austria promises Gemütlichkeit and this is also reflected in the hiking trails.

The moor around the lakes Ibmersee and Holzsee is full of life and home to many animal and plant species. On the hills of the Hausruckviertel you can hike to vantage points from which you will be presented with a view of the Northern Alps that will certainly remain in your memory. This panorama is particularly beautiful from the lookout point on the Göblberg.