BergeSeen Trail 01: Gmunden - Windlegern/Hochsteinalm
- Multi-day tour
Interactive elevation profile
Create PDF
Tour-Details
Paths covering:
Long but easy hike along little-used side streets in urban areas, forestry roads, forest paths and meadow trails. Just before Neukirchen and the stage destination, you can expect two steeper descents which can be slippery after rain and require surefootedness.
Technique: *
Quality of experience: ***
Recommended season:
- April
- May
- June
- July
- August
- September
- October
Properties:
- Multi-stage route
- Refreshment stops available
The start of the Salzkammergut BergeSeen Trails is actually a “blue” tour. From the city of Gmunden, it follows flat or gently ascending streets and paths, and in even the vicinity of the friendly market town of Altmünster, the inclines always remain in the moderate range. The classification of “moderately difficult” only refers to a short descent section before the village of Neukirchen and above all to the last descent, which provides a preview of the more alpine sections of the long-distance trail. However, you can also expect a foretaste of the scenic beauty of the Salzkammergut – for example, when looking across Lake Traun (with the famous Lake Castle Ort) toward the mighty Traunstein Mountain, when crossing the tiny gorge in the middle of well-tended farmland and upon viewing the rocky outcrops of the Höllengebirge Mountains and the Traunstein.
Directions:
You start at the town hall square (Rathausplatz) in the centre of Gmunden, directly in front of the beautiful town hall (Rathaus). Cross the Franz-Schubert-Platz to reach the Esplanade to the right, where you continue along the shore of Lake Traun with gorgeous views of Castle Ort and the Traunstein Mountain.
During the journey, you will pass the Kurpark, the Konditorei Baumgartner, the yacht club and the Lehenaufsatz recreational facility. Then follow Dr.-Franz-Thomas-Straße for a good 150 metres until you cross the street to the right at the pedestrian crossing at the sign for the Salzkammergut cycling path – direction “Seewalchen/Pinsdorf”. On the other side, you reach Franz-Reisenbichler-Straße, from which you immediately turn left again onto Pensionatstraße. At the next fork, route continues to the left on the narrow Mitterweg and after approximately 300 metres, heads right up Johann-Nepomuk-David-Weg. At the top, you come to Pensionatstraße again, which takes you across the Gmunden bypass road via a bridge to the left.
Turning right, the trail follows the Württembergstraße past the Volksbank Arena to Hotel Wildschütz. Soon afterwards, after the sign “SOS-Kinderdorf”, the trail goes uphill to the right through the forest to an intersection and then left to the SOS-Kinderdorf (500 m). In Kinderdorfstraße, you first go left and then right to the administration building, which is circled by going right. Here begins a narrow gravel path which heads straight into the forest. From there, continue down left in the direction of Altmünster and before the Sunday Ranch, head right along a panoramic meadow ridge. Several deciduous trees mark the place where you fork to the left in order to follow the “Themenweg Altmünster” (info boards) down to Harstubenweg.
Turn right along this path. Via the connecting Lindenstraße, you arrive at Münsterstraße which leads left to the parish church of Altmünster (442 m). 1:30 h Note: From Gmunden (Rathausplatz), you can also travel to Altmünster by ship.
From here, the BergeSeen Trail continues upward via Marktstraße. After 450 metres, the path turns left onto Bahnhofstraße – following the trail marker towards “Grasberg”. After 100 metres, turn right onto Stücklbachstraße. Soon after, you walk uphill along a footpath between houses and the forest and then under the railway bridge. After the bridge, the enchanting forest ravine of Stücklbachgraben begins on the left. There, the trail ascends past small waterfalls to a junction. Continue left in the shady canyon to the next fork and from there go left across a wooden bridge to reach the other side of the valley. The trail arrives at an asphalt street which leads to the right following the signs to “Grasberg”.
At the next fork, keep right. Passing a farm, you arrive in the area around Miedlhof. From here, head left in the direction of “Grasberg” to a house where you turn right after the signpost “Reschenwirt” and continue uphill along a meadow path to a farm. Behind it, turn right and in front of the garages, head left across the meadow to a nearby farm lane. Turn left to ascend to the scenic meadow hilltop of the Grasberg. At the top, turn right in front of a farm onto the signposted “Rundweg Reschenwirt”. This path leads over the flat meadow ridge to the Gasthof Reschenwirt (743 m).
From there, the signs for hiking trail 1 lead you toward Neukirchen. Descend a short distance along the street, turn left next to the hedge of a house and continue downhill across the meadow to a road (high-voltage power lines). Go right on the meadow and at the following fork, turn left to the Graminger Farm. The trail then crosses the southern slopes via field paths and farm lanes until reaching a narrow trail, which descends across a meadow and into the forest. Continue left along a steep descent until a sign at the edge of the forest indicates a sharp right. Via a small ravine, you reach another farm. Continue along the farm lane downhill toward the valley, and at the main street, turn right toward Neukirchen (743 m). 1:45 h
From the church square, the trail follows signs toward the “Viechtauer Heimathaus, Windlegernweg” to the next fork in the path. From there, go uphill to the right to the Kalvarienberg (signpost “Windlegern”). In the steep area above the Kalvarienberg Church, fork to the left and after a tall redwood tree, keep right twice. Then the trail follows a gravel road past a “wishing tree” and then ascends the forest slopes of the Kollmannsberg Mountain. Further up, you turn right and begin hiking downhill again. Finally, the Salzkammergut Trail turns left and follows the steep ascent of the hiking trail through a sparse forest to the well-known Almgasthof Windlegern (816 m). 1:15 h
Variation to the Hochsteinalm: The trail continues along a street heading south to a chapel and the edge of the forest. It ascends to the left and reaches a forest road. Follow the forest road to the left, and after approximately 1 kilometre, you will reach a signpost. The road leads straight ahead to the Hochsteinalm (25 minutes, overnight accommodation, closed Mondays and Tuesdays).
Tip:
Note: Bus connection (Line 552) from Gmunden (bus station in Habertstraße behind the city parish church) to Neukirchen.
Note: From Gmunden (Rathausplatz) you can also travel to Altmünster by ship.
Safety guidelines:
- In alpine terrain, be aware of the danger of falling rocks.
- Through early summer, you may encounter steep snowfields or firn gullies – especially during icy conditions, there is an acute risk of falling and thus fatal injury!
- Due to storm damage, forestry work or construction work, individual trail sections may be difficult or impassable at times.
- Cows in the alpine meadows are often curious. Because they are nursing mothers, they develop a strong tendency to protect their calves. Therefore, move through cow pastures quietly, keep at least 20 metres of distance to the animals and never pet calves! In the case of threatening behaviour (pawing, stamping) slowly back away (do not turn your back). Keep dogs on a leash. They must not bark at or chase cows. In the case of an attack, the dog must be released from the leash.
Equipment:
For all stages, you will need hiking or mountain boots with treaded rubber soles as well as wind- and rainproof clothing. A change of clothes and a small first-aid kit should also be included in your backpack. The amount of provisions you should pack depends on the number of available rest stops. In any case, you should always take along plenty to drink. Telescopic poles are helpful, especially when walking downhill.
Additional information:
Text kindly provided by the publisher KOMPASS-Verlag and Wolfgang Heitzmann.
Further information at trail.salzkammergut.at
further information:
- Multi-day tour
- Board possible
Getting there
Von der Autobahn kommend: Abfahrt Regau-B 145 in Richtung Bad Ischl - durch das Zentrum von Gmunden
Parking
Parkplätze: 129
Garagen-Parkplätze: 255
- Spring
- Summer
- Autumn
Please get in touch for more information.
Toscanapark 1
4810 Gmunden
Phone +43 7612 74451
E-Mail info@traunsee-almtal.at
Web traunsee-almtal.salzkammergut.at/
Vis-à-vis users
1. The tours presented for hiking, walking, biking and road biking, mountain biking, motorbiking, horseback riding, climbing, cross-country skiing, and going on skiing and snowshoe tours etc. are to be considered non-paid tour recommendations and only serve as non-binding information. We have no intention of concluding a contract with the users of this website. The utilisation of the data does not lead to the establishment of a contract with us.
The data may only be used for private use; any commercial use is prohibited. In particular, it is not permissible to offer the data on commercially run websites, file-sharing platforms etc. or to use it to develop commercial products. Downloading data does not imply that users are granted rights to the data concerned.
The tour recommendations posted were created with utmost care; nevertheless, we assume no liability for the correctness and completeness of the information.
We point out that neither the tour recommendations included on this website nor the associated data and information were posted by us, but rather by third parties (Art. 16 Austrian E-Commerce Act). We have no influence on whether the details provided (e.g. distance, level of difficulty, change in altitude, description etc.) are authentic, correct and complete. We do not review these third-party contents. For this reason, we assume no liability for the authenticity, correctness and completeness of the information.
Construction-related measures or other influences (e.g. landslides and similar occurrences) can lead to temporary or permanent changes in a route (e.g. loss of a bridge and similar occurrences). Such occurrences can lead to part of the route or the entire route becoming impassable.
The use of the data as well as undertaking (riding, walking, taking etc.) the recommended tours or using the network of paths occurs at users’ own risk and on their authority. In particular, users themselves are responsible for the choice of route, outdoor orientation, adherence to traffic rules, supplies and equipment for tours listed in Point 1 (e.g. bicycle etc.), wearing a helmet, estimating their own fitness, recognising dangers and maintaining an appropriate velocity. We exclude ourselves from any liability whatsoever for damages, in particular accidents, that occur whilst taking part in the recommended tours.
2.Some of the tours lead over roads with normal traffic conditions. Please observe that there is an increased risk which can be avoided by means of appropriate attention and proper estimation and implementation of one’s own abilities. For this reason, please travel a route that is unfamiliar to you slowly and with special care. Pay constant attention to potential dangers and always observe traffic. Do not leave the routes featured in descriptions.
The potential use of private roads, in particular forestry roads and agricultural transport roads, can be subject to legal restrictions, which must be observed and adhered to.
The normal traffic rules apply. Each user (e.g. biker, motorbiker) is responsible for adhering to these rules and maintaining his/her bike/vehicle and its equipment (lights, brakes etc.) in good working order. Each user is also responsible for ensuring that he/she rides at a velocity that is appropriate for the conditions and his/her skill level and for maintaining sufficient distance to the rider in front. We explicitly recommend adjusting velocity to correspond to the respective field of vision, wearing a helmet, using reflective clothing (or similar) and employing bicycle lights in line with regulations.
3.Each tour requires good physical fitness as well as detailed planning. We explicitly recommend only taking the tours in the case of optimal healthiness.
We recommend that you conclude an accident and liability insurance policy. Use an onboard computer that displays the respective kilometres travelled per day and is calibrated for the front wheel.
4.Special for mountain bikers – Fair-play rules:
Mountain biking is one of the most wonderful outdoor leisure-time activities. Whilst biking or on a mountain biking tour, mountains and lakes, meadows and cabins are re-discovered in new ways. A couple of rules for fair play in the forest help to avoid conflicts whilst mountain biking.
a.Pedestrians have the right of way: We are accommodating and friendly to pedestrians and hikers. Upon encountering these fellow travellers, we alert them by using the bicycle bell and slowly overtake them. We avoid paths with heavy pedestrian traffic altogether. Take nature into account: We do not leave refuse behind.
b.The braking distance should be half of the total distance visible: We ride at a controlled pace, are ready to brake and maintain a braking distance half as long as the total distance visible, especially in curves, because we always have to count on obstacles on the path. Damage to the path, stones, branches, wood piles, grazing livestock, cattle grids, barriers, tractor-type forestry machines and authorised vehicles pose dangers that we need to be ready for.
c.Don’t drink and drive!: Do not drink alcohol when mountain biking. Take care at stop-off points (dealing with bike racks, dirty shoes or clothing).
It is obligatory to provide first aid!
d.Marked routes, closed paths and blockades: Keep to the marked routes, observe the blockades and accept that these roads are primarily for agricultural and forestry use!
Blockades can often not be avoided and are in your own interest. Biking beyond the intended path and outside of opening times is punishable and turns us into illegal bikers.
e.We are guests in the forest and behave accordingly, including vis-à-vis forestry and hunting staff. Whilst mountain biking, mobile telephones and music players are forbidden! Biking requires your full attention.
f.Avoid unnecessary noise. Out of consideration to the animals living in the wild, we only bike during full daylight. As a principle, we always wear our helmet (even when riding uphill)! Don’t forget emergency supplies: We always have a repair set and bandages along.
g.Don’t overestimate your skills: We should not overdo it when it comes to biking technique and physical fitness. Take the level of difficulty posed by the route into consideration and make a precise estimate of your experience and skills as a biker (braking, bell, lights)!
h.Close gates: We approach grazing livestock at a walking pace and close every gate behind us. We should avoid causing escape and panic reactions in the animals. Nothing stands in the way of the fun and athletic challenge in the mountains and forests!
i.Traffic rules: The general traffic rules (StVO) apply for all the mountain biking routes and we adhere to them. Our bike therefore needs to be in perfect technical condition and equipped in line with the traffic rules, including brakes, a bell and lights. We inspect and service our mountain bikes regularly anyway.
5.We assume no liability for the contents of external websites; in particular, we assume no liability for their statements and contents. Moreover, we have no influence on the design or contents of the websites to which hyperlinks on www.badischl.at lead or from which hyperlinks lead to www.badischl.at. There is no on-going review of websites to which hyperlinks on www.badischl.at lead or from which hyperlinks lead to www.badischl.at. We do not appropriate the contents of websites to which hyperlinks on www.badischl.at lead or from which hyperlinks lead to www.badischl.at.
Vis-à-vis bloggers
PLEASE OBSERVE:
1. Each of your tour recommendations for hiking, walking, biking and road biking, mountain biking, motorbiking, horseback riding, climbing, cross-country skiing, and going on skiing and snowshoe tours etc., along with other details and information, is free of charge. In particular regarding the correctness of the information, we assume no liability, nor do we assume any liability whatsoever for the consequences of the use of your tour recommendation by a third party (in particular by a user of this website). We do not review the tour recommendations you post, including other details and information, at any time.
We have no intention of concluding a contract with persons who post tour recommendations and/or other details and information on this website. Posting data (information) does not imply that a contract has been concluded.
By recommending a tour, we assume special responsibility vis-à-vis other athletes. Please take this responsibility seriously and describe your tour recommendation with utmost care and to the best of your knowledge and belief.
2.Your tour recommendations must therefore clearly and unambiguously include at least the following criteria and provide a sufficiently detailed description:
• Starting point
• Detailed route description
• Distance/Overall distance
• Level of difficulty
• Dangerous spots
• Average duration of trip
• Change in altitude
• Finishing point.
If possible, please provide the change in altitude.
3.When you post a tour recommendation, you give us the order to save your tour recommendation and/or the details you provide on our website and to make it/them accessible to third parties, in particular to users of this website, in the long term. We reserve the right to block or delete tour recommendations and/or other details and/or information that you post, either partially or entirely, at any time without providing a justification. Should this occur, it grants you no rights whatsoever.
Thank you for your efforts!
4. We are not responsible for the contents of external websites; in particular, we do not assume any liability for their statements or contents. Furthermore, we do not influence the design or contents of websites that can be accessed from www.badischl.at via hyperlinks or that use hyperlinks to refer to www.badischl.at. The websites that can be accessed from www.badischl.at via hyperlinks or that use hyperlinks to refer to www.badischl.at are not regularly monitored. Furthermore, we do not assume any claims to the websites that can be accessed from www.badischl.at via hyperlinks or that use hyperlinks to refer to www.badischl.at.
Interactive elevation profile
Create PDF
Tour-Details
Paths covering: