BergeSeen Trail 01: Gmunden - Windlegern/Hochsteinalm
4810 Gmunden
Long but easy hike on lightly trafficked side roads in the urban area, forest roads, forest paths, and meadow trails. Before Neukirchen and the stage destination, you encounter two steeper, slippery descent sections after rain that require sure-footedness.
Recommended season:
- April
- May
- June
- July
- August
- September
- October
- Multi-stage route
- Refreshment stops available
The start of the Salzkammergut BergeSeen Trail is actually a “blue” route. On flat or gently ascending streets and paths, it leads out of the city of Gmunden, and even around the friendly market town of Altmünster, the slopes remain consistently moderate. The description “moderate” only refers to a short descent section before the village of Neukirchen and especially to the last descent, which gives a foretaste of the more alpine sections of the long-distance trail. You can also look forward to the scenic beauty of the Salzkammergut – for example, the view over Lake Traunsee (with the famous Castle Ort) towards the mighty Traunstein, crossing a small gorge in well-kept farmland, and the sight of the rock faces of the Höllengebirge and to Traunstein.
Directions:You start at Rathausplatz in the city center of Gmunden, directly in front of the beautiful Town Hall. Via Franz-Schubert-Platz, you reach the right to the Esplanade, where you walk alongside the shore of Lake Traunsee – with a magnificent view of Castle Ort and the Traunstein.
Along the way, you pass the spa park, the Baumgartner Confectionery, the yacht club, and the Lehenaufsatz recreational area. Then you continue along Dr.-Franz-Thomas-Straße for another 150 m until you cross the roadway at the signage for the Salzkammergut Cycle Path to the right – direction “Seewalchen/Pinsdorf” – at the pedestrian crossing. Across the street, you reach Franz-Reisenbichler-Straße, from which you immediately turn left back onto Pensionatstraße. At the following fork, continue left on the narrow Mitterweg and after about 300 m turn right up Johann-Nepomuk-David-Weg. At the top, you again reach Pensionatstraße, where you cross the Gmunden bypass road on the left.
Then turn right onto Württembergstraße, past Volksbank Arena to Hotel Wildschütz. Shortly after, turn right at the “SOS Children’s Village” sign, through the forest to a junction, and then left into the SOS Children’s Village (500 m). On Kinderdorfstraße, first go left, then right towards the administrative building, which you circle on the right. In front of it begins a narrow gravel path leading straight into the forest. There turn left towards “Altmünster” and before the Sunday Ranch turn right onto a scenic meadow ridge. Some deciduous trees mark where you turn left to follow the “Altmünster Theme Trail” (information boards) down to Harstubenweg.
Follow this to the right. On the subsequent Lindenstraße, you reach Münsterstraße, which leads left to the Parish Church of Altmünster (442 m). 1:30 h Note: From Gmunden (Rathausplatz), you can also take a boat to Altmünster.
Now the BergeSeen Trail leads right up Marktstraße. After 450 m, turn left onto Bahnhofstraße – from thereon, follow the signs for “Grasberg”. After 100 m turn right onto Stücklbachstraße. Soon it goes up a footpath between forest and settlement and under the railway bridge. Behind it, on the left, begins the enchanting forest gorge of Stücklbachgraben. The path ascends next to small waterfalls to a junction. Staying left in the shady canyon to the next fork, then left over the wooden bridge to the other side of the valley. There, you reach an asphalt road, where you walk right uphill following the “Grasberg” signs.
At the next junction, keep right. Passing a farm, you enter the area around Miedlhof. There, left towards “Grasberg” to a house and before it right following the “Reschenwirt” sign on a meadow path up to a farm. Then right and before the garages left across the meadow to the nearby farm road, where you go left to ascend the scenic meadow crest of Grasberg 26. At the top, before a farm, turn right onto the signed “Reschenwirt Circular Path”. This leads over the flat meadow ridge to the guesthouse Reschenwirt (743 m).
From there, follow the signs for hiking trail 1 towards Neukirchen. A short descent on the road and next to a house hedge turn left over a meadow to a farm track (high voltage line). Follow this to the right and at the next junction left to Graminger farm. On country roads and driveways, cross the southern slopes until a narrow path leads over a meadow down into the forest. There, turn left and steeply downhill until a sign by the forest edge points sharply right. Over a small ditch, you reach another farm. On its access road down into the valley and then right on the main road to Neukirchen (743 m). 1:45 h
From the square in front of the church, follow the signs “Viechtauer Heimathaus, Windlegernweg” and go up to the next fork. From there, right onto Kalvarienberg (signpost “Windlegern”). In the steep section above Kalvarienberg church, turn left, after a tall sequoia, turn right twice. Then continue on the gravel road past a “wishing tree” and through the forest slopes of Kollmannsberg uphill. Higher up, turn right and walk downhill again. Finally, the Salzkammergut Trail follows the left-turning and soon steeper hiking trail through light forest to the well-known Almgasthof Windlegern (816 m). 1:15 h
Variant to Hochsteinalm: On a road southwards to a chapel and the forest edge, then left uphill to a forest road, which continues to the left to a signpost after about 1 km. Straight ahead the road leads to Hochsteinalm (25 minutes, overnight stay possible, closed Mondays and Tuesdays).
Tip:Note: Bus connection (line 522) from Gmunden (bus station in Habertstraße behind the parish church) to Neukirchen.
Note: From Gmunden (Rathausplatz), you can also take a boat to Altmünster.
- In alpine terrain, beware of the danger of falling rocks.
- Until early summer, you may encounter steep snowfields or firn crevices – especially with ice, there is acute risk of falling and life danger!
- Due to storm damage, forestry work, or construction measures, some sections of the trail may be temporarily difficult or even impossible to pass.
- Cows in the alpine pasture are often curious. Because of mother cow husbandry, they develop a strong instinct to protect their calves. So move calmly in cow pastures, keep at least 20 m distance from the animals, and never pet calves! In case of threatening behavior (scraping, stamping), slowly walk backwards (do not turn your back). Dogs must be on a leash; they may not bark at or chase cows. In case of an attack, you must let the dog off the leash.
For all stages, you need hiking or mountain boots with profiled rubber soles as well as wind- and rainproof clothing.
Change clothes and a small first aid kit should also be in your backpack. How much provision you pack depends on the number of dining options. In any case, you should take enough to drink. Telescopic poles are especially helpful when going downhill.
Additional information:With kind permission of the text by the KOMPASS publisher and Wolfgang Heitzmann.
More information at trail.salzkammergut.at
Paths covering:
further information:
- Multi-day tour
- Board possible
Getting there
From the motorway: Exit Regau-B 145 towards Bad Ischl – through the center of Gmunden
Parking
Parking spaces: 129
Garage parking spaces: 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/
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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.
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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.
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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.
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