Mountain bike tour "The Path of Salt". Stage from Obertraun to Bad Ischl

On the trail of salt mining

The "Salt Trail" bike tour is a rewarding experience if you are interested in industrial culture, nature and the history of salt mining and processing. It connects historic places, such as salt flats and brine pipes, with the natural landscape and offers a unique way to explore the region.

For centuries, Lake Hallstatt and the Traun River were the only way to transport the salt mined in Hallstatt. It was not until the 17th century that clever inventors came up with the idea of transporting the liquid salt, the so-called brine, through hollowed out tree trunks for further processing in the salt works in Ebensee. This is how the "oldest pipeline in the world" was created. This runs on the other, western side of the lake above the famous lake town.

From the Salzkammergut to the Czech Republic

The entire route over 300 kilometres leads from Altaussee to Budweis in the Czech Republic. In the following description, we have concentrated on the stage between Obertraun on Lake Hallstatt and the spa and imperial town of Bad Ischl. Our tip: the best way to get there is with the trains of the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB). It's stress-free and convenient. The local trains have an extra compartment for bicycles.

Here we go

We then start our tour at the train station in Obertraun on Lake Hallstatt. We follow the yellow signs "Ostuferwanderweg". On this path, which is also a cycle path in places, you walk along the lake to the Hallstatt train station.

The route leads along the lake and always offers new perspectives on the clear water and the impressive mountain scenery. In addition, the shore trail is also suitable for families with children and offers many opportunities for breaks and experiences. This trail is known for its beauty and the ability to cross a suspension bridge over the deepest part of the lake.

For all those who feel like a good snack, we recommend a short detour to the excursion restaurant "Seeraunzn". This is located directly on the lake and only a few meters from the bike course.

Our tour then takes us past the beautiful lake landscape to the Bad Goisern district of "Steeg" and "Au". If you want, you can also make a culinary detour to the "Steegwirt" inn. A traditional fixed point in the Salzkammergut.
Detour to the Chorinsky-Klause

On the cycle path with the number it then continues through Bad Goisern on Lake Hallstatt in the direction of "Weißenbachtal". Here we leave the given cycle path and make a detour into the wildly romantic valley with its Chorinsky hermitage. The building is a technical monument from a time when the timber and salt trade was of extreme importance for the Salzkammergut.

Combined with a hike or a bike tour, the wooden drift facility is one of the sights of Bad Goisern that you have to experience!

After the detour through the picturesque Weißenbachtal in Bad Goisern, we continue our mountain bike tour along the Traun to the pilgrimage town of Lauffen. Centuries ago, the salt mined in the Hallstatt mine was "shipped" across the Traun to the whole of Europe on wooden salt ships. One of the most difficult sections was the dangerous bottleneck near Lauffen, the so-called "Wilde Lauffen". For that time, it was always a risky maneuver.

Only a few kilometres separate us from the destination of our tour, the spa and imperial town of Bad Ischl. The former summer residence of Emperor Franz Joseph II and his world-famous Empress Sisi forms the end point of our "Cycle Tour on the "Path of Salt". In the numerous guest gardens of the Traun metropolis we can then end the eventful day with a good snack.

Note: Of course, you can also do the tour to the Chorinsky-Klause without a detour to the Weißenbachtal. Then the travel time is reduced by about 2 hours. Whatever you decide, we wish you an eventful bike tour on the "Path of Salt".

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