Salzkammergut long distance hiking trail - )c= Kraft

BergeSeen Trail Stage 33

© Elke Rabeder | Elmsee mit Pühringerhütte | Wandern und Wanderwege im Salzkammergut: Fernwanderwege &  Weitwanderwege “BergeSeen Trail“ bei einem Urlaub in Österreich.

From Gößl to the ‘Vorderer’ Lake Lahngang (1 ½ hours)

From the church in Gößl am Grundlsee, the route begins along the street heading east, then turns left and leads to the edge of the forest, where a narrow marked trail begins. The trail ascends through the trees to a forest road. The route then crosses the road and soon meets the broad ascent trail arriving from Schachen, which is the normal path to the Pühringer Hut. The trail continues along level terrain to the meadows of the Schwaiber Alm, where the path to the Gößler Alm turns to the left. Our route continues straight ahead and after crossing two forest roads, reaches the Kanzlermoos Moor, a swampy alpine meadow. After a short ascent, the trail crosses the steep slopes of the Graswand and arrives at the hills of the Schafbühel. From this point, the route lightly descends to reach the beautifully situated ‘Vorderer’ Lake Lahngang (1498 m). 

From the ‘Vorderer’ Lahngang Lake to the Elmgrube (1 hour)

The trail leads to the left of the lake directly along the shoreline until reaching the far end of the lake. The route then lightly ascends and arrives at the old huts of the Lahngangalm Meadow. The trail continues to ascend, and the shimmering green of the ‘Hinterer’ Lake Lahngang quickly comes into view. From this point, it isn’t far to the Elmgrube, where several alpine huts as well an impressive hunting lodge are located. The trail to the Albert Appelhaus Hut via the Abblaser Mountain turns here to the left.

From the Elmgrube to the Pühringer Hut (1 hour)

The route ascends in a north-easterly direction along a beautiful hiking trail through a sparse forest until arriving at the ‘Kleines Windloch’, a strongly ventilated shaft cave to the left of the trail which is worth seeing. Our route continues in the same direction, finally descending to Lake Elmsee and arriving soon after at the Pühringer Hut.

Many prominent figures have explored this region: nobles like Archduke Johann and Empress Elisabeth, scientists such as Friedrich Simony, poets and authors like Nikolaus Lenau, painters like Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller, musicians and composers such as Johannes Brahms. Did they ever think that hiking in the Salzkammergut might have no end? That they could tramp from one lake to the next and then onward to yet another? Day by day along the shores of crystal-clear waters? Week-long excursions through quiet valley forests, over sunny alpine meadows and up mountains fuelled by the anticipation of the next destination? Further information…


Tips: Hiking in autumn

Autumn is here! Hooray! The most beautiful hiking season of the year! However, there are a few things you should keep in mind when hiking, especially at this time of year.

  • Plan tours properly.
  • Start early. Especially for high alpine hikes.
  • Attention: It gets dark early!
  • If you are staying overnight in a hut, register in good time by telephone.
  • Do not miss the last cable car ride down the mountain when on mountain tours.
  • Information on the current operating times of the cable cars in connection with a hike can be found below under "Information at a Glance".
  • Check snow conditions. Because at this time of the year the first snow can already fall in the high mountains.
  • We have summarised further important safety tips below.
  • We wish you an unforgettable hiking autumn in the Salzkammergut.

Your editorial team

Safety Tips for Hikers

Admittedly, the landscape of the UNESCO World Heritage region of Hallstatt Dachstein Salzkammergut is the absolute pinnacle for hiking fans, mountain enthusiasts and nature lovers—unforgettable tours to incredibly beautiful mountain lodges and meadows, panorama views as far as the eye can see and cherished moments that will last a lifetime! However, you should remember that while hiking you might find yourself in high-alpine terrain. We’ve put together some resources to assist you: how to best prepare for your tour, recommended items for your backpack and steps to take in an emergency situation. Remember to always play it safe and enjoy your hiking adventure in the Salzkammergut!

Warning: Closed trails
Better to know before you go

Hiking trails in the Salzkammergut can be closed for various reasons. To help you prepare for your hike, we have set up a page with current road closures in the region. This will help you get to your destination without any detours or stress. Click here to visit the page...

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