Rettenbachalm to Blaa Alm and Altaussee

Distance: 18.1 km (8.4 km to Rettenbachalm, 13.4 km to Blaa Alm )
Walking time: 2 hours 30 minutes - Rettenbachalm;
4 hours 15 minutes - Blaa Alm; 5 hours 45 minutes - Altausee
Difference in altitude: 470 m ascent, descent 210 m
Trail conditions: partly asphalt, mostly gravelled, some steps,
in winter the route is Rettenbachalm - Blaa Alm impassable

This long hike starts by crossing the River Traun on the Kreuzersteg and follows the river downstream before passing under the railway line to Kochstraße. This goes up hill to Dr-Sterz-Straße to a hillock with a natural wooded area called Sterzens Abendsitz. Walk straight ahead downhill to Rosenkrangasse (Bus Stop)

To descend go straight ahead to Rosenkranzgasse (Bus stop). Take the right wider road. Cross the Rettenbach (brook) and go slightly uphill to the last houses in the hamlet of Hinterstein. Soon the asphalt road ends and the trail enters the Rettenbachtal (Rettenbach Valley) on a gravel road. Follow this road for 6 km, rising slightly all the way to the large open pastures of the Rettenbachalm. This road is used by cyclists but there is little traffic. At the Rettenbachalm there are places to stop for refreshment. Follow the trail straight ahead through the pasture (in winter used for cross country skiing), up a short slope to a crossroads. Take the right road through a narrow valley before reaching the remains of an old logging dam, once used for transporting wood used by the salt works in Bad Ischl.
Attention: The road at this point is wide, but exercise caution when viewing the dam due to the risk of falling into the waters of the Rettenbach!
From here the trail to Blaa Alm is easy to find. Go through a tunnel and follow the slightly ascending forest road along the stream. Finally the road leaves the forest and is initially very steep before coming into the open fields of Blaa Alm. (Here the yellow signs end) Then follow the signs to Altausee on a slightly sloping downhill route.