BergeSeen Trail 01: Gmunden - Windlegern/Hochsteinalm

Description:
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