BergeSeen Trail A3: Unterach - Steinbach

Description:
Rising above the southern shore of Lake Attersee, you find the rocky foothills of the Schafberg Massif, which you roam during several ascents of this stage. The first, and most culinarily enjoyable, destination are the huts of the Eisenauer Alm Meadow, above which the ultimate panoramic mountain of the Salzkammergut shows its wild northern face. Additional scenic highlights are promised by the Nikoloweg Trail below the neighbouring, no less rugged Höllengebirge Mountains.

Directions:
From the tourism office at the town hall in Unterach am Attersee (Hauptstraße 9), walk west to the recreation area, where you will find a monument to the inventor Viktor Kaplan and the central information station for the themed trail dedicated to him. Follow this trail in the opposite direction through the Elisabethallee to the bridge over the Seeache (station 11, turbine runner). After the bridge, cross under Seeleitenstraße and walk upstream past the pharmaceutical factory (station 10, small power plant) and after 1 kilometre, turn left onto a street. Further up, the marked route no. 17 to the Eisenauer Alm turns off to the left. Continue briefly along the forest road, and then the route ascends along a good, but ever increasingly steeper forest track (numerous beautiful views of Lake Attersee and Lake Mondsee). Finally, go underneath the power lines and follow a stone track (steps) up to a small saddle on the edge of the Eisenauer Alm Meadow (1015 m). Go right on the meadow road for a short distance to the Buchberg Hut and the Kienberger Hut located just behind it. 2:30 h

 

Back on the gravel road, which leads left to a transmitter after joining with the ascent route – before this, you turn right onto hiking trail no. 16, which once again passes underneath power lines and descends through the forest to the huts of the Oberackeralm Meadow (930 m). Continue along the forest road to the Unterackeralm Meadow (840 m), from which you descend to the right along the narrow Ackerweg path into the Acker Ravine. On the other side, continue along a forest road to the junction of the Valerieweg Trail, which leads up from Unterburgau on the southern shore of Lake Attersee. Take this trail to the right to the nearby meadows of the Moosalm (772 m). There you meet Stage 3 of the Salzkammergut BergeSeen Trail, which you follow to the left – i.e., in the opposite direction. Forest road no. 804 leads over a forest saddle to the Lasseralmbach Stream and – turning left below the former Lasserlam – descends to Unterburgau am Attersee (472 m), where you cross the state highway.

 

On the other side, you turn right onto the bike and footpath which runs alongside the street to Burgau, where the street can be bypassed for a short distance by going left. Afterwards, the route follows the street again and leads over the Weißenbach Bridge to Weißenbach am Attersee (470 m). 2:30 h

 

The last section follows – like Stage 3 of the Salzkammergut BergeSeen Trail – the Nikoloweg Trail, which turns right immediately after Hotel Post (sign “Künstlerweg am Attersee”, trail marker “Steinbach”). Turning left, the trail leads north through the steep, rocky protective forest slopes at the foot of the Höllengebirge Mountains – over a metal staircase and cable-secured sections. Passing the turnoff to the Attersee via ferrata Mahdlgupf, you reach the Brennerriesensteig trail (no. 821), where you turn right. Shortly afterwards turn to the left again into the area above the forestry office at Lake Attersee and continue over to Steinbach am Attersee (509 m) 2:30 h

Tip:
Note: Bus connection (Line 562) from Weißenbach to Steinbach. By ship from Weißenbach to Steinbach – Round-Trip South, www.atterseeschifffahrt.at

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