This easy but varied
hike in Ausseerland offers scenic beauty, geological knowledge and culinary highlights. Starting from
Grundlsee, the route follows the Geo-Trail along the southern shore and back along the northern shore on the VIA ARTIS route. The tour ends at the legendary
Toplitzsee, where a fresh arctic char is the crowning glory.
Nature and knowledge trail for the whole family
The Geo-Trail provides children and adults with a vivid insight into the geological formation of the Salzkammergut on 34 display boards. Millions of years old deposits of limestone and dolomite as well as traces of the ice ages and extinct torrents are presented along the route, as are spectacular natural phenomena - including glacial mills and rock formations of the Totes Gebirge.
Route description
The trail begins in
Grundlsee and runs alternately on gravel and asphalt paths to the district of Rößlern, a charming collection of traditional farmhouses. From there, a promenade path leads on to Gaiswinkel.
Turn left at the asphalt road, then immediately right again into the “Kreuz”. At the Amon joinery, take the forest road to the left, above Pension Ladner to the gravel pit with the Austrian Federal Forests' fish farm. Keeping left, the green signposts lead past the Schachner mill to Gößl.
At the traffic circle, continue through the village of
Gößl, past
Gasthof Veit and along a gravel path to
Toplitzsee. The landing stage for the crossing to Lake
Kammersee is located at the fisherman's hut. From the eastern landing stage, it is only a ten-minute walk to the source of the Traun. After returning to the
fishing hut, you can enjoy a well-earned rest with
fish specialties from local waters.
Way back
There are two ways back to Gößl:
- Via the “Reith”, past the memorial stone to Archduke Johann's first meeting with Anna Plochl, on a forest path that later becomes a forest road.
- Or via the “Toplitz-Parcours” along the Toplitzbach stream.
From
Gößl, you can take the
boat back to Grundlsee (May to October). If you prefer to continue on foot, pass the village of Wienern, follow the forest path, then a path along the steep drop of the “Ressen”. The landscape then opens up, the route leads through the floodplain, past farmsteads and down to the lake following the green signs. After a few minutes, you will reach the Seeklause, the starting point of the circular hike.
Tip for families & accessibility
The outward route via the village of Gößl is suitable for baby carriages and wheelchair users. The route runs along well-surfaced paths. For the way back, we recommend either taking the same route or the boat trip to Grundlsee. The south shore path, however, is not suitable for baby carriages and wheelchairs.