BergeSeen Trail 20: Gößl - Appelhaus

The 20th stage of the Salzkammergut BergeSeen Trail leads into the high mountains. After a rather steep forest ascent, you reach one of the most beautiful mountain lakes of the region – and the high plateau of the Totes Gebirge. Its eastern part, located between 1,600 m and 2,000 m high, is strongly shaped by the "green karst": between rugged peaks, uniform depressions, and wildly jagged karst rocks, larch groves, dwarf pine fields, and rare alpine plants create green scenery. But one should not be deceived: off the marked path, the terrain is impassable and poses serious dangers.

From the Hofmann guesthouse at the roundabout at Grundlsee, head towards Toplitzsee into the village of Gößl. 150 m after the small church partially clad with wooden shingles, turn left at the signpost "To the Pühringer Hut via Lahngang Lakes" (No. 214). Up past some houses, then right over the village creek and immediately left again. Now you hike on the narrow Breuer-Franzl path through very steep forest slopes ("Hagl") uphill and past a water reservoir. At the Elisabeth-Breuer bench, you already enjoy the deep view to the church, then soon ascend next to a small creek and cross left to a forest road. Above it, it gets a bit slippery. At the junction of the path from Schachen, turn right past the meadow of the Gößler Schwaiber (1,113 m, view to Reichenstein) and over the next two forest roads. After the pasture at Kanzlermoos, the path winds through primeval forest ("lightning strike memorial") up to the Draußengatterl (1,380 m). Behind this rock notch, you briefly descend next to an overhanging wall (steel cable securing), then follow the ascending crossing of very steep slopes cut by debris channels beneath the Grawand (impressive deep view to Vorderbachalm). Finally, the path leads through a hollow behind the little pronounced Schafbühel to the Vorderen Lahngangsee (1,494 m). Its often emerald green water is overlooked on the right by the rugged Neustein (1,870 m), while next to the Graswand the Salzofen (2,070 m) peeks out. In the background, the 2,261 m high Rotgschirr is visible. 2:15 h

The "Ausseerweg" leads left over the lake and the small Lahngang Alm on the northern shore. It is a so-called riding path, laid out in the 19th century for blue-blooded hunters; some stone-stacked passages led like dams through the impassable terrain. On the right lies the Hinterer Lahngangsee in a 100 m deep forest and dwarf pine hollow; after rain, you can even hear the sound of a waterfall there. Between the Salzofen and the pyramid-shaped Elm (2,128 m) rising to the east, you reach the wooden huts in the Elmgrube (1,622 m). 30 minutes

There, you leave the path to the Pühringer Hut on the left (signpost "Am Abblaser – Albert Appel-Haus"). You now hike on path No. 201, a part of the Northern Alpine long-distance path 01, through dwarf pine alleys up to the Abblasbühel (1,860 m). In this saddle under the bare rock Hochkogel (2,091 m), a spring usually flows. After a (often dried up) pond, a path branches left to the 2,062 m high Wildgößl. Its crossing is indeed very rewarding, but requires at least an additional hour of walking. Shorter is the path No. 201 continuing right, which leads through the hollow "In den Wiesen" to the junction of the Grieskar path towards the Almsee. From there you continue left and around the Wildgößl to the meadow pond, which also often appears dry between grass and rocks (the Wildgößl path joins in there again). The path now leads 4 km westward, always gently up and down through partly rocky, partly grassy terrain, overlooked on the left by the Hinterer Bruderkogel (2,031 m) and the Wildkarkogel (1,950 m). On the right, the dwarf-pine green Große Woising (2,064 m) appears. In the distance, the exactly 1,900 m high Redende Stein finally appears, an "echo rock" with a large summit cross. Below it hides the Albert-Appel-Haus (1,660 m) in the Henar forest, an extensive and quite untouched larch stand. The shelter, opened in 1928, belongs to the Austrian Tourist Club, commemorating its founder and first chairman. Incidentally, the very hospitable house is supplied via a 6 km long material cable car. 3:15 h

• In alpine terrain, watch out for the danger of falling rocks.


• Until early summer, you may encounter steep snowfields or firn gullies – especially when icy, there is an acute risk of falling and thus danger to life!


• Due to storm damage, forestry work, or construction measures, individual sections of the path may be temporarily difficult or impossible to pass.


• Cows on the alp are often curious. Due to mother cow rearing, they develop a strong instinct to protect their calves. So move calmly on cow pastures, keep at least 20 m distance from the animals, and never pet calves! In case of threatening behavior (scratching, stamping), slowly walk backward (do not turn your back). Keep dogs on a leash; they must not bark at or chase cows. In an attack, you must definitely let them off the leash.

For all stages, you need hiking or mountain boots with profile rubber soles and wind- and waterproof clothing.

Spare clothes for changing and a small first aid kit should also be in the backpack. How much provisions you pack depends on the number of refreshment options. In any case, you should take enough to drink. Telescopic poles are especially helpful when going downhill.

With kind permission of the text by KOMPASS publishing house and Wolfgang Heitzmann.

More info at trail.salzkammergut.at