BergeSeen Trail 17: Bad Aussee - Bad Mitterndorf

The Traun, the main river of the Salzkammergut, has not just one source. It originates with a waterfall above Lake Kammer, which sends the cool water through Lake Toplitz to Lake Grundlsee, from where it flows out as the Grundlseer Traun. The Altausseer Traun bubbles from Lake Altaussee – and then there is also the Kainischtraun which, to make it more complicated, is fed by the Ödensee Traun. The latter can be explored along stage 17, as well as the Steinitzenalm and the Salza, which flows towards you in Bad Mitterndorf.

In the Kurpark of Bad Aussee, pass the Archduke Johann monument towards the geographical centre of Austria. Then cross the confluence of the Altausseer and Grundlseer Traun on the round Mercedes bridge. Beyond, turn left to the parking lot at Untere Pratergasse, then left over the E-Werk bridge and shortly after right at the signpost "Zum Bahnhof" over the E-Werk footbridge. The marked footpath to the station leads slightly uphill to Hugo-Cordignano-Promenade, where you walk south – past the evangelical church. Under the bypass bridge, you reach Bahnhofstrasse, which you cross before Beckbrücke. On Öfnerstraße and Untere Bahnhofpromenade, you reach the bridge that leads left over the Traun to Bad Aussee station (633 m). 30 minutes

Return 200 m towards the centre on Bahnhofstrasse, before the bridge over the Kainischtraun, turn right and take a narrow path to a bridge over which you can cross to Gasthaus Kalßenwirt. Continue along the Traun and follow signs "Ödensee", passing the recycling centre. Then you ascend through forest to a gravel pit and after a short time reach the road leading to Ödensee. On this road, go right after 500 m to the parking lot in front of the gastronomic Gasthaus Kohlröserlhütte at Ödensee (776 m). 2:30 h

If you want, you can walk around the lake in about 45 minutes on a forest road or path sections. However, the Salzkammergut Trail leads from Kohlröserlhütte left over the outlet of the Ödensee Traun and then right on the Ödensee loop trail to the eastern shore, where you turn left to a forest road.

On this road, you reach the old Ödensee road on the left, which you follow right at a fork. Just before the Kainischmoos covered with dwarf pines, turn right to a meadow. Now you always follow the signs "Mühlreith, Karstquellen Strumern". Soon you turn left onto a hiking trail that climbs through forest slopes.

After about 500 m, take the forest road left downhill again, then right into Eiblgraben and there left again. On the right, behind some trees, is a clearing with a small, shallow lake; on the left, a narrow path leads to the nearby karst springs of Strumern. The gravel road finally leads briefly downhill to the houses of Mühlreith (800 m). 1:30 h

There, turn right towards "Steinitzenalm" onto Stiegerangerweg. Where it turns left to the snack station Stieger, continue right on the forest road into the woods. Ascending above the wide trench of Riedlbach, past Riedlmoos and beside Gschwendwiese, after 2 km you reach a fork at Steinitzenalm (995 m), where the Christof'n hut invites you to rest. 0:45 h

From the mentioned fork, go briefly uphill, then turn left and pass the southern edge of the alpine meadow to two further forks. Go straight down into the wooded alpine trench. At the valley floor, turn left onto the flat road (Pulverstampfweg), cross the Salza, and continue to Neuhofen. After passing beneath the railway and bypass, you reach the Kurpark and the centre of Bad Mitterndorf (809 m).

Tourism office in town (Mitterndorferstraße 58). There you also cross the hiking route "From Glacier to Wine". 0:45 h

Note: Train and bus connection (line 950) from Bad Aussee to Bad Mitterndorf (Bad Mitterndorf-Heilbrunn train station).

• In alpine terrain, be aware of the danger of falling rocks.


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


• Due to storm damage, forestry work, or construction measures, some path sections may be temporarily difficult or impassable.


• Cows in the alpine pasture are often curious. Due to the mother cow husbandry, 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 backwards (do not turn your back). Keep dogs on a leash; they must not bark at or chase cows. In case of an attack, you must definitely let go of the leash.

For all stages, you need hiking or mountain shoes with profiled rubber soles as well as wind- and waterproof clothing.

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

Text kindly provided by the KOMPASS publishing house and Wolfgang Heitzmann.

More information at trail.salzkammergut.at