S304 Saiherbachalm Alpine Meadow Runde

This varied mountain bike tour begins and ends in Bad Ischl. The loop, which covers an elevation gain of about 655 meters, offers repeated beautiful views of the surrounding mountain landscape and the imperial town. Notable sections include the stretch along the quarry, the rugged trail descent along the Saiherbach, and the final section around the Jainzen. Bicycle paths, forest roads, meadow trails, and challenging trail sections combine to make for a diverse and varied tour.

The tour begins at the tourist information office in the Bad Ischl Trinkhalle. First, we follow the bike path toward Ebensee and Gmunden. After passing the Hartsteinwerk, we carefully cross the state highway and turn left onto an uphill forest road. This is where the longer climb toward the Schneeröselkogel begins. The route passes a quarry and then winds through sections of forest that are at times wild and romantic, yet pleasantly peaceful.

In the past, the tour continued below the Saiherbachalm to a lookout point on the Schneeröselkogel. From there, visitors could enjoy a breathtaking view over Bad Ischl all the way to the Dachstein. A detour to the Saiherbachalm was also possible. However, for hunting and alpine farming reasons, this section will no longer be accessible by bicycle starting in 2026. Please be sure to follow the current route.

The new route therefore leads directly back downhill toward Bad Ischl. For the descent, we’ll take the challenging route along the Saiherbach. The trail is heavily eroded in places and crosses the stream several times via fords. Safe riding technique and good line choice are essential here. The difficulty level of this section corresponds roughly to S2 to S3 on the single-track scale.

After the trail section, the tour leads back to the Trinkhalle in Bad Ischl via forest roads and meadow paths around the Jainzenberg. There are no places to stop for refreshments along the forest roads. Therefore, be sure to bring plenty of drinks and snacks.

In the area of the quarry, you should expect commercial and heavy traffic, especially during regular working hours. Outside these hours, the route is often surprisingly quiet—a unique feature among mountain bike tours in the Salzkammergut. It is precisely this seclusion, the wild and romantic sections along the Saiherbach, and the technically challenging descent that give the tour its distinctive character.