European nature reserve

Gosau, Oberösterreich, Österreich

All weather
Suitable for groups

The Dachstein glacier is the highest mountain in Upper Austria at an altitude of almost 3,000 metres above sea level. At the same time, it is the prominent centre of a unique and sensitive alpine karst landscape, which enjoys the status of a European nature reserve.

The Dachstein Glacier

A total area of 13.300 hectares on the northern, Upper Austrian side of the Dachstein is under protection. Whoever walks through this area will find different landscapes depending on the altitude.

In the extensive forest areas of the lower regions of the protected area, coniferous forests of spruce, fir and larch dominate, about 1.200 metres above sea level. The closer the tree line gets, the more the Swiss stone pine begins to gain the upper hand in the forest. Beyond 1.900 metres more and more mountain pine bushes, alpine roses and other shrubs take over the alpine terrain.

In the increasingly rocky terrain, a very impressive mountain vegetation with numerous alpine flowers has established itself under these extreme living conditions. The karstic plateau below the Dachstein peak, with it is sinkholes, erratic blocks, moraines and cart fields, is an exceptional example of a high alpine landscape cut out of the limestone by the glaciers. The Dachstein with its existing glaciers ultimately towers above it as the highest region of the protected area.

Dachstein Caves

The cave systems of the Dachstein massif are the underground proof of the enormous creative power of water and ice. The Mammoth Cave, the Giant Ice Cave and, in the valley area in Obertraun, the Koppenbrüller Cave, through which water still actively flows, have been adapted for visitors.

Experience a 360° panorama tour through Gosau valley…

Opening hours

always open (24/7)
open to the public

Arrival

Elevation

767 m

Accessibility / arrival

by car
from Salzburg:
Motorway exit Golling via B162 Abtenau and B166 to Gosau

from Linz:
Motorway exit Regau on Salzkammergut street B145 towards Gmunden and Bad Ischl to Bad Goisern, in Bad Goisern turn right onto B166, at the Gosaumühle junction turn right towards Gosau

from Vienna/Graz:
Motorway exit Liezen on the B320, in Trautenfels turn on Salzkammergut street B145 to Bad Aussee, turn on Koppen street through Obertraun and Hallstatt, at the Gosaumühle junction turn left towards Gosau

from Villach:
Tauern motorway to exit “Eben im Pongau”, via the B166 Pass Gschütt federal road to Gosau

by train
Attnang-Puchheim - Steinach-Irdning lines
Arrival by train in "Steeg / Gosau" then continue with bus 542 in the direction Gosausee

By bus
Bus 470 (Abtenau - Gosau) direction Gosau, stop Gosau Abzw. Pass Gschütt
Bus 542 (Bad Ischl - Gosausee) direction Gosausee, stops Haltestelle: Gosau Klaushof, Gosau Bärnausiedlung, Gosau Ressenbachweg, Gosau Vordertal B166, Gosau Ramsau B166, Gosau, Gemeindeamt, Abzw. Pass Gschütt, Hauptstraße, Gosau Wirtsweg, Gosau Leitenweg, Gosau Schüttmannweg, Mittertal b. Gosau Ort, Mittertal, Hornspitzlift, Hintertal b. Gosau Falmbach, Hintertal b. Gosau Mühlradl, Hintertal b. Gosau Ort, Hintertal b. Gosau Madlgasse, Hintertal b. Gosau Schmiedweg, Hintertal b. Gosau Freilichtmuseum,Hintertal b. Gosau Zwieselalmbahn (Panoramajet), Hintertal b. Gosau Gosaukammbahn

Detailed information on the respective train and bus times can be found at https://www.oebb.at/en/ (train) and https://www.postbus.at/en(bus).