Traunstein

Character:
Challenging mountain tour on an exposed but well-secured path. A head for heights and surefootedness are necessary; do not walk in wet and snowy conditions!

The rocky outcrop above Lake Traunsee, visible from afar, has attracted people from early times. Emperors Maximilian and Franz Joseph used to hunt on its steep flanks. In the 19th century, the first tourists ventured to its summit, including the poet Nikolaus Lenau.

Like the travel writer Joseph August Schultes, who felt "green and yellow before his eyes" during a climb, many mountaineers still feel the same way today: even the easiest of the three marked climbs is exposed and secured.

In return, you can enjoy a fantastic panoramic view at the top - and the luxury of two excellent mountain huts. From the car park, you can either take the tarmac forest road or the narrow path on the right to the Moaristidl snack station and along the lakeshore to the south.

Both routes join before the first of the two ascending tunnels through the Traunstein west face, through which you reach the bridge over the Lainaubach. Follow the gravel road up through the valley and straight ahead past a junction.

Shortly afterwards you reach the rest area at the "Kaisertisch". If you continue along the road, you will reach the Mairalm after a few minutes. The Traunsteinweg trail (no. 412) branches off to the left at the Kaisertisch, leads over the mostly dry stream bed and crosses a gully, then winds its way up steep forest slopes.

Further up, the view becomes clear and you reach the "Bründl", the only spring on the Traunstein, in a scree gully. Keeping to the left, you come to very steep rocky terrain; the exposed passages at the "Kette" are, however, well secured.

You reach the edge of the undulating summit plateau. To the left, a worthwhile detour leads to the Traunkirchner Hütte on the Traunkirchnerkogel in just a few minutes, to the right to the Gmundner Hütte on the Fahnenkogel and on to the large summit cross of the Traunstein. Descent on the same route.


Rest stops:
Mairalm, Traunkirchner and Gmundner Hütte.