BergeSeen Trail A3: Unterach - Steinbach

Above the southern shore of Lake Attersee rise the rocky foothills of the Schafberg massif, which you cross on this stage with some uphill effort. The first, also culinarily very rewarding destination is the two huts on the Eisenauer Alm, above which the premier lookout mountain of the Salzkammergut shows its wild north face. Further scenic highlights are promised by the Nikoloweg below the neighbouring, no less rugged Höllengebirge.

From the tourist office at the municipal office of Unterach am Attersee (Hauptstraße 9) you walk west to the recreational area, where at the monument of the inventor Viktor Kaplan is the central info station of a theme trail dedicated to him. You follow this in the opposite direction through Elisabethallee to the bridge over the Seeache (station 11, turbine runner). Then you pass under Seeleitenstraße, walk upstream past the pharmaceutical factory (station 10, small hydropower plant) and then turn left onto a street after 1 km. From this, a signposted route no. 17 branches off a little further up to the Eisenauer Alm. Shortly continue on the forest road, then it goes up on a good but gradually steeper forest path (with repeated beautiful views of Attersee and Mondsee). Finally, pass under the power line and ascend on a stony track (steps) to the small saddle at the edge of Eisenauer Alm (1,015 m). To the right briefly on the alpine road to the Buchberghütte and the Kienbergerhütte behind it. 2:30 h

Back on the gravel road, which after the junction of the ascent route leads left to a transmitter – before that you turn right onto hiking trail no. 16, which again passes under the power line and leads down in the forest to the hut of Oberackeralm (930 m). Then continue on the forest road to Unterackeralm (840 m), from where you descend right on a narrow field path into the Ackergraben. Beyond that on a forest road to the junction of the Valerieweg, which leads up from Unterburgau on the southern shore of Lake Attersee. On this you walk right to the nearby meadow of the Moosalm (772 m). There, you join the 3rd stage of the Salzkammergut BergeSeen Trail, which you follow to the left – i.e. in the opposite direction. The forest road marked no. 804 leads over a forest saddle to the Lasseralmbach and – branching left below the former Lasseralm – down to Unterburgau at Lake Attersee (472 m), where you cross the federal road.

Then turn right onto the bike and footpath running beside the road to Burgau, where you can bypass the road on the left for a short way. Finally, you continue alongside the road and cross the Weißenbach bridge to Weißenbach am Attersee (470 m). 2:30 h The last section runs – like stage 3 of the Salzkammergut BergeSeen Trail – on the Nikoloweg, which branches off immediately right after Hotel Post (sign "Artists' Trail at Attersee", signpost "Steinbach"). Turning left, it leads through steep, rocky protective forest slopes at the foot of the Höllengebirge to the north – via a metal staircase and partly secured. Past the junction of the Attersee climbing path Mahdlgupf you come to the Brennerriesensteig (no. 821), onto which you turn right. Shortly after, turn left again into the area above the forestry office at Attersee and over to Steinbach am Attersee (509 m). 2:30 h

Note: Bus connection (line 562) from Weißenbach to Steinbach. By boat from Weißenbach to Steinbach – Southern circular route, www.atterseeschifffahrt.at

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


• Through early summer, you may encounter steep snowfields or firn gullies – especially during icy conditions, there is an acute risk of falling and thus fatal injury!


• Due to storm damage, forestry work or construction work, individual trail sections may be difficult or impassable at times.


• Cows in the alpine meadows are often curious. Because they are nursing mothers, they develop a strong tendency to protect their calves. Therefore, move through cow pastures quietly, keep at least 20 metres of distance to the animals and never pet calves! In the case of threatening behaviour (pawing, stamping) slowly back away (do not turn your back). Keep dogs on a leash. They must not bark at or chase cows. In the case of an attack, the dog must be released from the leash.

For all stages, you will need hiking or mountain boots with treaded rubber soles as well as wind- and rainproof clothing. A change of clothes and a small first-aid kit should also be included in your backpack. The amount of provisions you should pack depends on the number of available rest stops. In any case, you should always take along plenty to drink. Telescopic poles are helpful, especially when walking downhill.

With kind provision of the text by the KOMPASS publisher and Wolfgang Heitzmann.

Further information at trail.salzkammergut.at