Hiking in Upper Austria ranges from the Buchensteig, just under ten kilometers long and following old logging paths, to the 200-kilometer Luchs Trail. There are also mountain trails, viewing platforms and panoramas that, on a clear day, stretch far across lakes and peaks. You can experience different sides of the landscape on foot along historic paths, on a challenging long-distance trail or on a mountain railway ride.
Mountain Trails and Views
The Feuerkogel plateau lies at an elevation of 1,600 meters. It offers many hiking opportunities, two viewing platforms and, on a clear day, a 360-degree view of the Dachstein and the lake region. The Karst and Doline Adventure Trail is another of the experiences at Feuerkogel; a dwarf pine maze gives it a distinctive landscape theme.
The SchafbergBahn offers a different perspective: it has run from St. Wolfgang up to the Schafberg since 1893. Over 5.85 kilometers, it climbs 1,190 meters in elevation in about 35 minutes, reaching the Schafberg summit. On a clear day, the 360-degree panorama takes in the lakes of the Salzkammergut and the Alpine foothills, including Wolfgangsee, Irrsee, Mondsee, Fuschlsee and Chiemsee.
The Buchensteig Wilderness Trail is just under ten kilometers long and follows old logging paths. The Luchs Trail is on a completely different scale: it connects Upper Austria, Styria and Lower Austria, covering 200 kilometers, with eleven challenging stages and 10,000 meters of elevation gain. The term “challenging” refers to the Luchs Trail stages.
Protected Areas and Cave Worlds
In southeastern Upper Austria, Kalkalpen National Park covers an area of almost 21,000 hectares. The Buchensteig follows old logging paths through this landscape.
There are three cave systems near Obertraun. The Giant Ice Cave and the Mammoth Cave are close to the middle station of the Dachstein-Krippenstein cable car. The Dachstein Giant Ice Cave contains huge cave glaciers, icebergs and ice chapels.
Culture Between Salt History and Media Art
The Hallstatt-Dachstein/Salzkammergut cultural landscape has developed continuously over 2,500 years. From the very beginning, it was linked above all to the economic history of salt mining. The remains of the pile dwellings on Lake Attersee and Lake Mondsee are also part of the UNESCO World Heritage site “Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps.”
In Linz, culture connects with the present and the future: since 2014, the city has held the title “UNESCO City of Media Arts,” making it part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. The annual Ars Electronica Festival brings artists, researchers and scientists to Linz for talks, workshops, exhibitions and symposia. For children aged four to eight, the Kids’ Research Laboratory at the Ars Electronica Center offers opportunities to tinker, make music, draw, program and experiment.
The history of the Danube Limes can also be experienced in different ways, for example by bike along the Danube Cycle Path or on foot along the Danube Trail. Other cultural highlights in Upper Austria include the small fort at Oberranna, the fort at Schlögen, the Schlossberg fortifications in Linz and the remains of the Lauriacum legionary camp in Enns. At the Schwarz Jew’s Harp and Accordion Experience World, visitors can learn what goes into making a Jew’s harp and how the instrument has changed over time.
Practical Information
The Freizeit-Ticket OĂ– is a day pass valid across the entire regional public transport network in Upper Austria, including trains, buses and trams. Check the current fares and validity conditions before traveling. When choosing accommodation, you can focus on the experiences that will shape your trip, such as hiking trails, cultural heritage or what Linz has to offer.
Discover More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Wolfgangsee, Gmunden, Vöcklabruck, Schärding, Braunau Am Inn, Kirchdorf An Der Krems, Steyr-Land, Wels-Land, Linz-Land, Perg, Urfahr-Umgebung, Freistadt, Eferding, Rohrbach, Grieskirchen, Ried Im Innkreis, Lichtenbuch, Mairhof and Kirchberg Ob Der Donau.
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