Hike across Brunnkogel Mountain in the Höllengebirge Range

Hiking Trail to Brunnkogel Mountain in the Salzkammergut

Starting point

Parking lot at Großalm, free of charge. The parking lot is located on the road between Lake Attersee and Lake Traunsee.
 

Description of the hike

Brunnkogel (1,708 m) is a popular peak in the Höllengebirge mountain range in Austria (a subrange of the Salzkammergut). There are several routes leading to the summit; the easiest ascent takes about 2–3 hours from the Taferlklause peat bog, while the route from the Lanbathseen lakes is slightly more challenging.

I leave my car at the Großalm parking lot along the road between Altmünster and Steinbach am Attersee. A marked AV trail leading to the Langbathseen lakes starts right from the parking lot. It’s about a half-hour climb through the forest to the Lueg Pass, then the trail descends to Hinterer Langbathsee. It’s still quiet here in the morning, but the trails around the lakes will soon fill up with day-trippers. The route continues along a wider forest road to the turnoff for the Schafluckensteig and the Hochleckenhaus (marked in black; this is a hiking trail of the highest difficulty level). The path is very rocky, with wooden or stone steps in some places, and soon turns toward the cliff face, along which you climb for about half an hour. The entire section along the cliff face is secured with a fixed rope, but it is not a via ferrata. There are no technical sections; you’ll hardly use your hands at all—just a narrow path. Sure-footedness is essential, and the trail may pose problems for people who suffer from vertigo.  The marked section ends at a wooden shelter with a bench. From there, the trail continues through the forest and across meadows. At about 1,400 m, the forest opens up and the Brunnkogel cross (1,708 m) comes into view. It’s about another half-hour of climbing across meadows and limestone slabs. The cross is made of metal, several meters tall, and is dedicated to those who fell in wars and to the returning natives of the Aurachtal valley. It is divided into several panels, each symbolically depicting traditional local trades (blacksmith, farmer, bricklayer, locksmith…). The view from the Brunnkogel is fantastic—you can see the dwarf pine-covered landscape of the Höllengebirge all around you, with its many rounded peaks; to the east, the Traunstein, Lake Traunsee, and the Voralps; to the south, beyond the Grünalmkogel, you can see the three-peaked Dachstein, the Salzkammergut mountains, and the Tennengebirge in the distance; to the west, the Salzburg mountains and the turquoise-blue Attersee.

From the Höllengebirge plateau, you can choose from many hiking trails that will take you to other peaks and viewpoints. I’m heading over Mathias Kogl (1,668 m) and Hochleckenkogel (1,691 m) toward the Hochleckenhaus hut. Here, you can grab a bite to eat during the season. From the Hochleckenhaus, the most popular trail leads down to Taferlklause (a rocky descent of about 1.5 hours). Taferlklause is a natural landmark featuring a lake; here, too, a small hut serving refreshments is open during the season. The return to the parking lot is a leisurely walk along a forest path beside the Aurach stream, with the final 500 meters or so along the road.
 

Difficulty

A trail with stunning views of the Salzkammergut and the Voralps, featuring the more challenging Schafluckensteig section near the Langbathseen lakes.
 

Water availability

Refreshments are available during the season at the Hochleckenhaus and at the end of the trail at the Taferlklause.
 

Sleeping options

Hochleckenhaus is along the trail; otherwise, it's in the valley—a hiking area with plenty of options.
 

Mountain peaks

Hike to Brunnkogel (1,708 m above sea level) and other peaks in the Höllengebirge, with views of Traunstein, Dachstein, and the Salzkammergut.
 

Danger

The Schafluckensteig climb may be difficult for people who suffer from vertigo, but it is secured with a fixed rope along the wall. 
 

Food

Refreshments are available at the Hochleckenhaus and Taferlklause mountain huts.
 

Attractions

If you’re interested in the area, you can also hike across the Höllengebirge, perhaps using the cable car to Feuerkogel near Ebensee (about 7 hours to the Hochleckenhaus hut). The trails above Attersee—perhaps the bluest lake in Austria—are also beautiful. For example, the route from Steinbach am Attersee via Brennerin, Mahdgupf, and Schoberstein. A challenging via ferrata (A–E) leads to Mahdgupf from a different direction. In winter, there are ski mountaineering and snowshoeing routes from Feuerkogel to the highest peak, Großer Höllkogel.