Obertraun Between Caves, Mountains and Lake

In Obertraun, cave attractions, mountain trails and Lake Hallstatt offer different options for planning your day. You can focus on a guided cave tour, a hike on the Krippenstein or some time by the lake.

Caves and Geological History

The “Journey Through Geological History” trail runs for 550 metres from the Schönbergalm cable car station to the Mammoth Cave and showcases 550 million years of geological history. The caves themselves also offer different insights: on guided tours, visitors can walk through about one kilometre of the more than 70 kilometres of explored passages in the Mammoth Cave. The Dachstein Giant Ice Cave route connects the “Ice Palace,” the “Parsival Dome” and the “Great Iceberg.” This ice formation is more than nine metres high; the cave experience also includes a suspension bridge and a light and sound show.

Guided tours of Koppenbrüller Cave reveal a different natural phenomenon: in the Simony Hall, a dry streambed can turn into a raging torrent within just a few minutes during snowmelt or after heavy rainfall. The cave entrance is about a 15-minute walk from the “Koppenrast” inn at the edge of Obertraun, along a comfortable trail beside the Traun River.

Hiking Trails on the Krippenstein and in Koppenwinkel

The Dachstein-Krippenstein cable car runs to the Ice Cave, the Mammoth Cave and the cave museum on the Schönbergalm. Take the first and second sections to reach the Krippenstein at an altitude of 2,108 metres. From there, the walk to the 5fingers viewing platform takes about 25 minutes after the cable car ride. Cable car schedules vary by season and may change, so check the latest operating information before planning your trip. You should also take the mountain conditions into account.

The Heilbronn Circular Hiking Trail offers views of the Dachstein massif and ends at the Gjaidalm. In the valley, the Obertraun themed trail runs to Koppenbrüller Cave and continues through Koppenwinkel to the Koppenwinkelalm. Woodland and meadow paths run partly along the Sarstein slopes, while other stretches cross meadows, forests and floodplains; benches along the way invite you to rest. On the hike through the Dachstein Hiking World on the Krippenstein, 20 signposted stops at just under 2,000 metres above sea level tell the story of how this unique landscape formed. The trail is considered suitable for the whole family.

Koppenwinkel, the Lake and Seasonal Activities

Koppenwinkel Lake is surrounded by green floodplain forest, and the lake and surrounding area have been a nature reserve since 1978. In winter, a cross-country ski trail runs through the Koppenwinkel nature reserve. Snow and trail conditions vary by season, so check them before planning a winter visit. Swimming is possible at Obertraun’s sunny beach, in the warmest bay of Lake Hallstatt. For a beach visit, it is worth checking the relevant seasonal and facility information.

The walking times can also help you plan your day: the roughly 15-minute walk to Koppenbrüller Cave starts at the “Koppenrast” inn and leads to the cave entrance. By contrast, the roughly 25 minutes to the 5fingers viewing platform come after the cable car ride. These are different sections of the journey, not comparable total times for an excursion.

Cultural Landscape and Places to Eat

The region around Hallstatt and Obertraun is considered a cultural and natural heritage site of the highest international standing. The geological history trail and the landscape along the high-altitude trails offer different perspectives on the region: one tells the story of its formation, while the other opens up views of the Dachstein massif. At Dachstein in the Salzkammergut, there are places to eat serving regional specialities.

Discover more destinations: Gschwandt, Vorchdorf, Neukirchen, Grünau Im Almtal, Rindbach, Bad Ischl, Traunkirchen, Kogl

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