Day 10 – Hallstatt to Bad GoisernHaving visited Austria years ago, I had longed to revisit this beautiful country. What better way to do that than on foot! Fortunately, I had saved several brochures that I collected about the Dachstein region of central Austria quite near to Salzberg. Searching for a trek that our hiking group would enjoy, I reread these pamphlets and the Dachsteinrundwanderweg popped up several times, although all of the detailed trail descriptions were in German. My high school German helped a little and the area appeared to have much to offer, so we decided to focus on the Dachsteinrundwanderweg for this next hike.
The Dachstein Alps are a magnificent combination of giant, craggy, limestone peaks, wildflower-filled meadows, high, rocky plateaus, glaciers, forests, deep blue lakes and ancient smuggling routes. Our path would take us on a circular, counterclockwise tour of the Dachstein. The total mileage would be the shortest of all of our treks at 90 miles, but the landscape and the incredible trail itself more than made up for the shorter trail.
Day 1 – Gosausee to Hofpurlghütte
Day 2 – Hofpürglhütte to Südwandhütte
Day 3 – Südwandhütte to Guttenberghaus
Day 4 – Guttenberghaus to Steinerhaus
Day 5 – Steinerhaus to Steinitzenalm
Day 6 – Steinitzenalm to Staund’uwirt
Day 7 – Bad Aussee to Hallstatt
Day 9 – Bike Ride (Hallstatt to Bad Ischl)
Day 10 – Hallstatt to Bad Goisern