Explore Hallstatt’s Best Hiking Trails
Hallstatt is more than just a picture-perfect village – it’s also the starting point for some of the most beautiful hikes in Austria. From easy lakeside walks to challenging alpine trails, hiking in Hallstatt lets you see the Salzkammergut from a whole new perspective. I’ve explored many of these paths myself, and each time I discover something different – whether it’s the calm of Lake Hallstatt at sunrise or the thrill of reaching a mountain summit with sweeping views over the Dachstein Alps.
Where to Hike in Hallstatt
In the Hallstatt Dachstein Salzkammergut, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, beautiful places await at every turn. Walking is truly the best way to discover the area. Thanks to its location, Hallstatt is perfectly positioned for all types of tourism — from relaxed lakeside strolls to more demanding alpine adventures. No matter your level, a unique alpine spectacle awaits.
Even Austrian Empress Elisabeth, “Sisi”, loved hiking in this region. She famously required her court ladies to keep up with her on alpine walks, sometimes leading to quite the adventure — though the views and experience were always worth it.
Empress Elisabeth of Austria, better known as “Sisi,” loved hiking, especially in the area around Hallstatt. She required her ladies-in-waiting to be in good shape to keep up with her on hikes in the Alps. In some cases, the ladies were carried by porters. In such cases, it was a terrible experience for everyone else, but the ladies were content.
There are many different routes to choose from around Hallstatt. We have tried to select the most interesting ones for you according to their difficulty. These are trails that have a lot to offer and often thanks to them you will discover the most famous of the Hallstatt area.
Easier hiking to start with
If you’re visiting Hallstatt with family or prefer a gentler walk, there are several easy trails that are perfect for beginners. These pleasant routes allow you to explore the most iconic spots in the area without venturing too high into the mountains.
Panorama Trail Above Hallstatt
For a family-friendly hike, the Panorama Trail is ideal. Less than 6 km long, it offers a chance to discover all the beauties of Hallstatt.
Start at Hallstatt Main Square and pass by the Heritage Hotel. Follow the tourist signposts to Kirchensteig, continue along Gaiswandweg to the viewpoint, then turn onto Kaiser Franz Josef Förderstollen.
Head toward the Rudolfsturm, where you’ll find a cozy tower restaurant with pleasant service and great views.
Panorama trail above Hallstatt
Beautiful view from the terrace. Pleasant and fast service. Acceptable prices.
The only restaurant at the upper station of the cable car at the saltmine. The food is tasty, the service is pleasant and they try very hard to understand each other even in English. I would have expected more typically Austrian dishes (veal steak and potato salad, lamb…), but you still have your choice.
From here, a short walk takes you to the Skywalk Hallstatt, just 2 minutes from the restaurant.
Continue along the signs to Salzwelten, the Chapel of the Stations of the Cross, and finally loop back along Lake Hallstatt.
Echerntal, Waldbachstrub and glacier garden
If you want to look around the Hallstatt, we commend an easy walk to the gorgeous waterfalls. If you only have Hallstatt as a starting point and have arrived by car, we recommend that you look in advance at the best places to park.
A pleasant day trip full of refreshing waterfalls and rapids awaits you. Of course, there are views. And all this without a lot of tourists!
To the Waldbachstrub waterfalls in Hallstatt, I recommend a three-hour hike through the romantic Echerntal. The Echern Valley is not for tourists in a hurry. Take a deep breath and enjoy the nature around you.
From the center of Hallstatt, you can reach the waterfall in about 1.5 hours. I recommend exploring the route more, you can go to the glacier garden, about 30 minutes away from the waterfall.
If you don’t have enough time or just want to take a pleasant walk instead of a day trip, you can just do a short circuit. You can walk to the waterfall on one side of the river and back on the other side.
See map
Hike around Hallstatt lake?
You can actually walk all the way around Lake Hallstatt, and it’s one of the most popular long-distance trails in the area. The full loop is about 23 kilometers and takes roughly 6.5 hours to complete at a steady pace.
What makes it so attractive is the moderate difficulty — the path is mostly flat, with scenic stretches along the shoreline, through forests, and across small villages. It’s ideal for hikers who want to spend a full day immersed in nature without extreme climbs.
If you’re a runner, this trail becomes part of the Hallstättersee Rundlauf — an international running event that draws participants from all over. I’ve run it myself, and trust me, racing around the lake with alpine views in every direction is something unforgettable.
Whether you walk or run, this trail gives you a complete perspective of the lake, the mountains, and the soul of the region.
On the eastern side of the lake, the trail leads through the Ostuferwanderweg. On the west side of Lake Hallstatt you follow the Soleleitungsweg. This is the original 40 km long route. The route around Hallstatt is thus only part of this trail.
Trail for advanced hiking fans
Since it is a high mountain hiking, it is necessary to follow the rules and be well prepared for the hike. We recommend these routes for experienced hikers.
Hiking to Simonyhütte from Hallstatt
First of all, it must be said that it is necessary to be physically prepared for this hike and to have good hiking equipment. This hike can be done in one day, but we recommend staying overnight at the Simony Hut – the most beautiful sunsets and sunrises are here!
Total train time can be up to 10 hours. It will take you through the Echerntal valley past the famous glacier garden to the Wiesberghaus and the Simonyhütte. The hike ends in Obertaun and it is possible to get back to Hallstatt by public transport. Anyway, the route can also be taken in the opposite direction.
The hike first leads along a path that then narrows through the forest and begins to climb until you come to the hut “Tiergartenhütte”. You don’t have to take sides from the lack of clarity, the trail is very well way marked.
On the route you will also pass the so-called “Simony Hut” which is an emergency accommodation that served as a shelter for the great Dachstein researcher Professor Simony. From this hut you are not far from your destination, which you will know, among other things, by how beautiful the views will be in front of you.
Simonyhütte awaits you at the top, where you can spend the night or have a good snack.
Alpine Club Austria – Simonyhütte
- After a beautiful hike, excellent goulash soup and beer.
- Beautiful, clean cabin on the Dachstein. I was pleased with the vegetarian dishes
- Great mountain hut! Great food supply from extremely friendly employees and they bake it themselves. The water supply is somewhat limited due to the self-sufficiency of the hut. But didn’t bother us.
See map
Hiking trail from Hallstatt to the Plassen
This trail is also one of the more demanding ones and the hiker should be prepared for it. The hike is less than 7 km long and it is necessary to count on at least 5 hours of walking. Right at the beginning you will have a rather steep climb up to Salzberg. As this is also the entrance to the salt mines, you will also pass the miners’ huts.
Beyond these huts you will find a forest path that turns sharply upwards towards the Hohen Wasserstollen. It is at this point that the path to the top of Plassen becomes difficult. As you climb up the small saddle, the route passes through sections of forest.
You’ll find here pine trees and scrubland, followed by a rather difficult section. However, this is made easier and secured by metal railings. After crossing this part, endlessly beautiful views await you.
- Trail to Plassen from Salzberg was rocky 2km before peak, but the view was really spectacular. (on Hallstatter see, Hoher Dachstein, etc.) I really recommend Plassen as a trip for people with little physique not for rookies, because some parts are really tough especially the rocky one.
- Beautiful quiet panoramic mountain
🌟 Summary Table
| Difficulty | Route | Distance / Duration | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easy / Family | Panorama + Rudolfsturm circuit | ~6 km / 2–3 h | Lake vistas, Skywalk, cozy tower restaurant |
| Easy / Nature | Echerntal → Waldbachstrub Waterfalls | ~7–8 km / 3 h return | Waterfalls, glacier garden, serene forest |
| Moderate | Hallstatt Lake Loop | ~23 km / 6–7 h | Historic trails, full-lake panoramic views |
| Challenging | Hallstatt → Simonyhütte | ~20–25 km / ~10 h | Alpine hut stay, glacier scenery, elevation |
| Expert / Summit | Hallstatt → Plassen | ~7 km / ~5 h | Technical sections, summit views, secured rails |
You’ll Love Hallstatt If You Enjoy…
- Strolling lakeside trails with breathtaking scenery
- Exploring waterfalls and quiet alpine meadows
- Conquering dramatic mountain terrains and huts
With its abundance of routes—from easy loops to alpine endeavours—Hallstatt hiking delivers unforgettable alpine experiences for every level.
Hallstatt hiking summary
When I explored the trails around Hallstatt, I was amazed by just how many options there were. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced hiker, you’ll find a route that suits you perfectly. Some paths are gentle and peaceful, others are rugged and wild—but each one reveals a different slice of this breathtaking alpine landscape.
What I loved most is that you can combine many of the routes to create your own adventure. One day I followed a lakeside trail, the next I was deep in the forest heading toward waterfalls. It felt like the area was made for walking and discovering—step by step, view by view.
👉 Planning tip: Always carry a map. Personally, I like having both a paper version and a digital one. If you prefer using your phone, I highly recommend the Komoot app. It’s user-friendly and keeps all the maps right at your fingertips—even offline.
🔗 More Hallstatt Adventures You’ll Love
If you enjoyed this guide to hiking in Hallstatt, here are more places I’ve explored and written about — ideal for expanding your trip:
- Skywalk of Hallstatt – Lake and Village from Above – For the best panoramic views right above the village
- Adamekhütte – A Mountain Hut for Thrill Seekers and Nature Lovers – A true alpine experience, perfect for glacier lovers
- Plassen – One of my favorite challenging hikes with epic views from the summit
- Waldbachstrub Waterfall – A beautiful stop tucked away in the Echerntal Valley
- Five Fingers – One of the most exciting platforms in the Dachstein mountains
- Simonyhütte – A great base for exploring the high alpine terrain
- Schneidkogel – A Guide to Hiking and Adventure – Quick climb from Hallstatt with views that blew me away
- Gosauseen – An Unforgettable 4-Day Trip – Lakes, peaks, and charming alpine huts — perfect for multi-day hikes
- Hallstatt Museum – For a deeper look into Hallstatt’s 7,000 years of history
- Viewpoint Hallstatt – Another quiet and scenic spot above the village
- Hallstatt Tourist Information Center – Handy for grabbing maps and asking about the current trail conditions
- Some hiking trails open up as early as April — here’s what it’s like in Hallstatt during that time
- If you’re looking for a full-day adventure with panoramic views, the Hoher Sarstein hike is a must-do.