Der Hohe Sarstein

The Hohe Sarstein is an impressive panoramic mountain in the Salzkammergut, which rises on the border between Upper Austria and Styria. This challenging mountain tour offers spectacular views of the Dachstein glacier, Lake Hallstatt and the surrounding mountains.

The mountain tour begins at the Pötschen Pass, on trail no. 693. Alternatively, you can also start from Lake Sommersberg or from the parking lot on the Pötschenstraße on the Upper Austrian side above the Pötschenkehre.

Still in the high forest, the trail meets trail no. 691 leading up from Lake Sommersberg, which is well marked and climbs increasingly steeply through the high forest and later through rocky terrain in a steep trench. Rope protections and steps carved into the rock make the most difficult passages easier. After this steep section, the trail runs more comfortably over a saddle between large boulders to the Sarsteinalm, where it joins trail no. 690 coming from the Pötschenkehre.

After the last 200 meters in altitude, the summit cross of the Hoher Sarstein is reached. An impressive panorama opens up here: the north side of the Dachstein with the Hallstatt glacier seems close enough to touch, deep below lies Lake Hallstatt in the shade, while the wide Ausseerland with Lake Altaussee, Grundlsee and Bad Aussee stretches out to the east. In the background, the chalk-white mountains of the Totes Gebirge rise into the sky.

Descent options

Short variant via the Sarsteinalm: The descent is via the Sarsteinalm (trail no. 690). After refreshments at the hut, the trail leads via the Simony view to the Pötschenstraße. From here it is about 2.5 kilometers back to the pass, which should be taken into account when planning the tour.

Crossing to Obertraun: The royal tour on the Sarstein is the crossing over the Sarstein ridge with subsequent descent to Obertraun (trail no. 692). However, this route is very demanding in terms of fitness. In total, the difference in altitude to Obertraun is 1,460 meters, with the steep serpentines in the last section in particular posing a major challenge to the leg muscles.

The approximately three-kilometre-long mountain ridge leads south, always with the majestic Dachstein glacier in view. The route offers breathtaking and sometimes dizzying views of the Koppental valley, Lake Hallstatt and the deeply carved valleys in the surrounding area.

After the exertions of the descent, the destination in Obertraun is a well-deserved rest stop. You then return to Bad Aussee by train.
 

• Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB)
• www.busbahnbim.at

In front of the road maintenance depot on the Pötschenhöhe there are some parking spaces. From there the hike can be started directly. 

Tourist office Ausseerland Salzkammergut
Information office Altaussee
Fischerndorf 61
8992 Altaussee
+43 3622 716 43
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