Hike to the front and rear Signalkogel - circular route across the Langbath lakes

Already a small highlight for me in 2023, the hike to the front and rear Signalkogel - circular route via the Langbath lakes. A great tour with beautiful views and a circular hike on top.

The hike to the front and rear Signalkogel actually offers you everything you need for a perfect day. Strenuous sections for the body - leisurely sections to clear your head - fantastic views to enjoy. Suitable for a lovely Sunday outing with the children and also for dogs. You can do this tour all year round on forest paths and forest roads.

Approach to the Signalkogeln

Take the A1 motorway to the Regau exit and then the Salzkammergutstraße in the direction of Gmunden. Approximately at the SEP site, stay in the left lane which leads to Bad Ischl/Ebensee. Continue along the Traunsee via Altmünster to Traunkirchen - here you do not go through the town, but continue through the Geisswand Tunnel. Follow the road for about 5 kilometres, past the small Sonnstein and then turn right at the traffic lights into the main road - at the railway crossing. A little further on, turn right onto Langbathstraße for around 7 kilometres to the Jagerbachl hikers' car park. As there is only parking for 5 - 6 cars here, you can of course also start from the Langbathsee car park further up.

Route description - Hike to the front and rear Signalkogel

Vorderer Signalkogel

I was lucky and was able to start my tour at the hikers' car park - if you want to do the circular route, it doesn't matter where you park. From Jagerbachl, I followed a forest road for 2 kilometres and covered the first 100 metres in altitude. A leisurely start to warm up before the most strenuous part of the hike in my opinion. A steep forest path takes you up another 100 metres for the next 500 metres. Once you've managed that, the great part of this tour follows - switch off, enjoy, recharge your batteries or simply spend time with your loved ones.

First stop: the front Signalkogel, the first highlight of this hike. A summit cross lets you know from afar that you've come to the right place, but the best is yet to come. The view of Lake Langbathsee is the moment that reminds me again and again how beautiful hiking is and why I love it so much. A small bench invites you to take a short break and you should take one with this view. But not too long, as you still have most of the route ahead of you.

Rear Signalkogel

Follow the forest road a short distance back for about half a kilometre and then turn left onto a beautiful forest path, where the trail climbs slightly again. This is also where you cover the last few metres in altitude. Once at the top, you have the rest of the way to the rear Signalkogel, a top view of the front - and also the rear - Langbathsee.

Next stop and also my personal highlight: the rear Signalkogel. We're halfway up and I can only recommend everyone to take a nice break. A sip of water or a cup of coffee, a little refreshment and simply enjoy the view. But the best thing is definitely the self-made summit cross, whoever made it - a big thank you from me 😊. 

From here, there is a 2.5 km descent along beautiful forest paths to the rear lake. You could head straight back from here, but as the Langbath lakes are one of my favourite excursions, I walked around the rear lake and along the front lake back to the car. This route leads along a forest road to the car park - but as I want to talk more about the Signalkogel here, take a look at our blog post for a more detailed description of the way back. Langbathsee circular hiking trail - always ready for a great photo in the Salzkammergut to.

Brief key data

• ✅Highest point 1015 m
• ✅Foreign Signalkogel approx. 905 m
• ✅Hinter Signalkogel about 980 m
• ✅420 metres in altitude
• ✅a distance of 12.5 kilometres
• ✅Duration 3.5 - 4 hours (pure walking time)
• Suitable for children and dogs
• ✅Refreshment stops Langbathsee parlour
• ⚠️Festes Footwear
• ⚠️mit not possible with a pushchair
• ⚠️zum rear Signalkogel - no signposting

⚠️ ATTENTION: We expressly point out that we accept no liability for accidents or possibly closed trails. Before hiking, check the availability of the trail and reflect on your own fitness.

What else awaits you on the Signalkogel tour

You can tackle this tour all year round.

In summer: 

At high temperatures, you're grateful for any chance to cool down. At the end of the hike to the front and rear Signalkogelkogel, you don't necessarily want to get into the car and drive home all sweaty. Here's the perfect solution: pack your swimming gear, get changed at the Langbathsee car park and enjoy cooling off at the front Langbathsee. (Please note that you will have to walk a little further back with your dog, as dogs are not allowed in the front bathing areas)

Refreshment stops: 

Here, too, the solution can be found at the car park at the front Langbathsee - the Langbathsee parlour. Open in summer and winter and highly recommended as a reward after a successful tour.

The current opening hours: Status February 2023

• Mon - Tue 11:00 - 18:00
• Wed - Sat closed
• Sun 10:30 - 18:00

My summary of the hike to the front and rear Signalkogel - circular route via the Langbath lakes

Why is this tour already a 2023 highlight for me? I've only been to the front Signalkogel twice and had heard something about the rear Signalkogel before my first tour, but never found precise directions. The second time I just wanted to try my luck and without knowing the route beforehand, I hoped for good signposting. Unfortunately, nothing came of it - my biggest minus point on this hike. The path from the front to the rear Signalkogel is not signposted at all. There is only one possibility of taking a wrong turn, but as I had absolutely no idea what the route was before, I didn't want to risk it. I had been planning for a long time to find the route myself via Komoot and just try my luck. I was finally able to tick the box for this tour.

I love varied paths and as I'm a hobby photographer, there's nothing better for me than a view like this with a lake. What I always pay a lot of attention to - is it a circular route or is it possible to make one out of it. The hike to the front and rear Signalkogel is a perfect tour for me personally, with everything I want on an excursion. That's why it's already a highlight for 2023.

Here is the tour to follow yourself on Komoot

Do you also like circular hiking trails and have you been bitten by the hiking bug? Then take a look at the Hike to the Hochsteinalm - circular route from Almgasthof Windlegern to.