Hike up the Großer Sonnstein - a fantastic view of Lake Traunsee

The hike up the Großer Sonnstein is a perfect tour if you need to get there quickly. Short, but crisp. In just under 3.3 kilometres, you cover around 600 metres in altitude. Once you reach the summit, you are rewarded with a wonderful view of Lake Traunsee and, as the cherry on the cake, you don't normally have to expect crowds of people here.

This year was my first time on the Großer Sonnstein and what can I say, it's a love-hate relationship between the two of us. First of all, it's one of my favourite mountains. A great forest path over hill and dale awaits you, in contrast to the small Sonnstein, you get much more peace and quiet here and the view at the summit is simply wonderful. A view of Lake Traunsee with a mountain backdrop. But why this love-hate relationship? Quite simply because I always underestimate it, and I tend to forget that 600 metres in altitude over 3.3 kilometres is quite a challenge. The hike up the Großer Sonnstein makes me despair every single time, but at the summit cross everything is forgotten again.

Directions and parking facilities

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 that 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. Just a few metres further on, there are a few parking spaces on the right-hand side. But be careful, some of them are only for visitors to the petrol station and are only intended for short stops.

Route description for the hike up the Großer Sonnstein

At the beginning, you walk a short distance, about half a kilometre along the road through Ebensee. Pass the Museum - Encounter, History & Culture and the Resistance Museum Association - Concentration Camp Memorial. A little further uphill and then you are already at the right start. From here it gets pretty tough. In 3.3 kilometres, you cover 600 metres in altitude. There is little room for flat and relaxed sections on the hike up the Großer Sonnstein. The majority of the route takes you along a beautiful forest path. Over hill and dale. Every now and then you are rewarded with a wonderful view of Lake Traunsee. 

The best comes at the end, of course. Now it gets really steep again. Some people's strength is already a little exhausted and their legs are a little sore. But don't panic, it's not far now. Half a kilometre and a rocky path separate you from the finish. So don't give up now. When you finally reach the top, a bench invites you to take a well-earned rest and a summit cross with a summit book to record your success. But the best thing about the hike up the Großer Sonnstein is clearly the view. An incredible mountain panorama that stretches along the Traunsee. For me, it's one of the best views of all. If that's still not enough, you can combine the whole thing with the Kleiner Sonnstein. From here, it's downhill at the Kleiner Sonnstein and along the Traunsee back to the starting point. 

Brief key data

• ✅Highest point 1050 m
• ✅approx. 6 km
• ✅About 600 metres in altitude
• ✅Duration 2.5 - 3 hours (pure walking time)
• Suitable for dogs
• ✅No grazing livestock available
• ⚠️Festes Footwear recommended
• ⚠️Trittsicherheit
• ⚠️Schwindelfreiheit
• ⛔Not possible with a pushchair
• ⛔Danger of falling at the summit

My conclusion on this hiking tour

The hike up the Großer Sonnstein is always a highlight for me. A must-do every year. A mountain tour with highs and lows. It's a really great and varied route. Through the beautiful village of Ebensee and a great forest path that takes you over hill and dale. Really steep passages, steps - which push your legs to the limit and a great rocky path just before the summit cross. But once you reach the top, all the effort is forgotten. This view of Lake Traunsee is so incredibly beautiful. It's easy to forget the time while enjoying a coffee. But you should also take your time here and really enjoy the whole thing. So if you fancy a shorter hike, but one that still packs a punch, I highly recommend this route.

Have you been bitten by the hiking bug and want more? Then the Hike up the Eiberg could be just the thing for you.