Winter hike through the Kaltenbach wilderness on Lake Traunsee

In January, Shaggy and I travelled through the Kaltenbach wilderness in ice and snow towards Grünberg and then back again on a circular route.

Snow, ice and a fantastic view were our reward on the winter hike through the Kaltenbach wilderness. ❄️⛰️ The Kaltenbach wilderness is open in winter and can be hiked. Of course, extra caution is required here and you should never forget your ice skins at home on a hike like this. 😅

The hike was very challenging as there was a lot of snow. You can find the key data for the tour further down in the article and at the end of the blog post you will find the exact route we took. 📍

Today's snack tip to pack and take away: The snack from Goldblatt! The Mushlings snack sausage and the vegan loin (my personal highlight) make an excellent snack. You can find these snacks directly on the Goldblatt website. (Advertising). There are no refreshment stops on this hike, which is why a ‚gscheide Jausn‘ should not be missing from your rucksack. 😄

Check out the great view on my Instagram reel. Now that's what I call a 10/10 bench! 📸🪑

The hike through the Kaltenbach wilderness towards Grünberg

So Shaggy and I set off on a circular hike through the Kaltenbach wilderness with a bulging rucksack (actually just emergency equipment, spare clothes, enough water and treats 😅). Very often we had a great view of the Traunstein, but also of Lake Traunsee. 🤩

Start of the hike and access to the Kaltenbach wilderness

The start was at the Traunstein turnaround point/car park. From there, we headed straight uphill towards the Kaltenbachwildnis. After crossing the Kaltenbach wilderness, we took a forest road towards Grünberg and then returned to the starting point via Dürrenberg.

Key data for the tour

✅ approx. 10km
✅ Around 650 metres in altitude
✅ our time: 2h 45min
✅ Suitable for fit children and dogs
✅ It's best to bring your own snack
⚠️ Partly slippery/icy - pack your hiking boots
⛔️ not suitable for pushchairs or wheelchairs

⚠️ 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.

Refreshment stops in the Kaltenbach wilderness

Unfortunately, I couldn't find out whether any of the nearby places to stop for a bite to eat also offer plant-based dishes. 🌱 That's why I won't make a specific recommendation here. It's best to simply bring a good snack and a nice coffee in a thermos flask - then you're definitely on the safe side. 🥪☕️

Arrival and parking options for the hike to the Kaltenbach wilderness

Getting there is relatively straightforward by public transport or by car. 🚗 By car, you have to drive through Gmunden to reach the car park at the end of the road to the Traunstein.

Kaltenbach wilderness car park

You can either park along the road in the short-term parking zones (the maximum parking time of 3 hours would be very short for the hike in winter), or at the end at the turnaround area. This car park is free in the winter months, but fills up relatively quickly in good weather. Otherwise there is a charge for this car park for the rest of the year.

Check out public transport right here

Summary of the hike through the Kaltenbach wilderness towards Grünberg

The Kaltenbach Wilderness is a place you absolutely have to visit. 🤗 If the Kaltenbach wilderness is not enough for you, but the big round tour is too much, I would also recommend combining the Kaltenbach wilderness with the Miesweg (note: the Miesweg is not ideal for dogs. 🐾) The round tour itself was also great and can be ideally combined with the Grünberg or Laudachsee. To be honest, it was a bit too cold for me to extend the tour. 🥶 That's a case for the summer then. ☀️

Komoot tour to follow yourself

Further recommendation

Did you like this post? Then I have another great hiking tip for you! 🤩 Have a read here: Fantastic hike up the Ameisstein and around the Almsee in the Salzkammergut