Gosau: Going Deep in the DachsteinTucked into the Dachstein mountains on the western edge of the Salzkammergut UNESCO World Heritage region, Gosau is an alpine village that earns its reputation on pure scenery alone. The jagged Gosaukamm ridge rises sharply above a 14-kilometer valley, the Gosausee lakes sit at its southern end with glacier-fed clarity, and the Gosaukammbahn cable car puts the high alpine world within reach of almost anyone. Photo: Edwin Husic / Edwin HusicAuthorsvisitaustria
DestinationsAustriaItinerary

Into the Dachstein

Vorderer Gosausee
The main Gosau lake and the most photographed spot in the valley. Turquoise water, glacier views, and the jagged Gosaukamm reflected on still mornings. It's as good as it looks in photos. A flat 45-minute circuit runs around the entire shore, and the cable car base station is right at the water's edge.
See More
Hinterer Gosausee
The quieter lake behind the first, accessible only on foot. About 90 minutes from the parking area and 650 feet higher up, it rewards the effort with closer glacier views and considerably fewer people. The Holzmeister Alm hut at the far end is a good reason to push on.
See More
Gosaukammbahn
The broad alpine meadow at the top of the cable car has trails for everyone, from easy flat walks across the plateau to more demanding ridge routes toward the Gosaukamm peaks. For experienced hikers, the full 18.7-kilometer Gosaukamm Circuit Trail is one of the best long-distance hikes in the Salzkammergut.
See More
Klettersteig am Donnerkogel
One of the most celebrated via ferrata routes in Austria, climbing the west face of the Großer Donnerkogel at 6,739 feet. The centerpiece is the Himmelsleiter, a 40-meter hanging ladder crossing a deep gulley in the rock face. Rated C/D, experienced climbers only, around five to six hours total. Access via the Gosaukammbahn and a 20-minute walk to the start. Guided ascents available through Laserer alpin and Outdoor Leadership.
See More
Löckermoos
One of Europe's finest raised bogs, sitting at about 4,600 feet and reachable via a two to three hour hike from the valley floor. The route passes historic grinding stone quarries and karst caves before hitting the boardwalk trail around the Löckensee lake.
See More

Deep Roots

Freilichtmuseum, Heimathaus Gosau
A reconstructed 19th-century farmstead in the Hintertal, rebuilt in 1995 to preserve traditional Upper Austrian rural architecture and farmstead life from the Gosau valley. A genuine, low-key stop that gives a real sense of how valley life worked before the region's popularity.
See More
Pfarrkirche Gosau
The Catholic parish church at the center of the village. Worth a quick stop for the simple alpine interior and a grounding sense of village life.
See More
Kulturzentrum Gosau
Every summer the Gosau Folklore Association runs a series of traditional events across the valley, from folk music evenings and guided hikes with live brass band stops to cheese tastings on the Zwieselalm and the Musi-Roas, a wandering mountain music festival that moves between alpine huts. Worth timing a trip around if the calendar lines up.
See More
Evangelische Pfarrgemeinde A.B. Gosau
Built between 1864 and 1869 in Neo-Gothic style, this small but striking church has a pointed spire, hand-carved wooden interior, and a baptismal font cut from local Dachstein marble. A beautiful building with a lot of history behind it.
See More

Pull Up a Seat

Restaurant Familienhotel Sommerhof
Open to non-guests for dinner and earns strong reviews for its regional Austrian menu and garden terrace views. A reliable, comfortable option when you want a proper sit-down meal without leaving the valley.
See More
Gablonzer Hütte
An alpine hut a short walk from the top station of the Gosaukammbahn, with a sunny terrace and direct views of the Gosaukamm ridge and Dachstein glacier. The kitchen runs on bio-certified, organic ingredients and mixes mountain hut classics with more seasonal ideas. The Kasnocken and Spinatknödel are consistently recommended. One of the better-run huts in the Salzkammergut.
See More
Gasthof Gosausee
The only restaurant directly on the shore of Vorderer Gosausee, with a south-facing terrace looking straight at the Dachstein glacier. The menu runs to about 70 dishes with a focus on local fish and game. The fresh pike and perch, deer steak, and housemade chamois stew prepared from an old family recipe are the standouts. A natural lunch stop before or after the lake circuit or the cable car.
See More
Moosalm
A mountain hut on the trail between the valley and the Zwieselalm, consistently praised for quick, friendly service and generous portions. Good Wiener schnitzel and a reliable coffee stop mid-hike. Nothing fancy, but exactly what you want when you're halfway up the mountain.
See More

Rest Your Boots

Vitalhotel Gosau
A solid base on the edge of the village with sweeping Dachstein views from every balcony. The wellness area with its indoor swimming grotto and sauna is a good way to end a long day on the trails, and the themed dinner buffets are popular for good reason.
See More
Book
Hotel Sommerhof
A family-run four-star hotel that has been welcoming guests since 1958, sitting at the foot of the Dachstein about three miles from Gosausee. The mountain views from the rooms are genuinely great, the year-round heated outdoor pool is a nice touch, and the half-board dinner situation means you're well fed every night without having to think about it.
See More
Book
Kirchenwirt Gosau
A 17th-century gasthof right next to the village church, run by the same family for generations. Cozy rooms, great food downstairs, a shaded beer garden facing the Gosaukamm, and a genuinely local atmosphere that the bigger hotels in the valley can't replicate.
See More
Book