Upper Austria – Ferratas, Tourism, and Great Swimming by the Lakes

Our first stop is Lake Atter. This glacial lake is the third largest in Austria, it has beautifully clear water, which is unusually warm in the summer months. It reaches a temperature of even 25 ° C. Swimming here is therefore pleasant even in the evening as a refreshment after a day of hiking. However, if the water is too hot for it, it can cool down in the much colder tributary of Lake Äußere Weißenbach. Here we measured a temperature of 8 ° C. Just before its mouth into the Attersee in the town of Weißenbach am Attersee, there is also a pleasant sitting area.

From the town of Weißenbach am Attersee you can go to the nice ferrata Attersee Klettersteig. which reaches the difficulty of D. The more than fifty-kilometer circuit around the lake will be welcomed by cyclists with a road bike. In the mountainous surroundings there are simpler trails for mountain bikes and these days there are also very popular e-bikes, which are used by most visitors. Trails and hiking trails lead around another lake - Schwarzensee, where you can also swim. Or to diversify, a short walk from the lake there are also nice waterfalls on the Salzkammergut Trail Klassisch, which are not highlighted on the map, but there is also a nice swim below. The bike trail then continues to the village of Russbach and the town of Strobl, but it is possible to take the red hiking trail to Lake Haleswiessee and reach the Weißenbach am Attersee via a nice view of the entire Lake Attersee. Just be careful, the path behind the lake practically disappears, but it leads across the meadow uphill and can be identified by the footprints of the hooves of the cows. After about a kilometer it is well marked again.

The next morning we drive towards Lake Traven and head specifically to the mountain Predigstuhl, to which leads a nice ferrata Mein Land - Dein Land, which reaches the difficulty C. Along the ferrata leads a more challenging hiking trail, which can also reach the top of Predigstuhl, which is located in at an altitude of 1278 meters above sea level. There is a wonderful view of the opposite mountains and Lake Hallstatt. The circuit with and without ferrata is less than 6 kilometers long from the nearest parking lot. For swimming we return to Lake Traven, which is slightly colder than Atterské, but even so there is a great swim with beautiful surroundings.

A weekend or holiday in Upper Austria is ideal for families with children as well as for young or active athletes, as well as for those looking for only a pleasant rest by the water.

GPS: 47°52'09.4"N 13°32'38.1"E

Text and photos: Veronika Schubertová