On the trail of the legendary Salzkammergut Trophy by MTB or gravel bike

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The longest distance of the Salzkammergut Trophy is an extreme challenge even for die-hard adrenaline junkies. However, the organisers offer six shorter distances that can be completed as a tour. These routes through the UNESCO World Heritage region of Hallstatt-Dachstein-Salzkammergut are among the most beautiful in the Eastern Alps.

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Trophy route F and G

The two shortest and technically easiest Trophy routes are 22 and 37 kilometres respectively and lead through the Weißenbachtal valley, which was once used for timber drifting, i.e. the floating transport of timber. The Chorinsky lodge, the last functioning wooden lodge in Austria, still bears witness to this today.

Both tours start at the market square in Bad Goisern and are suitable for MTB and gravel bikes. The F-route first leads up to the Ewige Wand, the 'landmark' of the Salzkammergut Trophy. In 1955, a high-level trail with two tunnels was built through the wall, offering a magnificent view of the Goisern basin as far as Lake Hallstatt and the Dachstein. The descent to Lauffen, once the oldest market in the Inner Salzkammergut, leads either along a beautiful trail or a forest road. We cross the Traun and cycle just under two kilometres upstream to the Weißenbachwirt.
(If you tackle the G-route, you cycle from Bad Goisern approx. four kilometres directly downstream on the right bank of the Traun to the Weißenbachwirt).

After a short rest in the cosy guest garden, we continue westwards into the Weißenbachtal valley, turn right at the first fork in the road to the other side of the stream and continue along the Dürrenstraße road with a view of the Katergebirge mountains for approx. 7.5 kilometres towards the Brunntalalm. At the first mountain huts, we cross the Weißenbach again, turn left and reach the Chorinsky-Klause after about 400 metres. In the past, the water was dammed at this timber drift, which was inaugurated in 1819, to float logs weighing several tonnes towards the Traun for the energy-intensive salt production. The listed building is still fully functional and is a popular resting place today.

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After another 800 metres out of the valley, there is a sharp right turn for about five kilometres (approx. 300 metres in altitude) up to Hochmuth. At the highest point of the two shortest Trophy routes, there are again two variants: The original route goes to the right on a somewhat more technically demanding S2 trail towards Bad Goisern, the easier variant to the left after a short push section on the tarmac road into the valley.

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Along route C with the gravel bike

Whether Lake Hallstatt or Lake Gosau, the Waldbachstrub waterfalls or the views of the Dachstein and Gosaukamm, you should take enough time to marvel and linger on this tour.

The 67 kilometres long route with an elevation gain of almost 2,000 metres starts in Obertraun on Lake Hallstatt. We head along the lake towards Hallstatt, in the district of Lahn we branch off into the Echerntal valley onto the Waldbachleiten road and soon enjoy wonderful views of Lake Hallstatt and the Waldbachstrub waterfalls, which plunge up to 90 metres into the depths. After the Mitterwand tunnel, we cross the Waldbach, not without stopping on the stone bridge to marvel at the thundering glacial stream. With the Plassen in sight, we now follow the forest road for around seven kilometres to the Durchgangalm, the highest point of the route at 1,517 metres, and look forward to the homemade delicacies at the Rossalm.

After a well-earned rest, the route continues downhill for almost 12 kilometres, apart from two short climbs. And it gets even better: the magnificent view of the Vorderer Gosausee, the Gosaukamm and the Dachstein glacier is legendary! The route then continues along the Gosau stream to Lake Hallstatt, along the lake towards Bad Goisern and along the idyllic cycle path along the eastern shore of Lake Hallstatt back to Obertraun.

With the Salzkammergut Trophy on 13 July and at the Track inspection On 1 June, you can also ride the variant over the Hallstätter Salzberg. The 11 hairpin bends up to the famous Hallstatt burial ground and the oldest salt mine in the world are another highlight of the Trophy!

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Tip! Marathon participation also for touring and hobby bikers

The Trophy team is particularly keen to encourage newcomers to take part in the marathon. The generous time limits on the 22, 37, 55 and 79 kilometre routes and the numerous charging stations also enable touring bikers to complete the chosen distance without the stress of racing. The aim of the Trophy is to cover the longest possible distance as a personal challenge! Even on the 120-kilometre route, an average speed of 10 km/h still qualifies, while 6 km/h is sufficient on the short route.

Orientation and refreshments are provided along the route and, together with the many like-minded people and the spectators at the finish, participation for amateur bikers is an experience that will be remembered fondly for years to come!

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Extreme route on three days

An MTB marathon with over 200 kilometres and 7,000 metres of altitude should only be attempted by those who are really well trained. Divided into three or four stages, however, this competition is also a wonderful biking experience. There are many cafés, inns and huts along the route with Fast chargers from Bosch equipped. The two editors Lisi Hager and Erwin Haiden rode a somewhat shortened version of the eMTB in one day a few years ago and published a report with lots of great pictures that is well worth reading: www.bikeboard.at/trophy