Salzsteigweg 09
The place
Sternstein - Totes Gebirge - Arnoldstein
Why go
Berchtesgaden and Königssee. Hallstatt (UNESCO) and its salt mine. Panoramic views of the Dachstein. Bad Aussee, a junction of three valleys. Wolfgangsee and St. Wolfgang.
A bit of history
Salt was «white gold» in the Middle Ages — a vital trade commodity. The route follows old pack trails and mule tracks along which packhorses (mules) carried loads of salt across the Alps. Hallstatt (on the route) gave its name to the Hallstatt era — the earliest salt extraction in history.
Getting there
Bad Reichenhall: station (30 min from Salzburg). Bad Aussee: station (2h from Graz, 3h from Vienna). Salzburg: international hub.
Recommended gear
Medium hiking boots. Alpine gear for high-alpine sections. 1:50,000 map.
Best season
June to October. High-alpine sections only accessible from late June.