Photo: Dimitry Anikin, CC0 / Wikimedia Commons
Gosausee: Lake Loop with the Dachstein View
Gosau, Salzkammergut · AustriaSummer until 1 NovMore
Food & drink: Gasthof Gosausee1 on the way
Overview
The Vorderer Gosausee is a small, nature-protected mountain lake at 937 m at the foot of the Gosaukamm. From its shore you look across the water to the Dachstein and the Gosau Glacier. The lake was dammed in 1913 and is used as a reservoir for power and flood protection: it is usually fullest between mid and late June, and every autumn the water is lowered to its original level. It is open to visitors all year, free of charge.
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The loop starts at the Gasthof Gosausee by the car park and the Gosaukammbahn and follows the shore all the way round on asphalt and gravel; the tourism board suggests starting on the left shore. At the far end a forest road branches off towards the Hinterer Gosausee: keep right to stay on the loop.
Very easy (sehr leicht), on asphalt and gravel. After thunderstorms, heavy rain or storms the danger of rock and boulder fall rises markedly: respect any closures.
Gasthof Gosausee at the start of the loop (early February to early March and early April to early November); the Hohe Holzmeisteralm at the Hinterer Gosausee (early June to the end of September, closed on Wednesdays and in winter).
Map & profile
Rund um den Gosausee (lake loop)
From the Gasthof Gosausee by the car park, the path follows the shore of the Vorderer Gosausee all the way round, with the Dachstein and its glacier ahead on the way out. At the far end, keep right where a forest road branches off to the Hinterer Gosausee.
Places on the way
- Second lake up the valley, by the Hohe Holzmeisteralm; reached on a gravel path past the Gosaulacke, not part of the loop. The wildlife protection zone between the two lakes must not be entered.
- All year, freeNature-protected mountain lake at 937 m with the view of the Dachstein and the Gosau Glacier.
- Early Feb – early Mar and early Apr – early NovInn at the start of the loop with a view of the lake and the Dachstein.
- Early June – end of September; closed WednesdaysStaffed hut right by the Hinterer Gosausee at the foot of the Dachstein.
- Summer 9 May – 1 Nov 2026 · winter 2026/27 not publishedCable car from the Gosausee up to the Zwieselalm in about 4 minutes, every 15 minutes.
Plan your hike
Getting there
- Bus
- Hintertal b. Gosau Gosaukammbahn
Bus 542 Timetable: OÖVV
- Car
- Gosausee car park≈ 100 m to the start (straight line)Paid car park at the lake (516 spaces); digital system without tickets or barriers.
Getting there in detail
By train to Steeg-Gosau on the Salzkammergut line (Attnang-Puchheim – Stainach-Irdning), then bus 541 towards Gosaumühle and bus 542 towards the Gosausee; the stop at the lake is Hintertal b. Gosau Gosaukammbahn. In the winter timetable bus 542 ends at Hintertal Zwieselalm, short of the lake. By car, turn right onto the Gosausee road after the Pass Gschütt junction, about 7 km to the lake; the car park at the lake is paid (Gemeinde Gosau).
Latest start = the earlier of last bus or sunset, minus route time and 30 minutes. Sunset is calculated for the trailhead; in shaded terrain it gets dark earlier.
Nearby
Sources (7) · last checked October 2026
Route data checked: October 2026
- Tourismusverband Inneres Salzkammergut (dachstein.salzkammergut.at) — route, distance, time, difficulty, rules, season and opening, history
- Salzkammergut tourism (salzkammergut.at, tourdata) — route, distance, time, access, rules
- OÖVV / Österreichische Postbus AG — access
- Gemeinde Gosau (gosau.ooe.gv.at) — access
- Deutscher Alpenverein (alpenverein.de) — emergency numbers
- oesterreich.gv.at — emergency numbers
- BRouter (OpenStreetMap) — track