Around the Wolfgangsee

The most famous race around a lake is the one around the Wolfgangsee. Every October thousands of runners from all over the world meet here to compete in this challenging race covering a distance of 27 km, altitude differences of 200 metres and some difficult terrain. For hikers this circular walk is also intriguing and challenging and worth your while. Of course it is up to the individual to decide whether to do the whole stretch in one go or break off at various points en route and continue by boat. The walk/ run can also be done in either direction. Here the route is described in the counter-clockwise direction.

The Facts

Start St. Wolfgang parish church in or any other spot on the lake.

1st stage from St. Wolfgang to St. Gilgen - 9 km/ 5.6 m
Start from the front of the church in St. Wolfgang and head westwards for about half a mile along the shore of the lake until you reach Ride (3 km/ 1.9 m). The route branches off the road here and climbs along a wide path uphill until it reaches the highest point of the walk (735 m/
2,900 ft) near the small chapel. The path then descends to an idyllic little valley above which the Fleckenstein Church, built into the cliff face, is to be found. The path now descends rather steeply until it reaches the lake near the Fur berg (This is 6 km/ 3.7 m from the starting point and the Fur berg restaurant is open from May to October for refreshments). Continue along the lake side path until you come to Brunswick with its’ charming houses. Carry straight on and after a short ascent the route follows the old Mondsee Road which is lined with stately villas and the road eventually leads out of the forest and to your right are the beautiful grounds of the Hotel Billroth. Go down the steep hill known as the "Sonnbichl" until you reach the “Sonnplatz” and its benches which are ideal for a rest and enjoy the view of the Strobl mountains beyond the east end of the lake. The path now leads past the indoor swimming pool and the public lido to the church in St. Gilgen (9 km/ 5.6 m). From the church the “Ischlerstrasse” takes you back to the lake side and the boat landing stage near the Fischerwirt restaurant and you can take the boat back to St Wolfgang from here

2nd section from St. Gilgen to Strobl - 12 km/ 7.5 m
Continue along the towards the main road and just before you reach turn left and in due course this road will turn into a pedestrian and bicycle path above the lake and along the main road to the Gamsjaga Inn. Here the route branches off to the left and head through the hamlets of Schwand and Farchen and the Staudach forest with its very tall trees until you reach the hamlet of Abersee-Reith and the Zinkenbach stream (16 km/ 10 m).

Cross the Zinkenbach (go over the suspension bridge). The trail now continues along a perfectly straight road which was the former railway bed of the narrow gauge Salzkammergut local railway (1893 - 1957). After another kilometre come back to the lake and you can board a ferry to the various stops around the lake.

The route now continues away from the ferry landing stage beside the road southwards for 500 m/ 547 yds and than branches off to the left and after a short while you will pass the Pitznerbauer farmstead. Continue along the path roughly parallel to the lake until you reach the public lido and from here walk through the Blinklingmoos moor nature reserve and from the east end of the moor it isn’t far to Strobl and the parish church. A ferry landing stage can be found on the lake front.

3rd section from Strobl to St. Wolfgang - 6 km/ 3.7 m
From the Strobl parish church proceed along the lake promenade until you cross the Klaus Bridge with its technical mechanisms which regulate the drainage and thus the water level of the lake.

Turn left here and leave the official running race route, which goes counter-clockwise around the Bürglstein hill and keep to the path along the lake until you arrive at the "Lapidarium" a collection of rocks found around the lake.

The path now continues over wooden bridges directly above the waters of the lake along the cliffs of the Bürglstein to Berau where it rejoins the race route.

A cyclist and pedestrian path now follows the main road roughly parallel to the lake you come into of St. Wolfgang and back to the start of your walk at the parish church in St. Wolfgang.

Wolfgangsee Tourismus Gesellschaft
Au 140
5360 St. Wolfgang
Tel.: +43(0)6138/8003
Fax: +43(0)6138/8003-81
info@wolfgangsee.at
www.wolfgangsee.at