From the Bürglstein to the Schwarzensee Lake

An especially varied circular walk, which begins at the eastern end of the Wolfgangsee and leads up the ravine of the brook called Schwarzenbach to the romantic Schwarzensee. From here you can return to your starting point via the gentle "Sattelweg".

The Facts

Starting off at the Bürglstein Inn and proceed for approx. 300 m in the direction of St. Wolfgang on the path beside the road and turn left immediately after the football pitch , after approx 500 m you will reach the "Bürglsteinpromenade" which runs around the well known Bürglstein.

Here turn slightly right and after a short uphill stretch you come to a point which provides a splendid view of the Wolfgangsee. Continue along the Bürglstein promenade, on the well kept path (partially on the wooden bridges directly above the lake) around the Bürglstein until you reach the "Seeklause" where the "Ischl" stream flows into the lake. Turn immediately right and cross the stone bridge and turn immediately t to the left and go down the wooden steps , continue on the path beside the Ischl and under the main road until you come to a wooden bridge.

Cross this bridge and to turn left again and walk a short way upstream, and over the "Russbach" brook and then along the narrow road until you come to another bridge (do not crossit ) but turn right and walk upstream. beside the brook. After crossing the country road the valley becomes narrow and the path comes to the old "Grabnermühle", an old mill which now is a bakery specialising in bread baked in wood-burning ovens. A little further on you will pass a small hydraulic power plant which is fed by the drainage of the Schwarzensee. From hereon the valley becomes a very steep gorge.

Ascend this gorge, which starts to the right of the power plant, by negotiating the 408 steps of the "Wirersteig". During the climb you can cast careful glances down below into the gorge with it’s waterfalls. Then finally the trail levels off and you reaches the picturesque Schwarzensee lake and the "Zur Lore" Inn.

The Schwarzensee lake :
At an altitude of 716 m (2,821 ft) the lake is 1,500 m (1,970 yds) long, 400 m (525 yds) wide and 54 m (212 ft) deep. There are several species of fish in this lake, including pike, lake salmon, trout and whitefish.

This mountain lake, just like all the other Salzkammergut lakes, was created during the last ice age when the mighty Traun glacier carved out its present bed as it flowed northwards. As it is entirely surrounded by dark forests the water is very dark and in the course of time the lake got its name the “Schwarzensee” which meanis “Black Lake”. Above the south-east of the lake is a car park which can be reached by a 3 km (2 m) asphalt road from Russbach, a village to the east of St. Wolfgang.

Around the Schwarzensee:
If you feel up to it, go either to the left or to the right of the inn and you can walk all the way around the lake. It will take approx. one hour to walk the 4.4 km (2.8 m) the mainly flat , well maintained road.

Return from the Schwarzensee:
The wide "Sattelweg",begins immediately to the north of the brook which drains the lake, near the "Almstadl" inn. It starts of with a moderate climbing to the saddle which is at an altitude of 800 m (3,152 ft). From here the path steadily descends and passes the "Mauruskapelle" a little wayside chapel and after a further 200 m (260 yds) it goes to the left and leads to the hamlet of Schwarzenbach. From here a narrow road passes the "Wurzelschnitzer" ( the woodcarver) and takes you back to the Bürglstein Inn.

Note:
If you suffer from vertigo or who do not want the exertion of the steep “Wirersteig” there is an easier variation of this route:
Apporoximately 200 m (260 yds) before you reach the Grabnermühle take the right the "Almweg" path which also leads to the Schwarzensee's northeast shore (the car park).

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