from World Cup Town to World Cup Town. Start Flachau - shortened route before Zauchensee.
To shorten this very long stage a little, there is the option of crossing the path between Hinterkogel and Rosskopf No. 86b to descend to Zauchensee. The path leads halfway into path no. 86, the official Almenweg route. This shortcut saves you around an hour of walking time, but there are no places to stop for refreshments along the way.
Alpine Trail Tip
The Lackenalmen owe their name to the dark, boggy ponds, which are also called sky ponds by the locals. They feed purely from rainwater and are important for the care of grazing animals. So, if you have enough time, you should treat yourself to a small break by the water, in which the sky with its floating cloud images is reflected. For swimming, however, Lake Zauchensee at the stage finish is best suited. It has a water temperature of 16 to 18 degrees in summer and it is a real fresh kick!
Alpine Trail History
Only around 50 people live in the World Cup town of Zauchensee during the summer months. One of them is the former ski racer Michael Walchhofer, who runs three hotels here with his extended family. It was also his grandfather who, as a simple farmer, proactively registered the first horse-drawn carriage transport in 1936 so that winter sports guests could be brought to Zauchensee with their luggage. For many years, the FIS Women's Ski World Cup Downhill has been held in Zauchensee at regular intervals.
More informations
From the start of the stage in the center of Flachau, hikers can find their way around the Church of the Immaculate Conception. The Salzburger Almenweg leads right past her, continues on the autobahn and from there follows a section of the "path of good wishes" to the Wechselmaisweg. Crossing this, the path leads moderately steeply uphill through the forest and then along the forest road to Berggasthof Sattelbauer, which can be reached in about an hour's walk from Flachau.
From here, a beautiful, but sometimes quite steep hiking trail leads first through the mountain forest and then up a supply road to the Lackenalm at the foot of the Lackenkogel (2,051 m). The Lackenalm is the last place to stop for refreshments for the next 4 hours.
After the alpine pastures, the route continues slightly uphill for a short stretch to a black pond, which is also known as the "Heaven's Pond" and where the grazing animals like to refresh themselves. Here the Almenweg branches off to the left and first leads steeply uphill before it turns into a high-altitude trail. At a fork in the road, you could take the turnoff in the direction of Lackenkogel. The Höhenweg, however, leads over four peaks and with fantastic panoramic views further south. The Almenweg leads to the Seekarscharte (1,970 m) via Hinterkogel (1,922 m), Rosskopf (1,930 m), Hirschköpfl (1,971 m) and Arche (2,060 m). In order to shorten this very long stage, there is the option of walking between Hinterkogel and Rosskopf via path no. 86b to Zauchensee. The path leads halfway into path no. 86, the official Almenweg route. This shortcut saves you around an hour of walking time, but there are no places to stop for refreshments along the way.
There is no public parking in Flachau, but it is possible to ask your booked accommodation whether you can park your car on-site. Please do not forget to leave the "Salzburger Almenweg" parking disc from the brochure in your car.
Flachau is easily accessible by public transport with the nearest train station in Radstadt, from where you can take the Postbus directly to the stop "Flachau Ortsmitte".
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