From the stage start at the Alpengasthof Kogelalm, the Salzburg Alpine Trail leads downhill to Flachau. If you don't want to walk along the summer ski slopes or want to save time, take the lift down to the valley. The "Starjet 1+2" cable cars run from Whitsun to 2nd October 2022, daily from 9 a.m. In Flachau town centre, hikers can orient themselves well to the Church of the Conception of Mary. The Salzburg Alpine Trail leads directly past it, continues across the motorway and from there follows a section of the "Path of Good Wishes" to the Wechselmaisweg. Crossing this path, the trail leads moderately steeply uphill through the forest and then along the forest road to the Berggasthof Sattelbauer, which can be reached from Flachau in just over an hour's walk.

From here, a beautiful, but sometimes quite steep hiking trail leads first through the mountain forest, then on a goods path to the managed Lackenalm at the foot of the Lackenkogel (2,051 m). The Lackenalm is the last possible stop-off for the next 4 hours.

After the alpine pastures, the trail continues a short stretch slightly uphill to a black pond, which is also called "Himmelsteich" and in which the grazing animals like to refresh themselves. Here, the Alpine Trail branches off to the left and leads first steeply uphill before it then turns into a high-altitude path. At a fork in the trail, you could take the turnoff in the direction of Lackenkogel. The high-altitude trail, however, leads over four peaks and with fantastic panoramic views further south. The Alpine Trail leads up to the Seekarscharte (1,970 metres) via Hinterkogel (1,922 m), Rosskopf (1,930 m), Hirschköpfl (1,971 m) and Arche (2,060 m). After the Arche summit, it goes uphill again briefly, before trail No. 86 leads downhill into the Seekarkessel, where the managed Gamskogelhütte is located. And after this long tour, you have now earned a snack. However, if you do not want to cover the further descent to Zauchensee on foot, you should keep an eye on the clock. The 6-seater chairlift "Gamskogel" runs from 16th June to mid-September 2022 daily until 4 pm and takes hikers to Zauchensee, today's stage finish.

Variant 17a with stage start in Flachau.

Anyone who has already hiked to Flachau the day before has gained a small advantage. Since the Salzburg Alpine Trail leads directly past the beautiful baroque parish church of Maria Empfängnis in Flachau, there may still be time for a short morning devotion. Then, it continues according to the stage 17 description on to Zauchensee.

Variant 17b with shortened route to Zauchensee.

And if you want to shorten today's stage somewhat, there is the possibility to change down between Hinterkogel and Rosskopf on trail No. 86b to Zauchensee. This path leads halfway into trail No. 86, the official Alpine Trail route. With this shortcut you save about an hour of walking time, but there is no refreshment stop on the way on this route.

Refreshment and accommodation options

Berggasthof Sattelbauer (1,280 m), (after approx. 1 hour from Flachau), beginning of May to end of October, Tel.: +43 6457 2568 refresh.

Hinterkuchlbergalm (1,632 m) (after approx. 2 hours from Flachau), mid-June to mid-September, Tel.: +43 6452 5482 refresh. / Alpine summer hut

Gamskogelhütte (1,870 m) (after approx. 6 hours from Flachau), mid-June to mid-September, Tel.: +43 6452 4000-29 refresh.