Obertraun: Discover caves, the Dachstein and trails

Obertraun combines impressive cave experiences, trails through forests and floodplain landscapes, and the mountain world of the Dachstein with opportunities at Lake Hallstatt. Anyone looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home for a varied holiday will find a range of travel ideas here: discover geological history underground, reach viewpoints on the Krippenstein or plan quieter hours by the water and in nature.

Caves and geological history as special experiences

An unusual introduction to the landscape is the themed trail “A Journey Through Geological History”. The 550-metre-long trail from the Schönbergalm cable car station to the Mammoth Cave provides insights into 550 million years of geological history. The short route combines exercise and learning, meaning that the visit is not limited to sightseeing alone.

The Dachstein Giant Ice Cave also offers a special way to experience the landscape. The route leads from the “Ice Palace” via the “Parsival Dome” to the “Great Iceberg”. There, an ice cone over nine metres high awaits you. The cave also features a suspension bridge and a light and sound show. In the Mammoth Cave, guided tours allow visitors to walk through around one kilometre of the more than 70 kilometres of explored passages.

The Koppenbrüller Cave follows a seasonal schedule: from 1 May to 27 September 2026, it is open daily, with guided tours running continuously from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The entrance can be reached from the “Koppenrast” inn at the edge of Obertraun via an easy hiking trail along the Traun in about 15 minutes. During guided tours, you can also observe an impressive natural phenomenon: when the snow melts or after heavy rainfall, the dry stream bed in the Simony Hall can turn into a raging mountain stream within just a few minutes.

Krippenstein, viewpoints and signposted trails

The Dachstein-Krippenstein cable car travels to the Ice Cave, the Mammoth Cave and the Cave Museum on the Schönbergalm. The first and second sections take you to the Krippenstein at an altitude of 2,108 metres. This allows mountain and cave visits to be included in your holiday plans without making every excursion the same.

After the ascent, the 5fingers viewing platform can be reached via an easy hike of around 25 minutes. The Heilbronn Circular Trail offers views of the Dachstein massif and eventually leads to the Gjaidalm. In the Dachstein Hiking World, 20 signposted stations at just under 2,000 metres above sea level tell the story of how this landscape was formed. The trail is considered suitable for the whole family and may therefore be interesting for families who want to combine experiencing nature with vivid information.

The lower-lying trails also reveal a different side of Obertraun. Forest and meadow paths run partly along the Sarstein slope and partly through meadows, forests and floodplains. Benches invite you to take a break along the way. The Obertraun themed trail leads to the Koppenbrüller Cave and onwards through the Koppenwinkel to the Koppenwinkelalm. This gives you the choice between an excursion to higher altitudes, a themed trail and a quieter circuit through the landscape.

Nature reserve, lake and winter landscape

Lake Koppenwinkel and the surrounding area have been protected as a nature reserve since 1978; the lake is surrounded by green floodplain forest. Swimming is possible at Obertraun’s sunny beach on the warmest bay of Lake Hallstatt. In winter, a cross-country ski trail runs through the Koppenwinkel nature reserve. Depending on the season, your choice of accommodation can therefore lead to a holiday with different focuses: water and floodplain forest, hiking trails and caves, or a winter circuit through the Koppenwinkel.

The mountain landscape also includes places to stop for regional specialities on the Dachstein in the Salzkammergut. This adds a culinary break to an active excursion and gives your daily planning another possible focus. The region around Hallstatt and Obertraun is described in its cultural and nature-related dimensions as a cultural and natural heritage site of the highest international standing.

The right accommodation for your travel plans

When looking for a holiday apartment in Obertraun, it helps to first decide which experiences you want. Travellers who want to discover several caves and the cable car world of the Krippenstein will plan differently from those who want to focus on trails by the lake, the Koppenwinkel or a winter cross-country ski trail. Accommodation in Obertraun provides the right setting for combining these different themes in your own travel plans. When making your choice, consider above all which holiday focus is most important for your family and which excursions you actually want to take.

More places for your regional orientation

If you would like to compare other destinations in addition to Obertraun, you can also take a look at Gschwandt, Bad Ischl, Kogl, Ohlsdorf, Gosau, Rußbach, Scharnstein and Sankt Konrad.

To the higher-level travel overview: Gmunden.