Austria's Salzburg Hiking Route Delivers Alps-Like Peaks Without the Crowds

Salzburger Sportwelt Summit Game Overview

Route Stats

Total mileage: 35+ miles
Elevation change: Roughly 15,000 feet across all seven mountains, depending on routes
Estimated time to complete: 6-7 days staying overnight in each connecting town, or shorter if you combine two or more hikes

The seven-summit hike starts and ends in the Pongau region of the Austrian Alps. It was built around a regional legend about a benevolent queen and her six noblemen who protected humans, animals, and the natural world. In a final act of devotion to the people, they all turned into stone, becoming the seven peaks that now rise above Salzburg’s landscape. Each summit represents a character with its own mood, symbolism, and sense of presence. Hiking this route feels less like ticking off peaks and more like moving through chapters of a myth.

The hiking routes and mountain summits that make up the Summit Game can be accessed via small valley towns that are all connected by public transportation. Salzburg is about 150 miles from Vienna and can be reached by the OBB trains for around $35 (€30). From there, taxis and buses further connect these mountain towns that are around 20-25 miles away from each other.

Bischofsmütze (5,650 feet), known as the benevolent queen, rises above the town of Filzmoos, while Saukarfunktel (6,654 feet), the poet, watches over the resort valley of Flachau. Hochgründeck (5,995 feet) stands as the healer near the town of St. Johann im Pongau, and Penkkopf (6,600 feet), the magician, overlooks Wagrain-Kleinarl. Lackenkogel (2,051 feet) serves as the guardian of Altenmarkt-Zauchensee, Rossbrand (5,800 feet) takes on the role of the scout above Radstadt, and Gerzkopf (5,670 feet), the bearer of secrets, towers over the Eben im Pongau valley. You can plan a multi-day hike across all seven of these mountains (in no particular order) while staying in bed and breakfast accommodations in any of these towns (use this website to book).

Each peak embodies a distinct character and spirit tied to its landscape. Many have crosses at the summit plateaus along with themed info boards, wooden panorama loungers, and extensive meadows where you can linger and catch your breath.

A Mindful Hiking Route in the Alps

One of the many joys of hiking in the Salzburger Sportwelt region are the traditional historic mountain huts scattered along the trails. These rustic lodges offer warm shelter and traditional Austrian comfort food like kaiserschmarren (shredded pancake), kasnockn (cheese spätzle), tiroler gröstl (pan-fried potatoes/bacon), and brettljause (meat/cheese board), plus locally brewed drinks that are especially satisfying after a long climb. Sitting at a wooden table inside a hut or even taking your meals outside overlooking the mountains of Salzburg is a trip highlight.

The tourism offices at Flachau and Salzburger Sportwelt have also turned exploring the area's trails and peaks into a gamified alpine quest. For $30 (€25) you can purchase a summit box that includes a tour book with facts about the mountains, guided summit rituals like breathing exercises, and space for personal reflections, along with more standard fare like a hiking map and a souvenir camp cup. At the summit of each mountain, there’s a box with a stamp and an ink pad inside so completionist hikers can collect stamps in their tour books as proof they made it to the top.

The rules to this game are loose—the seven peaks can be tackled in any order, collecting stamps at each summit and earning collectible tokens that can be attached to the cup. After completing at least four hikes, you can show your stamp collection at participating tourist offices in any of the seven towns for a reward. This is all completely optional, but it adds a playful element to the adventure, transforming the journey into a motivating quest that still encourages presence over speed and competition.

I traveled to the Salzburger Sportwelt region in the summer of 2022. What lingered with me after my time there wasn’t just the Sound of Music scenery with all the lush green rolling hills, mountain peaks, and clanging cowbells in the distance. It was actually the mindfulness embedded in the experience, despite the route's gamified aspect. Unlike the busier trails I've walked in Switzerland, the seven summits in this rural part of the Austrian Alps feel quieter, and driven more by their connection to the area's historical narratives than to the urge to collect the perfect shot for Instagram. The folklore gave the landscape meaning beyond its beauty, and each mountain felt like a character in a fairytale rather than an objective to tick off a list.

Salzburg Summit Game, Peak by Peak

Bischofsmütze (The Queen)

Total distance: 5.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 2,257 feet
Summit: 5,650 feet
Difficulty: Moderate to challenging with steep incline in some parts

Bischofsmütze, the queen of the range, is impossible to ignore, with dramatic twin limestone spires that rise above the town of Filzmoos almost like a crown carved from rock. Even from afar, Bischofsmütze dominates the horizon with regal authority living up to her name. While you can begin the hiking challenge at any of the seven peaks, the Queen stands out as it’s the only summit visible from all the others. Starting here not only makes it a stunning first climb but also a perfect visual benchmark as you complete the rest of the peaks.

Starting at the large parking lot of the Unterhof Alm alpine hut in Filzmoos, the hiking route passes through alpine pastures before opening up to stunning views of the Gosaukamm and the Dachstein, two other famous peaks in the Austrian Alps. Hikers are encouraged to slow down and smell the flowers (literally and figuratively). Local folklore says that the Queen was a wise sovereign who wanted her people to look at the world with love, compassion and generosity, reminding them that often it is the small things in life that bring us joy. On the way down, reward yourself with a traditional meal back at Unterhof Alm. If you’re planning to stay in Filzmoos, the charming Haus Edelweiss B&B in the town center offers a cozy and convenient base.

Saukarfunktel (The Poet)

Total distance: 3.8 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,066 feet
Summit: 6,654 feet
Difficulty: Moderate

Saukarfunktel, known as the poet, carries a softer energy than Bischofsmütze. The relatively gradual ascent winds through open alpine terrain, where rolling ridges and wildflowers replace dramatic cliffs. Some parts of the trail involve hiking along a ridge with large rock boulders at the summit, offering panoramic views as far as the eye can see.

This hike starts with a chairlift from the Flachau to the Starjet 2 station. From there, you leave the road and climb along a steep trail towards the summit. (For a longer trip, you can do the whole route on foot from Flachau, which makes it roughly 3.2 miles.) For an overnight stay in town, the family run Salzburgerhof Flachau is a great option that is just minutes from the chairlift and includes breakfast.

Hochgründeck (The Healer)

Total distance: 3.8 miles
Elevation Gain: 2,674 feet
Summit: 5,995 feet
Difficulty: Moderate

The trail up to see the Healer begins at the parking lot of Hahnbaum, the ski area in St. Johann im Pongau, and passes through forests and high pastures where you'll probably find cattle grazing, and the atmosphere here feels calmer than on Salzburg’s sharper limestone peaks. Along the way, the Heinrich-Kiener-Haus hut is a must-stop to fuel up on kaiserschmarren, aka chopped pancakes sprinkled with powdered sugar, and take in the views out over more than 300 peaks of the Austrian Alps. At the Healer's summit, the views stretch across gentler terrain of rolling hills, making it a good spot to lounge around for a while before heading back down to town.

There are plenty of alpine hotels to choose from back down in St Johann im Pongau, but Berghof, with its sauna and spa on-site, is particularly appealing after a day on the trail.

Penkkopf (The Magician)

Total distance: 6.7 miles
Elevation Gain: 3,300 feet
Summit: 6,600 feet
Difficulty: Moderate

Starting at the Hirschleiten parking lot in Kleinarl, this trail transitions between forest and open ridgeline, creating an immediate sense of crossing invisible thresholds. About two hours into the hike, you will reach Kleinarler Hut, nestled between Penkkopf and Gründegg. Situated high above and overlooking the town below, it's a great place to grab a meal of popular hut classics like kasnockn or tiroler gröstl. From there, the summit of Penkkopf is about 45 minutes via an easy path that has stunning views at the top.

Best places to stay in Kleinarl include options like Robinson Amadé or Hotel Guggenberger.

Lackenkogel (The Watchman)

Total distance: 11.8 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,330 feet
Summit: 2,051 feet
Difficulty: Moderate to challenging

Lackenkogel earns its reputation as the Watchman through its commanding views out over the Watzmann, the Grimming, and the highest mountain in Austria at 12,461 feet, the Grossglockner. The way up begins at the sports ground in Altenmarkt-Zauchensee with the summit visible from the trailhead. The trail alternates between forested paths with many blueberry bushes, steep hills, and pastures with grazing cattle. After about two hours you'll reach Sattelbauer, a mountain hut serving meals like pork ribs and bread dumplings.

The rest of the climb provides a satisfying challenge in terms of mileage and terrain, and reaching the top brings a strong sense of awareness and perspective in terms of the size and depth of the Austrian Alps. From the summit, the resort valley of Altenmarkt and the Radstädter Tauern region stretches outward like a map, and the vantage point feels protective, as if you're standing guard over the landscape below. The folklore name works well.

Since this is the longest hike of the seven, staying overnight at Hotel Schartner in Altenmarkt is a great place to unwind before proceeding to the next summit.

Rossbrand (The Scout)

Total distance: 6.9 miles
Elevation Gain: 3,018 feet
Summit: 5,800 feet
Difficulty: Easy to moderate

Rossbrand aka the Scout, may be one of the most accessible summits in the group with a slow gentle elevation gain and plenty of stops to rest. But it offers some of the most expansive views of almost 150 Austrian peaks, including Dachstein Massif, Hohe Tauern, and Hagen Mountains. This hike has several starting points, with the most popular being the Karhütte car park in Radstadt.

With 360-degree panoramas stretching across Salzburg and beyond, it feels like a natural lookout designed for explorers to the area. But even with its easier access, it retains a sense of discovery. The early parts of the trail go through open meadows and later enter a shaded forest. At the summit, the Radstadt hut invites you to rest and have some regional favorites like bread dumplings and homemade cakes after you've collected your stamp.

Gerzkopf (The Bearer of Secrets)

Total distance: 5 miles
Elevation gain: 1,788 feet
Summit: 5,670 feet
Difficulty: Moderate

Gerzkopf feels quieter and more intimate than all the others. The hike starts at the Knappbauer farm and immediately enters the high altitude mountain forest filled with fir, pine and larch trees. You can also access the trail at other points via public transportation in Filzmoos.

This forested approach which gives Gerzkopf the name “Green Mountain” provides a tucked-away, hushed quality to the ascent, as if the mountain would prefer to stay hidden. The route is surrounded by extensive dwarf pine fields, ferns, peat bogs, and lupins, and due to the special flora and fauna, the mountain was declared a protected area in 2006 under Europe's Natura 2000 network. Many locals prefer hiking this at sunrise when the calm waters of the bogs reflect the nearby peaks. The grass-covered summit plateau has fabulous views of the Gosau range and over to Bischofsmütze, the Queen.

Another one of Gerzkopf's special features is the wishing bell at the summit. Reach it, and you're awarded the opportunity to give it a clang and make a wish—legends say there's a good chance it'll come true. Back down in Eben im Pongau, Hotel Ebnerwirt is a great place to stay and the onsite restaurant also features traditional Austrian favorites.