Directions and parking
We come from the direction Bad IschlThe journey takes around 40 minutes. The traffic already suggests that we are certainly not the only visitors. When we arrive, the first parking lot, the one closest to the lake, is already completely full. We also have no chance at the side of the road or at the second parking lot. I have a bad feeling, as you have to walk uphill from the road to the lake. Finally, we find a semi-legal parking spot at the third parking lot. With the stroller, we now go back up the mountain to the starting point - right at the valley station of the Gosaukammbahn.
The starting point
Directly after the 1st parking lot is the Zwieselalm cable car and the Gosausee Inn. Just walk a few meters forward and you have a breathtaking view of the front Gosausee. You can take some beautiful photos here. If you want, you can stock up on the last of your groceries or souvenirs.
The hike: The Vorderer Gosausee
You can walk around the lake either to the left or to the right. We decide to go clockwise. Our hike starts at 11:15 a.m. We are traveling with a stroller.
At first the path is asphalted but after 10 minutes it turns into a forest path. You walk along the lake the whole time. You keep seeing people swimming in the lake. The water is emerald green and crystal clear. You can't help but stop to take photos.
After about 20 minutes you come to a via ferrata where families with their children climb up ladders and ropes from the lake.
After about half an hour we reach the rear part of the Vorderer Gosausee. This is where the two paths meet. You can either continue around the Vorderer Gosausee or go to the Hinterer Gosausee. We want to go to the rear one, of course.
The Hinterer Gosausee
It now goes slightly uphill along the forest road. As we later find out, this is just a small foretaste. The stroller is still quite easy to push. The surrounding forest is simply enchanting. After a total of 45 minutes you pass an idyllic hunting lodge. A few hundred meters later you reach the Gosaulacke, the small lake between the two large ones. Sometimes the lake is completely dry. A little later you come to a very beautiful little waterfall on the left.
We continue to this beautiful viewpoint. Here you should take another break and enjoy the nature, because after that you will go up the steep mountain.
The most strenuous part of the hike follows. We hardly see any people with strollers now. It is doable, but very difficult. You shouldn't underestimate the incline. But if you aren't pushing or carrying a child, it's no problem. After about 1.5 hours we reached the highest point of the mountain, and now the path is relatively flat again.
After a total of 1 hour 45 minutes we are sweating (it is 29°) and finally at the rear Gosausee arrived. He enjoyed the view.
Now you go right along the lake to the hut where you can eat. Now we have earned a break. We order a Kaiserschmarrn, a Kaspressknödelsuppe and a Radler. The food is incredibly delicious, we really didn't expect that.
From the hut you have a fantastic view of the lake, in front of us the cows are grazing on the mountain pasture. Next to them people are bathing.
In total it took us 2 hours to get from the parking lot to the hut at the rear of Lake Gosau.
After we have had plenty of refreshment, we head back. We follow the same path we came until we reach the front Gosausee again after about an hour.
Here the paths cross again, but now we walk past the lake on the left because we want to go completely around it.
Towards the end of the round you come across a lawn for those who want to swim. Unfortunately, we didn't pack any swimwear, so we carry on and reach our starting point after a total of 4.5 hours.
Zwieselalm
It's almost 4pm now, but since we're already there, we want to go to the Zwiesel Alm. The cable car leaves directly in front of the #1 car park or the large inn. The trip up and down costs €17, but with the Salzkammergut Card it only costs €15.
We immediately catch one of the gondolas that run every 15 minutes. There is hardly anything going on, probably because of the time. From the gondola you have a wonderful view over Lake Gosau. Since the last gondola goes back down at 5:50 p.m., we only have time for a short walk at the top. But after the hike to the rear Gosausee, we don't have the strength or motivation for more today anyway.
So we only go to the Gablonzer Hut, which you can see from the mountain station. The path is still a bit difficult with a stroller. Speaking of strollers: if you want, you can borrow an all-terrain stroller for free at the mountain station. If you are planning on longer hikes, it is definitely worth it.
The Gablonzer Hütte itself is comfortably furnished, and the weather is perfect for spending time on the terrace. We treat ourselves to coffee and cake (on offer for €5.50) and a Sauren Radler. Then we head back down the valley. We are exhausted. No wonder, my step app counts a full 20km today...
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