Echerntal and the Waldbachstrub from Hallstatt

From car park P2 at the southern end of Hallstatt, walk west through the hamlet of Lahn and into the Echerntal, a deep wooded valley running into the Dachstein. A lane and then a path follow the Waldbach upstream to the Waldbachstrub, where the stream falls more than 50 m into a pool among the rocks. The way back climbs a little onto the southern slope to the Gletschergarten, where the Ice Age glacier smoothed and hollowed out the limestone, then drops back down the valley to Lahn.

It is 6.1 km round with 199 m of ascent; allow about 2 hours. The grade is Easy: a lane, forest tracks and paths, with short steep sections near the waterfall.

Boards along the valley tell of the Romantic painters and writers who came to the Echerntal. The rocks near the falls are wet and slippery. Hallstatt is very busy in summer; the Echerntal is quieter, especially early in the day.

Hallstatt's car parks P1 and P2 are at the south end of the village, near the Lahn bus station. Buses run from Bad Ischl and Obertraun, and boats cross the lake from Hallstatt station.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.