The Sarstein Loop is a challenging and varied mountain bike tour that leads around the imposing Hoher Sarstein mountain. This half-day tour combines several mountain bike routes in the Ausseerland region and impresses with its natural diversity, cultural highlights, and numerous places to stop for refreshments. Particularly noteworthy is the section along the Hallstättersee Ostuferweg trail, which is one of the scenic highlights of the tour.
From the parking lot at the Narzissen Vital Resort in Bad Aussee, the trail first leads along a meadow path to the former Teichwirt inn. It then continues to the crossroads, where you turn right down to Sommersbergseestraße. This leads to the turnoff towards Sarstein.
This is followed by a descent via the Salzkammerweg (forest path) to the Traun. Follow the course of the river upstream until you cross the Traun via the Austeg. Shortly before Bad Aussee station, you cross the railway line. From here, the route follows the R19 Salzkammergut cycle path along Koppenstraße.
The Koppental valley is reserved for hikers. Therefore, the cycle path leads over the Koppenpass-Landesstraße. After about three kilometers, you turn off onto a gravel road that leads to the border with Upper Austria. There, the R19 becomes the Upper Austrian R2, which leads steeply down to the Koppentalbahn railway. After crossing the railway and the Traun River, the R2 leads to Obertraun, past the Koppenlacke, the Dachstein cable car valley station, and the Federal Sports Center to the Hallstättersee.
Along the spectacular suspension bridges and gravel paths on the eastern shore of Lake Hallstatt, you reach Untersee and then St. Agatha. After crossing the B145, the trail leads towards Halleralm. Shortly afterwards, turn right and follow the ascending Leislingstraße for about 5.5 kilometers to Oberlupitsch. There, continue left towards Waldgraben.
At the next intersection, take the first forest road to the right towards the Pflindsberg castle ruins and Altaussee. The trail initially descends through dense forest before leading to Altaussee on asphalt in open terrain.
After the Reischenböck nursery, you will reach the main road. This leads to the junction towards Bad Ischl. From here, turn right and follow Wimmstraße uphill to Hiasngasse. Follow this road to reach the B145. At the fire station, turn left and follow the road for 750 meters to the starting point at the Narzissen Vital Resort.
This challenging MTB circular tour offers everything you need for a successful day of mountain biking in the Ausseerland region: challenging sections, panoramic routes, cultural and historical sites, and numerous places to stop for a break. It is ideal for experienced bikers looking for an intense cycling adventure in the mountains.