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| GOSAU VALLEY The idyllic Gosau valley lies in the heart of the Austrian Alps' Salzkammergut region Surrounded by beautiful mountains and many lakes, it is a walkers paradise In winter, Gosau is the premier resort for the Dachstein-West ski area It is 11 km long and is divided into three main settlements: Vordertal, Mittertal and Hintertal The "crowning glory" of the valley is the magnificent 'Gosaukamm', a huge, rugged mountain range at the head of the valley. Gosau is also famed for its lake, and its panoramic views towards the Dachstein and its glacier
Arriving in Gosau is thrilling! When you approach this hidden valley from Lake Hallstatt you will follow the river up through the gorge as the water thunders down, twisting and turning, through the forest. Eventually you will emerge into the wide meadows and grazing pastures at the lower end of the valley. Moments later the stunning backdrop of the jagged grey teeth of the Gosaukamm mountains at the far end, comes into view!  The road through Gosau valley ends abruptly at Gosausee at 937m. This lake is the crowning part of the valley and lies directly below the mighty walls and impressive heights of the Gosaukamm, part of mount Dachstein, the highest mountain of the Salzkammergut region. Inner Salzkammergut is a place to enjoy at leisure; no matter whether you like engaging in something energetic, or would rather wish to simply unwind doing something relaxing - you are sure to find what is right for you here. In summertime, Gosau is popular for walking or jogging on the trails, and mountain biking. But you'll also discover a huge range of exciting activities to try out: White water rafting, canyoning, tubing, kayaking, rock-climbing, diving, paragliding, hot air ballooning, as well as lake swimming, fishing, and boat trips - all of which are there for you! Indeed, the possibilities for enjoying fresh air and crystal clear water are virtually endless here, in Gosau. 
It is a level walk around the Gosausee. It takes 60 minutes minimum, and the view of the Dachstein glacier mirrored in the lake is magnificent. The water is a gorgeous green, and along the path are many benches giving wonderful views of the steep cliffs where rock climbers cling on a set course. From Gosausee, one of the three cable cars of the valley climbs up the mountain side to a viewpoint overlooking the lake and across to the glacier on the Dachstein. Near here the mountain restaurant with its sunny terrace is the place to soak up this wonderful view. Another popular walk is beyond gosausee, deeper into the mountains, to Hinterer Gosausee, a smaller but equally beautiful lake. The gravel track climbs through forestry and flowery pastures.  In the summer, refreshments are available at the welcoming Holzmeister-alm, a wooden cafe, at 1164m, where sausage soup and a beer awaits you!
A steep climb from here over the lower mountains, close to the glacier, winds up and over to Hallstattersee. On your return to Gosausee, be sure to stop at the lakeside hof for a rewarding apfel strudel - delicious! The Zweiselalm Plateau 
Another very rewarding walk is the one coming down from Zweisalalm and Sonnenalm to the Gosausee, after going up by cable car (all in sight of our apartment!). It takes two hours or so back down to the valley bottom on foot. Others say walking up is the only way! Great views accompany you, when walking down opposite the Dachstein glacier, to the lake and surrounding mountains, and you will probably meet up with some friendly cows! Alternatively, the trail down via Zweiselalm and along the forest trail below Hornspitz to the 'Three Churches', opposite our apartment building, makes a wonderful day out!
 All seasons - apart from winter - are ideal for walkers and cyclists. There are over 400 kms of marked trails along mountain ridges, across grazing pastures, beside lakes, along forest trails, past waterfalls and over mountain passes, and beyond.
There are 20 welcoming 'alms' huts, alone above Gosau. Springtime becomes awash with colourful flowers and the freshness of the new greens on the pastures when the snow disappears and retreats back up the mountains. The melting snow releases water which cascade down magnificent waterfalls. Autumn colours are wonderful as the countryside prepares itself for winter; the whole area becomes ablaze with reds, oranges and browns. The mellow warmth of this season makes it an ideal time for outside pursuits. This band of musicans rowed up the lake playing as they went! We later found them in the lakeside bar with others. 
 During winter the valley is transformed into one of Austria’s best kept skiing secrets. The snow in the Dachstein-West region is plentiful all season, and is replenished regularly with fresh powder. Wide walking tracks in the snow are maintained throughout the valley allowing easy walks through the magnificent scenery. Behind the hotel there is a small nursery slope available to our guests, at no extra charge. Dachstein-West is the name of the local ski area. It is great for Intermediate skiing and snowboarding. As well as mountain top skiing, there are 45 kms of Langlauf (cross-country) tracks throughout the valley. These tracks are carefully maintained by state of the art equipment - see more info on the Skiing page. Local Amenities Gosau has a wide range of services including a well-stocked supermarket, banks, fuel/gas station, specialist shops, restaurants and bars, and a good tourist information centre. There is also a large indoor swimming pool in the village. It is the policy of the authorities in the valley that no high rise buildings are permitted, therefore allowing it to retain its traditional character and splendid outlook. Natural scenic beauty, friendly people, vibrant traditions, a rich cultural landscape and interesting sights are the ideal ingredients for the ultimate holiday experience 
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