Schafberg
1,782 m
Austria
- Elevation
- 1,782 m
- Prominence
- 1,178 m
- Difficulty
- 2/10
- Hike
- Best Season
- Jun–Sep
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1The classic walk up from the Wolfgangsee: forest paths from St. Wolfgang (about 540 m) to the Dorneralm and the Schafbergalm railway halt (1,363 m), then the steep, open trail 20 to the Krapfl and the summit hotel at 1,783 m. About 1,250 m of ascent; most people ride the cog railway down.
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 7.9 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +1,252 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 1,786 m
- Time Up
- 5h 11m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 3h 32m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
Start at the SchafbergBahn valley station or the parish church in St. Wolfgang. Follow the Sternallee past the Försterhof, then turn off onto the path towards the Aschinger inn (Jausenstation Aschinger). A broad path (trail 23, Schafbergweg) climbs through forest to the Dorneralm, about 1½ hours from the village, and continues to the Schafbergalm (1,363 m), the halfway station of the cog railway. From the Schafbergalm, trail 20 climbs steeply across open meadow, crossing the railway twice, to a point called the Krapfl, then rises more gently along the south side to the summit station (1,732 m) and the Hotel Schafbergspitze on the top (1,783 m). The north side falls away in cliffs of about 300 m towards the Suissensee cirque, so keep to the path near the summit. The official signposting gives 3½ hours for 7.6 km and about 1,270 m of ascent; fit walkers report 2½–3 hours. Descend the same way (about 2¼ hours) or take the SchafbergBahn down; the one-way ticket is expensive (EUR 43 for adults in 2026) and trains are busy, so booking the descent online is advised. The route from St. Gilgen (trails 20 and 804) joins at the Schafbergalm and is a common alternative.
Start
St. Wolfgang (SchafbergBahn valley station)543 m
- SchafbergBahn cog railway, St. Wolfgang – Schafbergalm – Schafbergspitze (5.85 km, about 35 minutes)
- Buses from Salzburg and Bad Ischl to St. Wolfgang, or the Wolfgangsee ferry; the route starts by the SchafbergBahn valley station. The cog railway runs to the summit daily from late April to 1 November (25 April – 1 November in 2026).
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Wolfgang (SchafbergBahn valley station) → Schafberg | 7.9 | 1,252 | 13 | 5h 11m |
Waypoints
- Station: St. Wolfgang (SchafbergBahn valley station)543 m
- Waypoint: Dorneralm1,021 m
- Station: Schafbergalm1,365 m
- Station: Schafbergbahn Bergstation1,730 m
- Summit: Schafberg1,782 m
Key Passages
- Forest path to the Dorneralm
- Steep open slope from the Schafbergalm to the Krapfl (crosses the railway twice)
- Summit area above the north cliffs
Equipment
0/5 packedDownloads
Route confidence 75%Overview
A 1,782 m limestone peak rising straight from the Wolfgangsee, with the Mondsee and Attersee at its feet, a cog railway from St. Wolfgang and Austria's oldest mountain hotel on top. A steady half-day walk of about 1,250 m on good paths, or a train ride.
The Schafberg stands on the border of Salzburg and Upper Austria at the north-western edge of the Salzkammergut. Its south flank climbs steadily from the Wolfgangsee (538 m), while the north side breaks off in cliffs of about 300 m above a cirque holding the small Suissensee; five small lakes lie just north of the main ridge. From the top you look down on the Wolfgangsee, Mondsee and Attersee, and across to the Dachstein and the Salzburg Alps.
It is one of the most visited summits in Austria. The SchafbergBahn, a cog railway opened in 1893, climbs 1,190 m from St. Wolfgang in about 35 minutes, and the summit carries the Hotel Schafbergspitze, a station building and the Himmelspforte restaurant. Do not expect solitude between May and October.
On foot, it is a straightforward but sustained climb. The standard route from St. Wolfgang via the Dorneralm and Schafbergalm takes about 3½ hours by the signposts; the route from St. Gilgen is similar. The Purtschellersteig from the Mönichsee and the Himmelspfortensteig on the north-west flank are steeper, partly cable-protected alternatives for experienced walkers.
Climbing Notes
Needs ordinary hill fitness for about 1,250 m of ascent; no technical skills on the standard routes. The trail above the Schafbergalm is steep and open, so good boots matter, especially when wet. Many walkers climb up and take the train down; buy the descent ticket in advance on busy days and check the last departure time. Staying overnight at the summit hotel (season roughly May to mid-October) gives sunset and sunrise views; hotel guests arriving on foot must check in by 20:00.
The Purtschellersteig is exposed and cable-protected and is only for sure-footed walkers with a head for heights. In winter the railway runs only to the Schafbergalm on selected dates and the summit facilities are closed; snow and ice make the upper slope serious without crampons.
History
The mountain is first recorded in 841 as 'Skafesperc' in the records of Mondsee Abbey, after the sheep pastures of the Schafbergalm. By the early 19th century visitors were climbing it from St. Wolfgang on alpine pasture paths, some carried up in sedan chairs by porters. Friedrich Simony spent seven weeks on the summit in 1847 drawing his panorama. A small stone inn was built on the top in 1853 and the Hotel Schafbergspitze, regarded as Austria's first mountain hotel, opened in 1864; its oldest part burned down in 1906. The cog railway opened on 1 August 1893 and is now run by Salzburg AG.
Season
Best Jun–Sep- January: Not advisable
- February: Not advisable
- March: Possible
- April: Possible
- May: Good
- June: Best (best window)
- July: Best (best window)
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Best (best window)
- October: Good
- November: Possible
- December: Not advisable
- Jan
- Winter; summit facilities closed, upper slope icy
- Feb
- Winter conditions
- Mar
- Railway to the Schafbergalm only, at weekends; snow on the upper route
- Apr
- Railway to the summit from late April (25 April in 2026); late snow possible
- May
- Summit hotel and restaurant open; usually snow-free
- Jul
- Busy; afternoon thunderstorms
- Aug
- Busy; afternoon thunderstorms
- Sep
- Often clear, fewer visitors
- Oct
- Hotel and restaurant close in October; railway runs until 1 November (2026)
- Nov
- Railway closed after early November; first snow
- Dec
- Advent trains to the Schafbergalm only
Access & Permits
- Hut Booking
- No alpine hut; the Hotel Schafbergspitze on the summit offers rooms in summer (book via schafberg.net). The last train for hotel guests leaves the valley at 16:30; guests arriving on foot must check in by 20:00.
- Fees
- SchafbergBahn single ride up or down EUR 43 for adults, EUR 12.90 for children aged 4–14 (2026); KlimaTicket and ÖBB Vorteilscard not accepted
- Paid parking in St. Wolfgang
- Rules
- Dogs on the railway need a muzzle and lead
- Getting There
St. Wolfgang im Salzkammergut; St. Gilgen
Salzburg Airport (SZG)
- Bus from Salzburg or Bad Ischl to St. Wolfgang or St. Gilgen; Wolfgangsee ferries link St. Gilgen, St. Wolfgang and the railway
- Car to St. Wolfgang; railway users park in the car parks near the SchafbergBahn valley station
- SchafbergBahn cog railway from St. Wolfgang to the summit daily from late April to 1 November (2026), with limited runs to the Schafbergalm in spring and Advent
Hazards
- Weather
- Exposure
Huts & Shelters
1- 1,783 m
Hotel SchafbergspitzeHotelStaffedBooking required
Rooms roughly May to mid-October (1 May – 12 October in 2025); restaurant late April to late October, depending on the railway and weather