Triftsteig from Lofer to Au and back again via the Bischofsquelle and Löwenquelle.

Triftsteig from Lofer to Au and back again via the Bischofsquelle and Löwenquelle.

A very nice easy and recommendable hike in a beautiful landscape with many interesting stories along the way.

We start our hike directly at the Schweinöster holiday home. After a few hundred meters we turn right at the hamlet of Scheffsnoth, hike to the Bairaupark and from there to the Saalach, where we meet the Teufelssteg. We cross the bridge and reach the starting point of the Trifsteig, which leads downstream along the Saalach from Lofer to Au.

The Salzburger Saalachtal has its Triftsteig again

The Triftsteig was destroyed by a century of flooding in 2013. For some time now, this beautiful path with a rich history, which leads from the Devil's Gorge in Lofer along the river to Au, has been accessible again.

It was a difficult project that workers of the municipality and the tourist office spent in two years. "It's a big challenge. There was nothing left, no sidewalks, no continuous paths," recalls project manager Hans Wimmer of the flood of the century. Along the Saalach hangs a creepy picture. With untamed strength, he makes his way to the Triftsteig and drags boulders, stones and even whole trees with him. The swollen streams fall from far above and merge with the river in a wild dance. It is a deafening roar and roar, in short, a hellish sound that gives the name Devil's Gorge.

At the end of the Trifsteig we meet the road to Au. We cross it and walk through the forest to the Chapel of St. Anthony.

From St. Anthony's Chapel we continue hiking via Maurach towards Krepper and finally take our first break at the Bischofsquelle. The best water for the Hofbräuhaus Lofer (Unterbräuhaus) was piped from the Bischofsquelle into wooden pipes, where the last brew was bottled on March 2, 1926.

A few meters from the Bischofsquelle is the Kilian - Rast.

After a rest, enjoying the silence, the wonderful water and the good forest air, we continue hiking on almost flat paths and soon reach the Schmiedhäusl and the Löwenquelle. Everywhere there is something interesting to read, discover and learn more about this beautiful place Lofer or to hike.

In the last part of our hike...

... We drive through the historic town of Lofer, read some of the almost 60 panels on the history of Lofer, cross the Saalach - only this time not over the Teufelssteg but over the Hubertussteg and end our beautiful spring walk in Scheffsnoth.