Der Salzachdurchbruch

The Salzach Gorge - Wildly romantic natural spectacle

Shortly before it flows into the Inn, the Salzach between Burghausen and Hochburg-Ach (Austria) offers a wildly romantic natural spectacle, the Salzach Gorge. After the last ice age, the Salzach dug itself about 70 meters deep into the flinz sand, leaving behind an impressive steep slope with numerous caves in which the rare Aesculapian snake, jackdaws, bats and eagle owls live. The cave walls bear witness to 4 million years of earth's history, fossil leaf impressions and brown coal seams are relics of past swamp forests.
On the Austrian side of the Salzach Bridge, there are many steps up to a wonderful vantage point with a view of the world's longest castle and Burghausen. From here, the path leads uphill to a natural stone bridge, the so-called "Celtic Castle". You hike down through a natural hillside forest to the banks of the Salzach and the Salzach Gorge. In the riverbed of the Salzach are the imposing Kreuzfelsen and the "Hund", a dam made of granite blocks, which are also worth seeing.

Starting point and parking: At the Salzach Bridge, Stadtplatz, 84489 Burghausen
Length: approx. 6 km, duration: approx. 2 hours
Level of difficulty: medium