Treetop Walk Salzkammergut: High in the Trees over Gmunden

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Think Gmunden is just lakeside strolls and charming ceramics? Think again.

Tucked above the town on Grünberg mountain, the Gmunden Treetop Walk offers a completely different perspective, literally. This wooden path through the trees leads to a spiral viewing tower with panoramic views across the Salzkammergut.

I stumbled across a photo of the tower online and couldn’t believe I hadn’t visited it before, despite plenty of trips to Gmunden. So, I headed up there with my parents to see what it was all about. And even though it was a bit foggy, it was unforgettable.

In this post, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know before visiting the Gmunden Treetop Walk, from how to get there and what to expect, to tips for timing your visit and whether it’s really worth adding to your Salzkammergut itinerary.

Table of Contents

Treetop Walk: Walk Among the Trees

The wooden walkway begins on relatively flat ground near a slope, but as the terrain drops beneath you, you suddenly find yourself walking at treetop level, without ever having climbed uphill.

As you follow the gently curving path, you’ll enjoy stunning views of the surrounding forest. There’s even a viewpoint near the beginning where, on a clear day, you’ll get a beautiful panoramic look at Lake Traunsee and the town of Gmunden.

An elevated wooden path supported by tall metal stilts stretches through a dense forest, with a dirt trail visible below among the greenery.

Interactive & Educational Stops

Throughout the walk, you’ll come across interactive and educational panels in both German and English. While designed for kids, they’re genuinely fun for all ages. My favorites included:

A bird clock that plays different bird calls
A simple memory game
Small balance challenges (completely safe and easy to skip)

Ground-level view of the spiral-shaped wooden and steel treetop tower in Gmunden, Austria, with a wooden walkway leading toward the entrance and mist in the background.

Looking up inside the spiral structure of the Gmunden treetop tower, a twisting metallic slide loops through the levels surrounded by circular wooden walkways.

Climb the Viewing Tower

At the end of the treetop walk, you’ll reach the highlight of the experience, the viewing tower.

You make your way up by walking a wide wooden ramp that gradually ascends in a spiral until you reach the top. The views just get better the higher you go.

At the top, you’re rewarded with 360° panoramic views over the Salzkammergut region, the Traunsee, and the surrounding mountains.

When I visited, the weather was foggy and cold, but it made for a unique, almost mystical atmosphere, one side was completely covered in fog, the other bathed in sunshine.

Optional Slide Back Down

There’s also a long slide built into the tower (extra charge of €2), which is a fun option if it’s open. It was closed during my visit due to weather, and to be honest, I think I would have been too scared to try it anyway!

You can always just walk back down the spiral ramp the same way you came up.

A woman in a red jacket leans on a wooden railing at a scenic viewpoint high above a lake, with cloudy skies and a distant town visible across the water. — Me at the viewing point at the beginning of the walk

Tips for Visiting the Gmunden Treetop Walk

Buy your ticket online: If you’re planning to use the cable car, you can save a bit by buying a combo ticket with treetop walk access in advance online.
Check the opening times: Opening hours vary by season. There’s also a special winter light show (which looks amazing in photos!) from late November to mid-January, on weekends and daily during Christmas holidays (closed on the holidays themselves). For up-to-date times, check the official website here.
Plan for about 1.5 hours: From entering the wooden walkway to enjoying the views from the top of the tower, we spent about 1.5 hours at the treetop walk, taking it slow, but not hanging around too long as it was so cold.
Wear comfortable shoes: The path is wide and easy to walk, but you’ll be on your feet the whole time, including climbing the viewing tower.
Watch the weather: The walk closes during storms, for safety reasons. When we visited it was foggy, which created a mystical atmosphere and meant fewer people. If it’s too foggy, you won’t see anything. It’s best to visit on a clear day.
Stop by the souvenir shop: Before exiting, you’ll walk past a small souvenir shop with local gifts and nature-themed items. It’s worth a quick browse, especially if you’re looking for a small memento from your visit.
Grab a Bite at Grünbergalm: If you’re feeling hungry after your walk, check out Grünbergalm, a rustic restaurant near the top station. It has both indoor and outdoor seating and offers a few clearly labeled vegan options.

How to Get to the Gmunden Treetop Walk

The Gmunden Treetop Walk is located on Grünberg mountain, just above the picturesque lakeside town of Gmunden in Upper Austria’s Salzkammergut region.

Getting to Gmunden

Whether you’re coming from Vienna or another part of Austria, Gmunden is easy to reach by train or car.

By Train

From Vienna, there’s one direct train daily from Wien Westbahnhof to Gmunden, taking just over 2 hours.

More frequent trains are available with a quick change at Attnang-Puchheim, which brings the total journey time to about 2 hours and 15 minutes.

From Gmunden train station, it’s a 40-minute walk to the Grünberg cable car station, passing through Gmunden’s charming town center.

By Car

If you’re doing a road trip through Salzkammergut, driving to Gmunden is a great option. There are several large car parks in town, including one right next to the Grünberg cable car station, perfect if you’re heading straight up the mountain.

The green Grünberg cable car glides above a densely forested hillside, offering panoramic views of Gmunden, Austria, with its buildings clustered around Lake Traunsee.

Getting to the Top of Grünberg Mountain

By Cable Car (Grünbergseilbahn)

The easiest way up is by cable car, which runs every 15 minutes. You can purchase a combo ticket for the cable car and treetop walk. It’s slightly cheaper when you buy it online.

By Hike

For a more active approach, follow trail 4 or 5, both starting from the car park at the base of the cable car. The hike to the top takes around 1.5 hours, winding through forested paths.

It’s a good workout and a nice way to save money by skipping the cable car.

Getting to the Treetop Walk

From the top cable car station, it’s a short walk past the toboggan run to the entrance of the Baumwipfelpfad (treetop walk). Signage could be better, but the path is still easy to follow.

This aerial photo shows the Salzkammergut Tree Top Walk and spiral viewing tower surrounded by dense forest, overlooking Lake Traunsee in Upper Austria. The wooden walkway winds through the trees, leading to the tower that offers panoramic views of the mountains, lake, and countryside below. — I definitely need to come back in summer © Traunsee Touristik GmbH / Chris Eder

Final Thoughts: Is the Salzkammergut Treetop Walk Worth It?

If you’re looking to see the Salzkammergut from a new perspective, quite literally, the Treetop Walk is absolutely worth a visit. It’s easy to reach, fun to explore, and offers stunning views from both the wooden walkway and the viewing tower.

Even though we didn’t get the postcard lake views due to fog, the whole experience was still amazing, and I can only imagine how breathtaking it must be on a clear day. It’s great for anyone looking for a unique stop while exploring the region.

If you’re planning a visit, don’t miss my full guide to the best things to do in Gmunden to not miss out on anything while you’re there.