Hiking Mt Loser in Austria: Full summer guide

Mt Loser is a popular ski resort located next to Altaussee Lake in Austria. But, many people don’t know that this is an amazing spot for outdoor activities during the summer.

We went hiking in Mt Loser last summer and we felt like we discovered a hidden gem in Austria. The peak had incredible panoramic views and almost no one else was there!

This guide will help you plan a summer visit to go hiking in Mt Loser.

Loser Hike Stats

There are many different trails available, we did a loop hike that passed through the main points: August Lake, Loser Window, and the Loser Peak. The stats below are for the route we followed:

• Length: 4.73 km circular trail
• Duration: It took us a bit less than 3h for the complete loop
• Elevation gain: 350 m
• Starting point: Parking lot outside the hut Loseralm Inn – check the location here
• Difficulty: Easy/moderate marked trail
• Infrastructure: Food, bathrooms, and large parking at the Hut Loseralm Inn. There’s also another hut lower down the road if this one is full.
• Best time to hike: Open all summer, best between July and September after the snow is gone

Detailed map of the Loser Circular Hike

If you want to do a different route, check the options on their official page.

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Infrastructure at Loser Mountain

There are so many options of things to do at Loser Mountain! We were honestly impressed by how very few people know about it considering how good the infrastructure is.

First, you need to know that access to Loser Mountain is paid for all vehicles. Prices vary between winter and summer. The toll for a regular car cost us € 20 and we paid it at the Loser Infopoint at the entrance.

Access is free for bicycles or people on foot (even though it’s quite a distance to walk, I wouldn’t recommend it).

The lifts are closed during the summer, but they are fully operational during the winter. In fact, when we were there, they were just finishing building a new panorama gondola which opened in the winter of 2024 (it looked very cool!).

For more information about current prices, you can check them here.

Other summer activities available at Mt Loser

There are many other things you can do at Loser Mountain during the summer:

• 2 Via Ferratas
• Cycling routes
• Paragliding
• High rope course
• Other hiking trails
• Eating local Austrian food at the huts

Loser Hike – The circular trail

The circular trail we did at Loser Mountain can be split into 4 parts:

• Part 1: Hut to August Lake
• Part 2: August Lake to Loser Window
• Part 3: Loser Window to Loser Peak
• Part 4: Way back to the hut

Part 1: From the hut to August Lake

The first section of the Loser Hiking Trail is very easy and accessible. August Lake is located just a few meters above the parking lot at the Hut Loseralm Inn.

August Lake gives you a really impressive view, with perfect reflections of the mountains behind. It’s a really beautiful stop, which is why I recommend visiting it right when you start.

Part 2: From August Lake to Loser Window

Continue following the trail on the left shore of the lake. There will be signs indicating the way to the Loser Window.

In this section, the trail starts getting steeper. You will pass the upper lift station and follow the signs towards your right. The path in this section becomes very rocky, so it’s important to wear proper shoes.

Loser Window is one of the highlights of the trail: a natural rock gate that provides panoramic views of the Schönberg and the landscape around the Gschwandalm and Schoßboden.

It is not possible to cross the window as it leads to the abyss. There is a small wooden bench right in front so you can take a break and admire the view.

Part 3: From Loser Window to Loser Peak

The third section of the hike is where you’ll do the longest climb. Loser Peak has 1,838 meters and provides 360 views of the valley below.

To get there, the path follows the top of the mountain range most of the time. The trail is really beautiful, but with rocky terrain.

The first landmark you’ll see is a small chapel, but you need to continue ahead towards Loser Peak. We passed large herds of sheep along the way in this section, which means the trail was full of poop so mind your step!

At the top, there’s a large cross indicating the highest point. I recommend taking a break and having a snack here at the top.

Pro tip: This section of the trail can get slippery (especially when going back down), so having a hiking pole can come in handy here.

Part 4: Way back to the hut

After conquering Mt Loser, you can choose between walking back the same way or taking a right turn to complete the circular loop (like we did on the map above).

If you choose to do the circular loop, this last part of the trail will be the least eventful one. The landscape around you is beautiful, but there isn’t anything new to see.

You can also choose to do the circle in the other direction (starting at Loser Peak and finishing with August Lake) but this will be more demanding. 

The climb directly to Loser Peak is the steepest so by doing it the way we did, you’ll have the descent on this steepest section instead of having to climb it.

Hiking Gear recommendation

Check out our favorite hiking gear and essentials which we always bring with us.

Our Amazon Hiking list

Visiting Loser in Summer vs Winter

Loser Mountain is open during all seasons of the year, but your visit will look completely different depending on the month you choose to go there.

During the summer, you can go hiking, cycling, and all the other outdoor sports I mentioned above.

During the winter, Loser Mountain is a ski station. The lifts and gondolas are operational during the winter and you can find all sorts of winter activities here, including skiing, snowboarding, sledding, winter hiking, and much more.

Honestly, the experiences of visiting during the summer and the winter are so different that it barely feels like the same place! I recommend trying out both.

Where to stay near Loser Mountain?

The best place to use as a reference for booking your accommodation is the lake located right below Loser Mountain called Altaussee Lake.

Since winter is the high season around here, most accommodations are made for the ski season but they are still open during the summer.

If you find it hard to get a place near Altaussee, you can look broader into the surrounding region because access by road is very easy. For example, we were staying in Obertraun near Hallstatt when we went hiking in Mt Loser. It was a short 30min drive until the infopoint.

Here are our recommended places to stay:

• Seehotel am Hallstättersee – This is the hotel we stayed in Obertraun and I cannot recommend it enough. It is tagged as a two-star in Booking but I honestly don’t know why. This place is really cozy, and aesthetically built, with great facilities such as a swimming pool, and they serve an amazing breakfast. We booked a room with a lake view and it was amazing.
• Hotel am See – Seeresidenz – This hotel is located in Altaussee, right next to the lake. It’s a great place to stay in the summer so you can also enjoy the lake itself.

See more hotels

Read also: All about visiting Hallstatt in Austria

Do you need to rent a car for your trip?

We always use DiscoverCars to rent our car. So far it has proved to be not only the cheapest option but also the most reliable one. We used DiscoverCars to rent our car for our trips through Slovenia, Montenegro, Serbia, Italy, and so many other countries, and we never had any issues. We even convinced all of our friends and family to use it. So that’s why we are also recommending it to you!

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FAQ – Popular questions about hiking Mt Loser

Is the Loser Hike dog-friendly?

Access is free for bringing your dog, but I wouldn’t say it is the most dog-friendly hike because the trail is so rocky and uneven.

You know your dog better than anyone, so it’s up to you to define whether this is a good call. Personally, I would only bring a dog if it is used to hiking in such conditions.

Is the Loser Hike suitable for kids?

For the same reason above, I would say that Loser Hike is not the most friendly trail for small kids. Even though it is completely possible for kids to do it, they may have a hard time with the trail itself.

Please consider your children and evaluate whether they have experience with hiking. You know your kid better than anyone! If they are already comfortable hiking, it should be quite ok.

Do I need a guide to hike Mt Loser?

No, everything is very well marked within Loser Mountain. You can easily follow all the trails by yourself.

Can I do the Loser Hike during the winter?

They offer a few options for winter hiking during the winter season at Loser Mountain. The path might not be the same considering the winter conditions.

I’d recommend checking the winter offers on their website.

Read other guides about Austria and nearby destinations

• Driving in Austria as a foreigner
• Visiting Liechtensteinklamm Gorge
• Visiting Vintgar Gorge in Slovenia
• Best things to see in the Triglav National Park