The landscape around this townlet is just spectacular. We stay in Obertraun, which is on the southeastern side of the Hallstätter lake. Coming from Bad Aussee there is a fabulous mountain road on L701 turning to L547 with a stunning view, leading to Obertraun and continuing to Hallstatt and further up on the west side of the lake. At some point there is a very narrow tunnel that has a scenic outpost in the middle of it with a view on the lake. You can only ride along the lake on the west side. The eastern side only has walking and cycling tracks right next to the water.
Driving from Hallstatt to Mariazell features one of the most beautiful roads we’ve ever been on. On the B145 you’ll pass Tauplitz where you should take the time and invest 5 Euro to drive up the Tauplitzalmstraße which is a very curvy, nice road up to the top of the mountain with a comprehensive view on the alps in this area. Continuing on the federal highway you drive through Trautenfels and keep left on to E651 towards Liezen. From there we kept driving on B146 which leads you directly through Nationalpark Gesäuse, located in the mountainous Upper Styrain region within the Ennstal Alps and the steep water gap of the Enns river between Admont and Hieflau.
Driving right next to the river gives you gorgeous panorama along this part of the track. In Hieflau you keep left on B115, B25 and eventually on B24 which leads you through the Ybbstaler Alps directly to Mariazell. This track as well features awesome curves, fantastic panorama and you’ll just smile beneath your helmet for more than 70km. Mariazell is one of the Meccas of motorcyclists in Austria – grab a coffee there and stroll around this nice townlet, it’s worth it.
