The Zwieselalm meadows and the Gosaukammbahn

The Gosaukammbahn leaves from the valley floor and climbs to the Zwieselalm, a broad shoulder of pasture and low pine at roughly 1,475 metres, with grazing cattle in summer and the whole western ridge across the valley in front of you. It is the one place where you see the Gosaukamm end to end rather than as a wall beside you.

The ground up here is open and rolling rather than dramatic, which makes it good for people: nothing to climb, room to move, and a horizon in every direction. Paths lead on across the alm towards the Zwieselalm summit and the huts, and the meadows are covered in flowers through June and July.

The view is west, so the ridge takes direct light through the afternoon and the last hour before sunset is the best of the day; mornings put the towers in silhouette, which works too if you want the shape rather than the texture.

The lift runs in summer for walkers and again in winter as part of the Dachstein West ski area, with a closed period between the two seasons. Hours differ between summer and winter, and both change year to year, so check the current operating dates before planning a session around the ride. It is noticeably colder and windier up here than in the valley.