Rack railway to the Schafberg from St. Wolfgang

What it is

The SchafbergBahn is the rack railway that climbs from St. Wolfgang, on the shore of the Wolfgangsee, to the summit of the Schafberg, at 1,783 m. It has run since 1893 and its operator presents it as the steepest rack railway in Austria. The climb takes a little over 35 minutes, with a stop at the Schafbergalm (1,364 m) after 30 minutes and 4.2 km. At the top you have a 360-degree view over the mountains and, according to the operator, over 11 lakes of the Salzkammergut.

It is run by the company 5 Schätze, which also operates the boats on the Wolfgangsee.

Seasons

• Main season 2026: from 25 April to 1 November, to the summit.
• Closed: from 2 to 19 November 2026.
• Advent: from 20 November to 20 December 2026, Wednesday to Sunday, only as far as the Schafbergalm.
• Christmas and New Year: from 26 December 2026 to 3 January 2027, daily, only as far as the Schafbergalm.

The dates for the 2027 summer season have not yet been published; in 2026 it began with spring trains on weekends in March and April. In high season trains leave every 20 minutes.

Prices 2026

Under-4s do not pay if they do not take a seat. The dog ticket is also valid on the Wolfgangsee boats. Until 31 October 2026, on Fridays from 13:30 children travelled free with an adult.

Tickets and reservations

You do not need to reserve a seat to go up; groups of 20 or more must book. The descent ticket carries a fixed time, which you choose when you buy it and can change at the machines at the upper station, the Schafbergspitze hotel or the Himmelspforte. From the Schafbergalm the descent is not reserved: you board according to the space available. You can buy online in the 5 Schätze shop; you see live departures and free seats.

At the summit

From the upper station (1,732 m), a well-prepared path climbs about 50 m to the Schafbergspitze hotel and the Himmelspforte, a former hut with a panoramic terrace serving simple food. If you like walking, you can climb on foot from the Schafbergalm to the summit. Bicycles are not allowed anywhere on the mountain.

Getting there

The lower station is in St. Wolfgang im Salzkammergut, on the shore of the Wolfgangsee. You can get there by car or on the lake boats, run by the same company.

With children, a pushchair and a dog

Pushchairs cannot go on the train: they are left at the lower station. At the top the paths are steep and not accessible. Bring a baby carrier. Dogs travel muzzled and on a lead, or in a carrier, and with their own ticket except in a carrier.

If the weather changes

At the summit it is colder and windier than at the lake. If it is in cloud, you will not see the lakes: choose a clear day and bring an extra layer.

Another Salzkammergut plan to combine is the Kaiservilla in Bad Ischl, Franz Joseph's summer home.