The Dachstein Mountains are one of Austria's most impressive alpine massifs — a vast limestone plateau crowned with glaciers, dramatic rock faces and some of the country's longest cave systems. Spread across three federal states, this region offers an extraordinary mix of raw mountain wilderness and UNESCO World Heritage culture.

Hikers here walk across sweeping karst plateaus where the ground is riddled with sinkholes and underground rivers, gaze down at crystal-clear alpine lakes far below, and stand on glaciers that represent the easternmost and largest glacier group in the Northern Limestone Alps. The scenery shifts constantly — from gentle valley meadows to sheer 1000-metre walls and icy summits just shy of 3000 metres.

• Hoher Dachstein (2996 m) — the highest peak in the massif and the roof of both Upper Austria and Styria
• Gosaukamm Ridge — a jagged limestone crest with stunning views over the Gosausee lakes
• Hirlatzhöhle — Austria's third-longest cave, stretching over 112 kilometres underground
• Dachstein Glacier — the largest glacier group in the Northern Limestone Alps, accessible by cable car

• Base towns: Ramsau am Dachstein, Hallstatt, Bad Aussee, Filzmoos
• Trail difficulty: ranges from easy valley walks to demanding high-alpine routes requiring experience and proper gear
• Getting there: by car via Salzkammergutstraße or the Tauern Motorway; by train on the Salzkammergut Railway to Bad Aussee; cable cars operate from Obertraun and Ramsau

The Dachstein region is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site 'Hallstatt-Dachstein / Salzkammergut Cultural Landscape' — and the salt mines of nearby Hallstatt have been worked since around 5000 BC, making this one of the oldest known mining sites on Earth.