01 - Overview
The Traun Valley Cycle Route (R4) follows the river Traun for some 83 kilometres downhill from Gmunden on the Traunsee to its confluence with the Danube near Linz. From the lakeshore with Schloss Ort, past the thundering Traunfall, through the Benedictine town of Lambach and the fair city of Wels, the almost entirely flat river route rolls down to Abwinden-Asten, where it meets the Danube Cycle Path (R1). A relaxed, family-friendly day tour along the turquoise water.
The Traun leaves the Traunsee at Gmunden as a broad, turquoise alpine river and works its way through the Upper Austrian alpine foreland to the Danube. The Traun Valley Cycle Route accompanies it almost continuously downhill and close to the bank. In Gmunden the tour starts at the Traunbrücke, with a view of the Seeschloss Ort on its island in the lake and the parish church. Downstream, near Roitham, the Traunfall roars over a broad rock step - one of the most impressive waterfalls of the alpine foreland - before the route crosses the old papermaking country around Laakirchen and Steyrermühl. In Stadl-Paura the Trinity church and the Schiffleutmuseum recall the era of Traun river shipping; directly opposite stands the baroque Benedictine abbey of Lambach with its famous Romanesque frescoes. The route continues across the wide Welser Heide to Wels, with its handsome old town, the Stadtplatz, the Ledererturm and the castle. Via Marchtrenk and Traun the river finally reaches the Danube at Linz-Ebelsberg; at the Abwinden-Asten weir the R4 joins the Danube Cycle Path R1. Mostly paved, with sections on firm service tracks and almost level throughout, the Traun Valley route is one of the most relaxed river routes in Upper Austria - ideal for families and for a single day on the saddle.
- Regions
- Upper Austria
- Start
- Gmunden
- Finish
- Abwinden-Asten (Danube)
- Surface
- Paved
- Network
- Regional
- Best season
- April - October
- Signposting
- fully signposted
- Families
- well suited
- Road-bike friendly
- Yes · Mostly pavedwell documented
98 % paved, longest unpaved stretch 788 m.
02 - Stages
4 stages · 83 km
01Gmunden - LambachGmunden · Laakirchen · Steyrermühl · Stadl-Paura · Lambach28 km
Setting off by the lake: the tour starts at the Traunbrücke in Gmunden, with a view of the Seeschloss Ort. Downstream, near Roitham, the route reaches the Traunfall, roaring over a broad rock step. Through the papermaking towns of Laakirchen and Steyrermühl the stage rolls gently downhill to Stadl-Paura, with its Trinity church and Schiffleutmuseum, and across to the baroque Benedictine abbey of Lambach.
- Ascent
- 147 m
- Descent
- 212 m
- Duration
- approx. 2-2.5 h
- Surface
- Paved, some service tracks
Surface (measured): paved
02Lambach - WelsLambach · Edt bei Lambach · Wels14 km
A short, level stage from Lambach abbey, close to the bank through open foreland country, into the fair city of Wels. The handsome old town with its long Stadtplatz, the Ledererturm and Wels castle invites a generous break.
- Ascent
- 22 m
- Descent
- 47 m
- Duration
- approx. 1-1.5 h
- Surface
- Paved
Surface (measured): paved
03Wels - TraunWels · Marchtrenk · Traun21 km
Flat and fast, the Traun leads across the wide Welser Heide - the gravel plain between Wels and Linz - via Marchtrenk to Traun. A quiet, easy-going stage with no appreciable climb, entirely in the rhythm of the river.
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 39 m
- Duration
- approx. 1.5 h
- Surface
- Paved, some service tracks
Surface (measured): paved
04Traun - Abwinden-Asten (Danube)Traun · Linz-Ebelsberg · Asten21 km
The final stage follows the Traun through the southern districts of Linz, past Ebelsberg, to its mouth on the Danube. At the Abwinden-Asten weir the R4 joins the Danube Cycle Path (R1) - from here you can easily ride toward central Linz or continue along the Danube.
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 40 m
- Duration
- approx. 1.5 h
- Surface
- Paved, some service tracks
Surface (measured): paved
03 - Elevation
Elevation across the full distance - move the cursor to read altitude and kilometre.
Elevation profile over 83 km. Ascent 169 m, descent 338 m. Lowest point 251 m, highest point 464 m.
Elevation from OSM geometry + Digital Terrain Model (DGM) Austria (10 m).
Hover the profile to see the point on the map - and vice versa.
04 - POIs & Services
- Traunsee & Seeschloss Ort
- Traunfall waterfall
- Trinity church & Schiffleutmuseum
- Benedictine abbey of Lambach (Romanesque frescoes)
- Old town with Stadtplatz, Ledererturm & castle
- Welser Heide plain
- Traun mouth on the Danube
- Abwinden-Asten weir (Danube Cycle Path R1 junction)
Services along the route
- Bike serviceCycle workshops in Gmunden, Lambach, Wels and Linz; a dense network across the greater Wels-Linz area.
- E-bikeCharging and rental stations in Gmunden, Wels and Linz, and in many towns along the route.
- Drinking waterFountains and inns in the market towns and cities; well supplied along the flat river course.
- Food & drinkInns, cafés and cider taverns in Gmunden, Lambach, Wels and Traun - short gaps the whole way.
Service points along the route
- Drinking water48
- Repair station7
- Bike shop10
- Bike rental1
- Charging station51
Service points from OpenStreetMap. Coverage may be incomplete, some fountains are seasonal - verify before you rely on them.
05 - Impressions
A cyclist crosses the Trodatsteg footbridge over the Traun near Wels, with the Thalheim church on the hill behind.Photo: Radfahrer auf dem Trodatsteg über die Traun bei Wels · Eweht · CC BY-SA 4.0 The Traunradweg path running below the Traun-Pucking hydro plant.Photo: Traunradweg path below the Traun-Pucking power plant · Herzi Pinki · CC BY-SA 3.0 The Traun river at Lambach with the riverside path and a view of the Alps on the horizon.Photo: Traun bei Lambach mit Blick auf die Alpen · Tournasol7 · CC BY 4.0
06 - Public transit
- Salzkammergut railway (Attnang-Puchheim - Stainach-Irdning)Stations in Gmunden, Lambach and Stadl-Paura lie close to the route - ideal for reaching the start at the Traunsee. Bikes carried on local services.
- Western railway (Salzburg - Linz - Vienna)Wels and Linz main stations link the route to long-distance trains; Linz Ebelsberg also offers local services near the route end.
Gmunden, Wels and Linz sit directly on the rail network, so the Traun Valley route is easy to ride without a car and can be started or ended at any of these stations. At the finish near Abwinden-Asten the path joins the Danube Cycle Path R1 seamlessly (connections to Linz or along the Danube).
07 - GPX & TCX download
Download for GPS devices & apps
Clean track with elevation - imports as a single tour, compatible with Komoot, Garmin, Wahoo, Strava, RideWithGPS, OsmAnd.
Download stages individually (4)
Route derived from OpenStreetMap geometry - may differ slightly from on-the-ground signage. © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0) · Elevation © DGM Austria (CC BY 3.0 AT). Redistribute with attribution.