About 10km/6mi west of the Hallstätter See, before the Geschütt pass (964m/3,163ft; 17% gradient), straggles the village of Gosau (779m/2,556ft; pop. 1,800). From here a road leads southwards (7km/4.5mi) to the Vordere Gosausee (933m/3,061ft), a mountain lake enclosed by sheer rock walls, with a beautiful view across the water to the Dachstein
and the Gosau glacier. A cabin cableway goes up to the Gablonzer Hütte (1,587m/5,207ft; refreshments) on the Zwieselalm, a popular skiing area with a view extending to the Hohe Tauern. From here it is a 2.5 hours' climb to the summit of the Grosser Donnerkogel.