Top Spot Teufelssteg
Vantage Point on the Saalach near the Village
A true scenic highlight is hidden on the winter walking trail from Lofer via Bairau and Au to Scheffsnoth. At the wildest passage on the Saalach where canoeists, kayakers and standup-paddlers fight through high waves, rapids and infamous rollers, the Teufelssteg (Devil's Bridge) crosses the river. This solid wooden bridge was rebuilt just a couple of years ago and fits wonderfully into the scenery. There is an old fable surrounding the prominent rock which sits in the middle of the watercourse. The legend claims that the devil himself threw the rock, over which the bridge spans today, into the water so that he could leap across the flooding Saalach in just two jumps to grab a lost soul. The name of the bridge also comes from this legend: “Der Teufelssteg“ or “The Devil's Bridge“.
Legendary views
Even for those who don't want to believe the history about the devil, the view from the bridge is simply legendary. Far below, the emerald green waters of the Saalach gleam, pierced by gurgling white spray.
Every step over the bridge opens up new perpectives and the lively hustle and bustle of the water dippers can often been seen. There is a fantastic walking path along the watercourse on both sides of the Saalach which leads downstream to Bairau and is popular for rambling or running. Again and again summer athletes in their colourful kajaks bend through the narrow twists and turns of the Saalach and from the bridge you can marvel at their skilled dance in the notorious waves of the slalom course.
Workplace of the Wood Drifters
For many years this narrow curve on the Saalach was the workplace of the wood drifters who carried out their dangerous work with long drift poles along the bank. The river served as transport for logs felled in the mountains and the water carried the wood down to the saltworks in Reichenhall. From the walkways and banks, the drifters used the long poles to make sure that the logs didn't become wedged and pile up. More than a few drifters lost their lives in this way.
