The Salzach river has its source in the Central Eastern Alps and flows easterly through a large valley before turning north towards the Berchtesgaden Alps. Here, the Salzach cuts a narrow valley between the Hagen Mountains to the west and the Tennen Mountains to the east and terminates with the deeply incised Salzachöfen. The gorge, at the narrowest point of the valley, is located on an S-bend where the Salzach briefly flows east before cutting west then flowing north again. From this point north, the Salzach runs through mostly low-lying valleys. Salzachöfen is located just south of Golling an der Salzach in Hallein District, Salzburg.