The Bergfex website has lots of great hiking tips: www.bergfex.at
A loop that doesn’t disappoint: From Hotel zur Post head toward the castle. At Steinernes Kreuz (Stone Cross) take Trail No. 7. Follow the road up the mountain until you can take a left onto Trail No. 3. Enjoy the view of Goldegg as you cross Höhenrücken ridge. At Judenhof farm, the trail will take you left down toward the valley. It crosses Landesstraße until you get to Pröllergasse, which takes you back down into Goldegg. bergfex.at
If you’re up to it: On the way back, extend the loop, crossing Wienerberg mountain on the Höhenweg route through to the Vorstadtl neighbourhood of Goldegg.
PAST NOSTALGIC FAMILY FARMS: Take Pröllergasse from Gasthof Bierführer restaurant up Wienerberg mountain, then Trail No. 2 toward the town of Rohrmoos, where you’ll hike uphill along the road toward a tiny votive chapel (Zweiling-Kapelle). Take a left toward Buchberg mountain. At Beierlstein farm, turn onto Trail No. 8 between the house and the farm. Starting at Eyersperg farm, take the road downhill toward the valley past Hackerhof farm through Rohrmoos-Dörfl and back toward Goldegg.
On the way back: Stop off at the newly restored Rohrmoos-Schmiede, a smithy dating back to the 14th century (open from 1-5pm on the first Saturday and Sunday of each month from June to October).
Aim high: Gamskögerl mountain watches over the nearby village of Weng. From Goldegg, drive (or cycle) toward Böndlsee lake. At Trogerbauern farm before you get to the lake, follow the sign toward Meislsteinalm uphill until you reach the parking area at Irrsteinbauer farm (paid parking). Hike the serpentine path up to Hackeralm farm. Shortly before Meislsteinalm farm, the path forks toward Hirtenkapelle chapel. From the mountaintop you’ll enjoy a breathtaking panorama of the Hohe Tauern range to Hochkönig mountain and the Steinernes Meer range. The route you’re taking is also part of the 5th leg of the Salzburger Almenweg loop, which takes hikers past 120 historic farms on 350 km/217.5 mi of trail. bergfex.at
Recharge your batteries: Stop for a bite to eat at Meislsteinalm or Hackeralm a little farther down the mountain. Afterward you can cool off in Böndlsee lake.
O’er field and forest: From the hotel take Seepromenade toward Seestraße. Above the swimming area, take Waldweg (Trail No. 5) to No. 6, where you’ll turn right and, before you get to the farms, head right on the path on the edge of the woods until you get to Rohrerberg mountain. Go left up Rohrerberg and back down, on the road to the right a short way toward Vorstadtl until you take the Berghof-Rundweg (Trail No. 4) at the fork. Follow the path along the golf course. After crossing through the course below the tee box – watch out for golfers! – take the gravel path toward Berghofwald before you get to Stadlbauer farm. On Fahrstraße you’ll go uphill to Berghof farm. Follow the tree-lined walk to Vorstadtl and then take Seestraße and Seepromenade back into Goldegg.
To cool down: go for a swim in the lake.
A very special experience: The sun slowly goes down behind the mountains, dusk and twilight creating a fantastic ambience to take pictures. There are cable cars running from 6 to 10 p.m., weather permitting.
Read more: skigastein.com
Photo: gasteinertal.com
1 ticket, 2 summits: The Schlossalmbahn and Stubnerkogelbahn cable cars run daily; but once a week during the summer months, two additional aerial lifts are open between 8:30am and 4pm: the Kaserebenbahn cable car and the Senderbahn chair lift. One ticket takes nature-lovers to the tops of two mountains, allowing for sky-high travel between Bad Hofgastein and Bad Gastein.
Our recommendation (ideal for families): Take the Schlossalmbahn cable car to the top and hike the easy Schlossalmrunde loop trail past Schlossalmsee lake to the Kaserebenbahn station, and then take the cable car down into Angertal valley. From there you can take the Senderbahn chair lift up Stubnerkogel mountain, where a suspension bridge, an observation deck for viewing Austria’s highest mountain, and the Felsenweg bridge trail awaits those not afraid of heights. Then return to Schlossalm – or take the Stubnerkogelbahn cable car back to Bad Gastein … gastein.com
Photo: Marktl Photography/Gasteiner Bergbahnen
Above the timberline: Float along at an altitude of over 2,000 m/6,500 ft from Bad Hofgastein in a Schlossalmbahn cable car. When you exit the top station, you’ll see the blue signs marking the big loop trail. In the shadow of the craggy peaks of Mauskarkopf, Türchlwand and Lugkogel mountains, idyllic paths lined by globeflower, gentian und alpenrose wind their way through a diverse alpine landscape between rock outcroppings and soft meadows. The strange holes you see are marmot burrows. With a little luck you might see one peeking out. Above the Kaserebenbahn cable car station, you’ll have a fantastic view of Angertal valley before you head back to the Schlossalmbahn station. skigastein.com
What to do afterward: After you take the Schlossalmbahn back, have coffee or a bite to eat at Weitmoserin right outside the bottom station or at our romantic Weitmoser Schlössl. Check the opening hours at weitmoser.at
From the Schlossalm top station to the middle station. Take the Schlossalmbahn cable car from Bad Hofgastein to Schlossalm. When you leave the top station, look for the path to the right toward Brandner Hochalm and Maurachalm. Just a little way on, a narrow footpath forks off to the left from the ski slope into Mooskar valley, taking you through a peaceful alpine landscape replete with mosses, heather, blackberry bushes, boulders and little ponds below the picturesque peaks between Mauskarkopf and Hirschkarspitze mountains. Regardless of the season, you’ll want to snap a picture in front of the centuries-old Swiss pine on the shore of Zirbenlacke lake. Follow the path downhill past the horse pasture at Brandner Hochalm, past Maurachalm and take Bachweg along the stream to get to Fundner Heimalm. Having enjoyed a snack at one of the alm restaurants, you’ll make a gradual descent on Ziehweg past Aeroplanstadl restaurant to the middle station and take the cable car again into the valley below. skigastein.com
What to do afterward: Stop off at our Weitmoserin restaurant just outside the bottom station. Check the opening hours: weitmoser.at.
Inside Hohe Tauern National Park: From the top station of the Graukogelbahn cable car in Badgastein (1,954 m | 6,411 ft above sea level), take Zirbenweg path directly behind the station and follow the signs. At the gate to Palfner Hochalm the terrain becomes increasingly steep, and you’ll need to watch your step. You’ll soon reach the central part of the national park and will turn left and head uphill through the rock-strewn field toward Palfnerkar valley. After around 45 minutes you’ll have reached Palfnersee lake. Ringed rugged alpine peaks, the lake is nestled between greenish-coloured boulders covered in lichen. The path back leads you past a tiny lake affectionately called Little Palfnersee and across the pastures of Palfner Hochalm back to the Graukogelbahn cable car. Before you head back down, rest your legs on one of the benches along the Zirbenweg trail. skigastein.com
What to do afterward: Stroll through the town of Bad Gastein and on the way back stop off at our Weitmoser Schlössl in Hofgastein (check the opening hours at weitmoser.at).
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