Leslie Massey
Austria is a haven for hikers, with its majestic Alps, rolling hills, crystal-clear lakes, and wild waters. The country offers a variety of walking experiences, from challenging mountain trails to gentle lakeside strolls, with routes suitable for all abilities. The Austrian Alps cover 62% of the country, and with its network of hiking routes, there is no shortage of walking experiences to choose from. From the Pinzgauer Spaziergang route, which offers mesmerizing views of the Grossglockner range, to the Lünersee Circuit Trail, a popular family walk around the limestone mountains of the Rätikon, there is much to explore on foot in Austria.
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Austrian Alps walks
The Austrian Alps cover 62% of the country and offer a wide variety of walking trails for all abilities. The best time to walk in the Austrian Alps is between April and October. The walks range from 3 to 120 km (2 to 75 miles) and are graded 1 to 3, so there is something for everyone.
The Lechtal Alps are described as the "Queen mountain range" of Austria. The Eagle Walk trail, also known as 'Alderweg', covers over 300 kilometres from St. Johann in the Tyrolean Unterland to St. Anton am Arlberg. The trail includes demanding terrain and offers breathtaking views of mountain formations, flora and fauna, and swiftly changing scenery. The Lechweg (Lech River Trail) long-distance hiking trail follows the Lech River from Formarinsee in Vorarlberg to Füssen in Germany.
The Lünersee Circuit Trail is a stunning lakeside walk that routes walkers around the dramatic limestone mountains of the Rätikon. There are easy, moderate, and challenging trails to choose from. The 6.1-kilometre, 2-hour loop is very popular with families.
The Dachstein Trail is a circuit that offers grand views, alpine pastures, cloud-piercing peaks, glacial lakes, and unforgettable adventures. The Kröndlhorn is a challenging hike that stands 2,444 meters above sea level in the Kitzbüheler Alpen in Tirol. The seven-hour hike is rewarding with its surrounding green meadows, crisp alpine air, and breathtaking views of the Austrian countryside.
The Zillertal Alps offer diverse hiking trails and mountains up to 11,500 feet high. The ascent to Olpererhütte, a mountain hut perched 2,388 meters above sea level, offers uninterrupted views of the Schlegeis Reservoir and an Instagrammable suspension bridge.
The Stubai Alp’s summit, the Höher Burgstall, stands at 2,611 meters above sea level and was the first Alpine peak climbed by Sir Edmund Hillary. There are several trails to the summit, and the Schlick 2000 cable car offers 360-degree views of the surrounding mountains and Italy to the south.
The Karwendel Mountains offer a plethora of hikes, including Bärenkopf, the Seekarspitze-Seebergspitze ridge trail, Sonnjoch Peak, Lamsenjochhütte, and the Hahnenkampl ridge. The Hall Valley hike to Alpengasthaus St. Magdalena and the Absamer Klettersteig climb to Bettelwurfhütte are also recommended.
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Pilgrimage routes
Austria's pilgrimage routes offer a chance to explore with curiosity and open eyes, and they cater to all abilities. The impressive variety of natural experiences includes majestic Alps, rolling hills, crystal-clear lakes and wild waters. The well-maintained trails lead through stunning landscapes, with rustic mountain huts offering the perfect spot to recharge and sample regional specialties.
The Austrian Alps cover 62% of the country and offer a fine network of hiking routes. The Kitzbühel Alps, for example, offer a 17km trek from Saalbach to the peak of Schmittenhöhe, known as the Pinzgauer Spaziergang route. This six-hour hike is perfect for intermediate hikers seeking mesmerising views. The Kröndlhorn in the Kitzbüheler Alpen in Tirol is a challenging seven-hour hike, but the mountain chapel, green meadows, crisp alpine air and breathtaking views make it worthwhile.
The Lünersee Circuit Trail is a popular family walk, offering a stunning lakeside walk with dramatic limestone mountains and breathtaking views without the challenge of a strenuous hike. The Alpe Adria Trail is a 750km trek from Carinthia in the Austrian Alps to the Adriatic Sea, starting at the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe viewpoint, where hikers can take in the views of Austria's highest mountain, Grossglockner.
The Dachstein High Altitude Circuit is a 121km trail through the three Austrian provinces of Salzburg, Styria and Upper Austria, offering incredible views from mountain huts along the way.
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Hut-to-hut tours
Austria offers a wide range of hut-to-hut hiking tours, ranging from easy to extremely strenuous, catering to both beginners and advanced hikers. The tours can be as short as three days or can be extended to five or more days. The Stubaier Höhenweg route, for example, offers a challenging high-altitude hiking experience with more than 5,000 meters of altitude, 8 mountain huts, and nearly 90 kilometers of trails. On the other hand, level one hikes are suitable for beginners, with limited vertical meters and daily hikes lasting no longer than four hours.
The mountain huts in Austria are managed inns that provide warm and cosy accommodations, as well as serve traditional Austrian food and drinks. Some huts offer private rooms, while others may only provide dorm-style accommodations. It is recommended to book these huts in advance, as they can fill up quickly. Joining the Austrian Alpine Club (ÖAV) can get you a significant discount on overnight stays in mountain huts that have contracts with the club.
Hut-to-hut hiking in Austria offers a unique opportunity to explore the country's natural beauty, experience its hospitality and cuisine, and create unforgettable memories. With tours available for all fitness levels and durations, it is an accessible way to discover the majestic Austrian Alps and its surrounding regions.
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Cable car rides
Nordkette Cable Car, Innsbruck
The town of Innsbruck is nestled at the base of the Austrian Alps, offering cable car rides that provide stunning views of the town, the Inn River, and the surrounding mountains. The Nordkette Cable Car takes passengers up to Hungerburg, where they can transfer to the Seebgrube cable car for even more spectacular vistas. A hiking trail leads directly from the cable car platform, allowing for exploration of the lush green landscape in the summer months.
Untersberg Cable Car, Salzburg
The Untersberg Cable Car, in operation since 1961, offers a quick and comfortable ascent to the top of Salzburg Mountain. The ride in one of the two spacious cable cars takes only 8.5 minutes, offering breathtaking views of the town of Salzburg, the Berchtesgaden region, and the Rositten Valley. On clear days, passengers can even spot the Salzkammergut lakes and Chiemsee. The mountain is a popular recreational space, attracting hikers, winter sports enthusiasts, and nature lovers.
Zugspitze Cable Car, Tiroler
The Zugspitze Peak can be accessed from both Austria and Germany, offering multiple routes to reach the summit. The Tiroler Cable Car in Austria is one of the options, providing a panoramic journey to the peak. The journey includes a cogwheel train ride and a glacier cable car, with the round trip ticket valid for various types of transportation on the German side as well. The peak features a museum that showcases the history of the area and the construction of the cable cars.
Tyrol Cable Car, Innsbruck
The Tyrol region in Austria offers cable car rides that provide easy access to pleasure hikes suitable for all difficulty levels. The cable cars offer panoramic views of the impressive mountain landscape, making the hikes more accessible to families with children, elderly individuals, or those who are not strong hikers. The cable car experience, combined with the joy of hiking, creates a unique blend of comfort, relaxation, and immersion in nature.
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Mountain hikes
The Lünersee Circuit Trail is a stunning lakeside walk that takes hikers around the limestone mountains of the Rätikon. The 6.1-kilometre loop takes around two hours to complete and is a popular choice for families seeking breathtaking views without a strenuous hike. The trail offers easy, moderate, and challenging routes to choose from.
The Pinzgauer Spaziergang route is a 17-kilometre trek from Saalbach to the peak of Schmittenhöhe in the Zell am See-Kaprun region of the Eastern Austrian Alps. This six-hour hike is perfect for intermediate hikers and offers mesmerizing views of the Grossglockner range to the south. The higher you climb, the more spectacular the views become.
For a challenging mountain hike, the Kröndlhorn in the Kitzbüheler Alpen in Tirol stands at 2,444 meters above sea level and takes around seven hours to complete. The surrounding green meadows, crisp alpine air, and breathtaking views of the Austrian countryside make the challenge worthwhile.
The Alpe Adria Trail is a 750-kilometre trail that starts in Carinthia in the Austrian Alps and runs to the Adriatic Sea. The trail begins at the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe viewpoint, where hikers can take in the sights of Austria's highest mountain, Grossglockner, standing at 3,798 meters. From there, hikers can enjoy a five-to-six-hour walk alongside the Pasterze Glacier, the largest glacier in the Eastern Alps.
Austria's well-maintained trails, rustic mountain huts, and impressive landscapes make it an ideal destination for hikers seeking scenic and culinary adventures.
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Frequently asked questions
The Austrian Alps cover 62% of Austria, so there are plenty of walks to choose from. Some of the most popular include the Pinzgauer Spaziergang route, the Kröndlhorn, the Lünersee Circuit Trail, the Alpe Adria Trail, the Dachstein High Altitude Circuit, and the Eagle Walk.
Austrian hiking trails vary in length and difficulty, with options for every level of walker. The trails are well-maintained and lead through stunning landscapes, including majestic mountains, rolling hills, and crystal-clear lakes. Along the way, hikers can stop at rustic mountain huts for a bite to eat and breathtaking views.
Austria offers a variety of outdoor activities besides hiking, such as cycling, swimming, and skiing. There are also cultural experiences to enjoy, such as sampling traditional Tyrolean cuisine and visiting museums.
