The 4 most beautiful hikes on the Katschberg

Posted on by

The Katschberg – or also called Katschberghohe – is mainly known for the Katschberg tunnel and the large ski area. However, the municipality between Salzburg Land and Carinthia has a lot to offer in the summer as well. We were there ourselves for four days and explored the most beautiful mountain peaks, lakes and mountain huts in the Katschberg region. If you are also planning an active summer vacation in the Austrian mountains and summit selfies with breathtaking views should not be missed, then you should remember these hikes:

Family hike to Pritzhutte/ Ponyalm

For the little guests there is a lot to do on Katschberghohe. For example, the Ponyalm at the Pritzhutte makes every child's heart beat faster. It can be reached via a forest road that leads to the hut village or to the lake. the Gasthof Bacher starts. The route is also suitable for cyclists or as a Segway route. While the parents enjoy the view in the Pritzhutte, the children can ride, pet and feed the ponies.

Tip: with the Katschberg-Card pony riding is free of charge.

Hiking classic on the Katschberg: Kareck

One of the most popular and at the same time most beautiful hiking tours, which starts directly from the Katschberghohe, leads to the Kareck. The trails are easy to moderately difficult and the panorama ranges from the Lungau Valley over the Nockberge Mountains to the mighty peaks of the Hohe Tauern National Park. The hike starts at the Gasthof Bacher and leads over a tarred and forest road for 3.5 kilometers to the Pritzhutte. Many families stop here so that the little guests can pet, feed and ride the horses at the Ponyalm. From here starts a somewhat narrower path in the direction of Kareck. With every meter of altitude the view improves. We had to stop again and again and at the sight of the grass-green meadows and the rugged rocks briefly consider whether we have not landed in Scotland. The view from the summit is simply gigantic. To capture the 360-degree panorama, a summit selfie is not enough at all.

The descent is via the same path.

Circular hiking trail Aineck

  • Duration: 3,5-4 hours
  • Length: 13.6 km
  • Altitude difference: 785 hm
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Start & end point: Katschberghohe/ parking lot 3

Next to the Kareck, the Aineck is the second local mountain directly on the Katschberg. The Aineck cable car, which transports skiers up the mountain in winter, can also be used by hikers in summer. Very practical for families with small children to quickly and comfortably have a summit experience with a great view. For all hiking enthusiasts, we recommend the trail to the summit, which starts at parking lot 3 on Katschberghohe. Just follow the signs Nr. A and B to the Kosselbacher Branntweineralm, which you can reach after ca. 1,5 hours reached on the forest path. Here you can stop for a bite to eat or hike another hour to the top of Aineck Mountain. The path is light throughout and at the beginning still partly in the shade. Another place to stop for a bite to eat is right at the top station of the Aineck cable car: the Adlerhorst summit restaurant. Here you can decide whether to take the cable car back down to the valley, or hike back via the so-called "highway", a somewhat steep ski slope.

Tip 1: Pay attention to the opening hours of the mountain railroads (no operation on Saturdays)!).
Tip 2: The Aineck cable car is free with the Katschberg Card.
Tip 3: The tour is also super suitable for mountain bikers or trail runners.

Hike to the Lanisch lakes in the Pollatal (valley of a thousand waters)

  • Duration: 5,5 hours
  • Length: 16 km
  • Altitude: 935 hm
  • Difficulty: medium
  • Start & end point: parking lot P1, front Polla valley

About 10-15 minutes drive from the Katschberghohe is the Pollatal, which officially also belongs to the Katschberg region. Why it is called the "Valley of a Thousand Waters? The further you hike into the valley, the more waterfalls you'll see cascading down the valley left and right. Directly at the head of the valley are the two Lanish lakes, which are picturesquely embedded in the rocky surroundings and the green meadows. Looking towards the summit you can see the big and small Hafner. The two 3000m peaks can be climbed from the Ochsenhutte within 5 hours. Our tour, which we would like to recommend to you, however, starts at the barbecue area in the front Polla valley. This is the end of the line for the car, because further into the valley you can take the E-Tschu-Tschu train to the final stop "hinteres Pollatal". We then followed the forest road to the ox lodge. Here starts the nicer part of the hike, because the trail becomes a bit more challenging and the waterfalls more and more beautiful. Our highlight was definitely the Lanisch waterfall about 10 minutes after Ochsenhutte. But we were also pleasantly surprised by the destination, the two Lanisch lakes. We actually wondered why this beautiful hike is not more known. On a sunny day in August, we actually met only two other hikers, so this is a real insider tip!