Holidays to Obertauern

On an Inghams walking holiday, you have the freedom to explore the area at your own pace. Each day, a new adventure, with as much or as little walking as you like. 

Why we love walking in Obertauern

With around 280 kilometres of marked walking trails and routes that cater for all abilities, there's a lot to explore and the scenery is superb. If you don't fancy walking all the way up, getting to the best viewpoints is easy, with two mountain lifts to take the hard work out of the uphill. 

In your down time, there's plenty of other activities to enjoy too, plus the Hotel Steiner has a fantastic spa, perfect for rest and rejuvenation.

Obertauern has two mountain lifts and a good network of buses that help you get around the area.

Mountain lifts

There are two lifts open in the summer time:

• Grünwaldkopf (normally open 1 Jul - 17 Sept, 9am-5pm)
• Hochalmbahn (normally open 1 Jul - 17 Sept, 9am-4pm)

Lift tickets are payable locally - mountain bikes, pushchairs and dogs are carried free of charge.

Buses

It's easy to use the buses from Obertauern to the nearby villages of Mauterndorf, Tweng, Untertauern, Radstadt and Altenmarkt. Tickets can be bought from your hotel reception and normally cost around €1-2 per trip.

From the end of June to the middle of September, the Obertauern Tourist Office has a summer program, which brings everyone closer to nature.

It's run by the Northern Alps Collective and activities normally include guided walks, mountain yoga, insights into life in the mountain pastures and more. 

Registration for each activity is required by 6pm the day before - you can register directly with the Northern Alps Collective or through your hotel reception.

There are so many great walking routes around Obertauern that it's difficult to pick favourites, but here are a few routes that we really love:

Three lakes walk

• Easy walk
• 6.1km with 370m height gain
• Expect to take around three to three and a half hours

You'll get some amazing views on this walk which starts by taking the Grünwaldkopf lift up the mountain from Obertauern. You then pass the Grünwald lake, Krummschnabel lake and the Hundsfeldsee lake, all while enjoying the panorama of the surrounding mountains and view down over the town. You can make it a bit more of a challenge by walking up instead of taking the lift.

Twenger Alm Circuit

• Moderate walk
• 13.1km with 530m height gain
• Expect to take around five hours

Don't forget your camera on this scenic walk. It follows a gentle walking trail from Obertauern, first to the Hundsfeldsee lake and over the Edelweissalm, passing alpine meadows along the way. The scenery is beautiful the whole way, and you can stop for refreshments at the Twenger Alm Hut before returning to Obertauern.

Johannes Waterfall

• Moderate walk
• 12.6km with 380m height gain
• Expect to take around four and a half hours

This is a really unique walk to the natural spectacle of the Johannes Waterfall, which is around 60 metres high. From Obertauern, you first follow the path along the river's edge and then continue to the Felseralm Hut and on to the waterfall. You can do a loop at the furthest point, past old trees and beautiful viewpoints before turning back and returning to Obertauern.

More great walking inspiration

There's no shortage of great walks in the area, from easy strolls to more challenging summits. The Obertauern Tourist Office has detailed route maps of some fantastic options, including elevation profiles and timings, plus you can download route pdf's to take with you.

Recommended equipment

Comfy walking boots, waterproofs, a rucksack and walking poles are useful for walking around Obertauern. There are a few sports shops to buy walking equipment in the village if you don't have things to take with you.

Walking maps

We recommend purchasing a walking map from the tourist office in Obertauern. There are also individual maps of specific walking routes with elevation profiles and distances available to download from the Obertauern Tourist Office.

Walking guidelines

The mountains are a natural paradise, with lots to explore and discover. To help it stay that way, and remain an enjoyable and safe place for everyone, we recommend following our little list of do's and don'ts:

• Plan your route well and don't overestimate yourself
• Check the weather forecast
• Tell someone where you're planning to walk and what time you're expecting to be back
• Take all the recommended equipment
• Make a note of emergency numbers:
  • Austrian Emergency Services: 112
  • Mountain Rescue: 140
• Don't leave the marked trails or go onto a glacier without a guide
• Let nature stay wild by not picking alpine flowers (it's illegal in some places) or getting close to/making contact with wild animals
• Always leave gates as you found them
• Leave no trace

Visit the Johannes Waterfall

The Johannes Waterfall is a natural spectacle and is one of the more popular destinations in the area - for good reason. The waterfalls are around 60 metres high, with a huge overhanging cliff so you can see behind the falls. 

Mountain-biking

There's lots of fun to be had on bikes around Obertauern, and they can be taken on the lifts with you, free of charge (you need a ticket, which is payable locally). Head up the Grünwaldkopf and cycle round the three lakes of Grünwaldsee, Lake Krummschnabel and the Hundsfeldsee, discover rustic mountain huts like the Tauernkarleitenalm or cycle to the Johannes Waterfall.

Stand-up paddling and swimming

Lake Krummschnabel is a heaven for water lovers, with stand-up paddling and swimming, and a special area where children can play on a raft. At Lake Grünwald you can rent pedal and rowing boats free of charge, and over the August Full Moon, they normally have a special full moon event, with night time wild swimming and live music at the Hochalm Hut.

Adventurous Activities

Test your head for heights on the Alpine High Ropes and swing from high up in the trees, completing fun challenges along the way, or opt of an exciting mountain descent on a Mountain Skyver - a cross between a scooter and a mountain bike, these fun two-wheelers are an adventurous way to get back down the mountain after a walk. 

Obertauern Summer Program

The Tourist Office runs a summer program with Northern Alps Collective with activities running Monday to Friday including guided walks, bike lessons, mountain yoga and more.

Alles Alm Family Trail

An exciting trail for all the family, the Alles Alm is an idyllic, gentle plateau with a relatively flat trail that children will love. There are ten themed stations with interesting facts about wildlife, nature and history, rest stops perfect for picnic lunches and play areas with swings and slides, puzzle games and a large water playground.

Bobby's Park

Bobby is the children's mascot of the region, and around the Grünwald and Krummschnabel Lakes there are lots of things for children to discover. Take the raft across Lake Krummschnabel or try the stilt course. There's a 100 metre wooden marble run and an underground marmot burrow to explore, plus rowing and pedal boats at Lake Grünwald.

High Ropes Course

Enjoy the view from up high - older children and teens will love the high ropes - where you'll learn how to use climbing equipment to swing high in the tree tops and complete several fun challenges. The high ropes is located on the walking trail between the Felseralm Hut and the Johannes Waterfall - around a 30 minute walk from the bottom of the Grünwaldkopf lift - so it's well located to be an afternoon stop-off after a morning walk.

Mountain Skyver

A Mountain Skyver could be described as a cross between a scooter and a mountain bike - and they're great fun. Make the descent from the mountain a little more exciting by renting one of these fun two-wheelers.