Winter Hikes & Unforgettable Nature in Wildkogel-Arena

Wildkogel Winter Hiking Path

This winter hiking path gives you a great opportunity to explore our beloved local mountain on foot. Regardless of where you start – at the top station of the Wildkogelbahn or of the Smaragdbahn lifts – the amazing panorama of the countless 3000ers in the Hohe Tauern range as well as the “tallest Salzburger”, the Grossvenediger (elev. 3657 m), is certain to amaze you.

This scenic winter hiking path leads from the mountain station of the Smaragdbahn to the mountain station of the Wildkogelbahn, continuing to the lift station on the Gensbichlalm. 

Actual walking time: ca. 1 hour, ca. 2.7 km.

Opening times: in suitable weather conditions whenever the Wildkogel lifts are running
 

Wintry Hike to the Steineralm

Yet another beautiful winter hike leads you to the Steineralm in Dürnbachtal.
The starting point is the Rossberg outside Neukirchen – at the fork in the path just above Alpengasthof Rechtegg. We suggest enjoying a short rest at the Taubenstein chapel, then continue farther into the valley. Shortly after the path emerges from the forest, you will be able to see the Steineralm, where they will be happy to serve you a selection of delicious treats to energize you for the hike back.

Opening hours Steineralm: 
25.12. to 06.01. open daily from 11:00 - 17:00, then open from Thursday to Sunday from 11:00 - 17:00

Bramberg Lantern Path

For a truly memorable experience, we suggest a leisurely (evening) stroll through the snowy winter countryside, following the Lantern Path in Bramberg. From the first weekend in Advent until February 2nd, a wide variety of lanterns illuminate this path from approximately 5 to 9 p.m. At the halfway point, a renovated Pinzgau-style hayshed - the Krippenstadel – invites you to take a short break. Here, you will be able to marvel at magical Nativity scenes from the surrounding region.

This hike begins at the train station in Bramberg (parking available). Behind the station, a small, pleasant hiking path leads across the snowy fields to the Rosenbühelsteg, continuing to the Krippenstadel and then briefly uphill to the Kneipp facility in Wenns. Here, turn left and walk through a short patch of forest until you come to the end of the Lantern Path.  You can return the same way or follow the road through Wenns until you come to the bridge over the Salzach. Here, you can either make a left and return to your original starting point via the Salzach & Tauern cycle- and footpath, or keep going straight, through the village of Bramberg in the direction of the station. Along the way, be sure to pay a visit to the beautiful Nativity scene on display at the village pavilion.

Actual walking time: ca. 1 hour, ca. 2.5 km
 

Natura Trail Blausee

Located in a forest niche at the entrance to Obersulzbachtal, you will discover picturesque, idyllic Blausee.

The starting point for this small, delightful hike is Gasthof Siggen. Passing the Siggen chapel and 1 – 2 hairpin bends, you will already have reached Blausee lake. A path runs around Blausee, with info boards that provide fascinating insights into area flora and fauna.

Combine this excursion with a break for tasty refreshments at Gasthof Siggen, or at  Gasthof Schütthof close by.

Actual walking time: ca. 15 minutes, 1 km
 

Sonnenweg

In suitable snow conditions, the Sonnenweg is also a wonderful walk in wintertime, a scenic hiking path at moderate elevations.

Start in Neukirchen at Gasthof Rechtegg and continue eastwards in the direction of Steinerbauer to Gasthof Stockenbaum (descent to Neukirchen possible)

From the centre of Bramberg via the goods road to Haslachbauer. Continue along a flat, wide hiking trail to the Mühlbach district, where the Sonnenweg ends at the Herrnmühle power source in Mühlbach.

Naturally, you can also walk the Sonnenweg in reverse direction: starting out from Kraftquelle Herrnmühle in Mühlbach
 

Emerald hiking trail

The emerald hiking trail is also a popular walk in winter.

From the district of Wenns, walk past the Kneipp facility in the direction of Habach. In the Steinach district, walk downhill a little and follow the ‘Mineralien Schmuck Steiner’ sign just before the Salzach bridge. The Steiner family's private mineral collection is also worth a visit (70m2 exhibition space and sale of gemstones and jewellery). After the sparkling impressions, you continue your walk to the Hotel Grundlhof.

You can also return along the Salzach.
Of course, the Smart Cycle Trail can also be travelled in the ‘opposite’ direction: Starting point Hotel Grundlhof in Habach

Salzach Footpath, Neukirchen & Bramberg

You can enjoy a delightful walk for kilometer-upon-kilometer and with no inclines of note, along the banks of the River Salzach both in Neukirchen and Bramberg. You can join the pathway at many different locations in our two National Park villages, whilst you also have the option of continuing west in the direction of Wald and Krimml, or east towards Hollersbach.

A number of refreshment points and country inns along the way invite you to enjoy a break and bite to eat from time to time.

Actual walking time: anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours, ca. 12 km (Rosental village)
 

Sulzau Loop Trail

Starting from Neukirchen, follow the path through Stockerfeld towards Neudauweg, continuing towards the Einöder pedestrian bridge. Cross the bridge and proceed along the road into the Untersulzbachtal valley, where a footpath soon branches off to the right, leading to the Schüttof inn. From there, continue along the road to the junction heading towards Obersulzbachtal and the Siggen inn. Before reaching the Siggen inn, you can cross the bridge to the right and follow the path via Kalkhütte and the road toward Unterburgbauer. Afterward, cross the bridge again and pass by the Rosentalschmied. Walk several hundred meters along the main road (Bundesstraße) to the Venedigerblick inn. Finally, take the wildlife trail that leads back to Neukirchen, ending at Hotel Hubertus. There are excellent dining options available at all inns and hotels along the way!

Rossberg Loop Trail

From Neukirchen, walk past the Café-Restaurant Fichtenrand toward Kreuzhäusl, then continue along Rossbergstraße toward Hotel Abelhof. There, turn left and follow the road to Seerainbauern. From there, an idyllic hiking trail leads you first through fields and then through the forest to Plenkenhof in Wald. From Plenkenhof, follow the road for a few hundred meters before turning left onto a meadow, continuing through a small wooded area until you reach Hierburgbauer and Hierburg. From there, follow the road to the Venedigerblick inn and take the wildlife trail back to Neukirchen.

Chapel Path

Take a bit of a timeout and enjoy a stroll along the Chapel Path in Neukirchen. It begins at the parish church in Neukirchen, leading for roughly 17.5 km, via Schloss Hohenneukirchen to the small community of Rosental, then to Sulzau before returning you to the village center.

Unlike many hikes, the Chapel Path is rejuvenating both for body and soul. At each chapel, one of the 10 Commandments is formulated as a good wish intended to guide each of us on our path through life.

Of course, you can also complete the Chapel Path in multiple stages.

Actual walking time: ca. 4 – 4.5 hours, ca. 17.5 km

Access point: Neukirchen parish church / end of Pension Mühlhof – Berndlkapelle
 

Wildlife Path in Neukirchen

The Wildlife Path offers a beautiful, relaxed winter walk with the whole family through the romantic, snowy forest. This nature trail begins next to Hotel Hubertus at the Hubertus chapel and leads via nine stations inviting big and small to learn interesting facts about native animals and their habitats, heading in a westerly direction as far as Gasthof Venedigerblick in the small community of Rosental.

Refreshment opportunities at the beginning and end of the path.

Actual walking time: ca. 45 minutes, ca. 2 km
 

Obersulzbachtal winter hiking trail

The Obersulzbach winter hiking trail starts at Gasthof Siggen. From there, follow the path in the direction of Blausee. Keep left at the junction and walk along the toboggan run to Hopffeldboden.

The winter hiking trail starts in the Sulzau district at Gasthof Siggen and leads along the toboggan run to Hopffeldboden in Obersulzbachtal.

Kochleitkapelle circular hike

From the centre of Neukirchen, walk along Künstlergasse and the meadow of Matthias Kammerlander (schnapps distiller) over a small footbridge to Landhaus Rohregger and Wartbühelbauer. Continue straight ahead along the meadow path to the Kochleit Chapel, from there you walk along the road towards the main road, through the subway and cross over to the other side of the valley. 
Walk along the Salzach back to the village centre. 

You can extend this loop by continuing straight on after the Einödhof farm in the direction of Untersulzbachtal and turning right at Gasthof Schütthof, from there follow the road and turn right again after the Sulzbaubrücke bridge, now the hiking trail leads along the railway embankment and the Salzach back to the village centre.

*) Here you can also continue the tour in the other direction and walk further eastwards to Schönbach. Turn right at the small chapel and walk uphill until the path leads you right over a bridge back towards Aschambauer in Neukirchen.