Katschberghöhe: Summer and winter excursions

Katschberghöhe connects the Austrian provinces of Carinthia and Salzburg. The surrounding Katschberg-Rennweg family region stretches along the main Tauern ridge between the two provinces and lies at the gateway to the Carinthian Nockberge and Hohe Tauern national parks. Katschberghöhe is directly accessible via the A10 Tauern Autobahn. In winter, ski buses run directly to Katschberghöhe from St. Margarethen, St. Michael and Rennweg. Before travelling, check the timetable and, if driving, the winter road conditions.

Mountain lift and views from the Aineck

The Almbahn is an eight-person gondola lift that runs from Katschberghöhe to the Aineck at 2,220 m. The Aineck offers panoramic views. There is a choice of easy to moderately difficult hikes, as well as 60 km of mountain bike trails. This makes it possible to compare different options for your stay: a hike with views of the mountain landscape or mountain bike trails. The lift configuration and trail availability may change. So check summer operating hours and mountain bike routes before making plans.

Family excursions and activities

Katschhausen is a summer family attraction with a themed adventure world. There, natural phenomena are explained with the help of characters from the story of the Katschlinge, and visitors can solve puzzles. From car park P3 in Katschberghöhe, follow the signs towards the Alpine Horse Centre Katschberg to reach Katschhausen. As visitor access may change with seasonal parking rules, check how to get there before your visit.

Children can ride alone on Katschi’s summer toboggan run from their seventh birthday; younger children need to be accompanied. Staff at the valley station use the lift to pull the toboggan carts back up to the starting point. As age rules may change, it is a good idea to check them before your ride.

Adventurepark Katschberg has 200 stations at heights of between 1 and 20 m, as well as 15 courses through the treetops of the Katschberg forest. Another way to enjoy the outdoors is the Katschberg 3D archery course: it passes through gently undulating terrain without extreme climbs or dips and features three-dimensional animal targets. The course is suitable for children aged 8 and over; check the age requirement before your visit. A family hike in summer starts at the Falkensteiner Hotel Cristallo and takes about 1–2 hours.

Winter trails and experiences in the Gontal

The 4 km winter trail into the Gontal runs through a sheltered forest to the Pritzhütte and is suitable for pushchairs. Snow and trail maintenance conditions can vary by season; check the trail conditions before setting out.

The Ponyalmexpress starts in the centre of Katschberghöhe and travels at 2 horsepower through the Gontal nature reserve to the Ponyalm at the Pritzhütte. Booking with the Alpine Horse Centre Katschberg is required for the carriage ride; check seasonal operating details in advance. On a horse-drawn sleigh ride through the Gontal to the Pritzhütte, you can sample regional specialities during a stop. The specialities on offer may vary by season.

Discover more destinations: Rennweg Am Katschberg, Mallnitz, Tschierweg, Oberdrauburg, Sankt Oswald, Reißeck, Steinfeld, Döllach.

Return to the overview of the region: Spittal An Der Drau.