Kals am Großglockner

Kals am Großglockner combines multi-day hiking routes with shorter walks, nature experiences and cultural attractions. If you are looking for a hotel for your stay, deciding what you want to focus on can help you plan: Would you like to hike a section of a long-distance trail, explore the Dorfertal valley, or set aside time for culture and winter activities?

Choose hikes based on your schedule and itinerary

The valley circuit is 19.5 kilometres long and takes about six hours. If you do not want to hike the entire loop, you can choose individual sections or take shortcuts. The Glocknerkrone offers a different option: it covers around 60 kilometres over five daily stages. Since each stage can be started and finished at different points, the sections are also suitable for day hikes. The main difference between the two options is their format: one long loop or a multi-day hike with individual stages.

The GlocknerRunde may also be an important consideration when planning a stay. After hiking a single stage, hikers can descend to Kals, one of the national park municipalities; the village is also designated as an overnight stop. The Dorfertal valley offers another specific hiking option: the hike starts at the Hotel Tauerwirt, follows the stream through the Dabaklamm gorge and leads to the Kalser Tauernhaus. It is described as a family hike.

A variety of landscapes meet in the Dorfertal valley: waterfalls, gravel plains, moors, larch forests, flower-filled meadows, glaciers and lakes are all part of the valley, along with alpine wildlife. The Dorfertal Story Trail offers a different focus. At talking trees, dairymaids, mountain farmers, mountain guides, hut keepers and other knowledgeable locals from Kals share stories about life in the valley. This lets you combine a hike with insights into local life.

Getting around and planning your hikes

During the summer months, the Dorfertal valley can be reached by the National Park hiking bus. The Postbus route 952 hiking bus runs as far as the Lucknerhaus. Check the current timetables before your hike to make sure the bus fits your day’s plans.

A rugged SwissTrac is available for the accessible route in the Kalser Ködnitztal valley. It can be used free of charge at the Glocknerwinkel car park; the accessible hiking trail leads towards the Großglockner and continues to the end of the valley. The route is classified as easy and wheelchair-accessible, although seasonal conditions may vary. Check whether the SwissTrac is currently available before you travel.

Other activities cater to a range of interests. The climbing garden has 32 climbing routes and five multi-pitch routes, with grades ranging from 3+ to 8-. In summer, the climbing park can be reached from the Lucknerhaus car park. To climb the Großglockner, the route starts in the Ködnitztal valley and passes the Lucknerhütte and Stüdlhütte; from there, it continues via the Erzherzog-Johann-Hütte or the Stüdlgrat ridge. In winter, the Großglockner Resort Kals-Matrei lists 44.6 kilometres of ski slopes and 4.6 kilometres of ski routes. These figures may change from one season to the next.

Culture and nature round out your stay

The Ködnitz Cultural Trail is a historical walking tour through the village centre of Ködnitz in the centre of Kals. Other historical attractions include two churches with different histories: St. George’s Church is the oldest church in Kals and was also built as a fortified church. The ruins of St. Peter’s Church are a place of worship dating from the 16th century, built by members of the Gorizia dynasty.

At the Kalser Stockmühlen mills, miller Johann demonstrates how grain is turned into flour. The Glockner Exhibition is an interactive exhibition at the Kalser Glocknerhaus. The Großglockner Panorama offers views of the 3,798-metre-high Großglockner; the exhibition there shares information about the Hohe Tauern National Park’s “BIG FIVE”: ibex, chamois, marmot, golden eagle and bearded vulture. These attractions offer their own options for planning your day alongside hiking.

Discover more destinations: Sankt Leonhard, St. Veit In Defereggen, Sillian, Amlach, Kartitsch, Außervillgraten, Prägraten Am Großvenediger, Schlaiten.

Return to the main travel overview: Lienz.