High rock faces, clear pools and the thundering Rauriser Ache. A hike through the Taxenbacher Kitzlochklamm gorge takes around 1.5 hours and involves 400 steps.
Your holiday in the Rauris Valley
The insider tip in the Hohe Tauern National Park holiday region
The Rauris Valley is known among nature lovers, families and active holidaymakers as the "secret jewel in the Hohe Tauern National Park". It stretches over a length of 30 kilometres from the Kitzlochklamm gorge to the Kolm Saigurn valley head at the foot of the three-thousand metre peaks of Hoher Sonnblick, Hocharn and Schareck. The largest municipality in Salzburger Land in terms of area is located in Pinzgau, approx. 30 km from Zell am See and has around 3,100 inhabitants.
You don't have to look far for the natural beauty that Rauris and its side valleys have to offer: You hike across unspoilt alpine pastures with serviced huts, past roaring mountain streams and waterfalls, birds of prey circle around - and there is even a primeval forest in the Rauris Valley!
For centuries, the national park valley in Salzburger Land was known as the centre of gold mining. During your holiday in the Rauris Valley, you can even discover traces of this time here and there: old miners' houses in the centre of Rauris or the ruins of miners' houses on the Tauerngold adventure trail in Kolm Saigurn.
Our resorts in this region
Useful information
How do I get to Rauris?
The nearest airports are in the city of Salzburg (approx. 90 km), Innsbruck (180 km) and Munich (230 km). The nearest railway station is Taxenbach/Rauris (approx. 15 km), from where you can continue by bus.
As our guest, you will receive the Guest Mobility Ticket: this allows you to use public transport in Salzburger Land free of charge, even on your arrival.
By car, travel from Salzburg on the A10 motorway to the Bischofshofen exit. Continue on the B311 via Taxenbach to Rauris. Please note that a motorway vignette is required in Austria and, depending on the season, appropriate winter equipment may be necessary.
Which are the most famous mountains in the Rauris Valley?
The Hohe Sonnblick is 3,106 metres high and a popular destination for ski and mountain tours. The Zittelhaus, Austria's highest Alpenverein hut, and the Sonnblick Observatory are perched on its summit. This is Europe's highest, permanently manned weather observatory. Valuable climate data has been collected here since 1886.
The neighbouring peaks Hocharn (3,254 m) and Schareck (3,123 m) are the highest peaks in the Goldberg group. Silberpfennig and Kolmkarspitz are other popular ski touring mountains and hiking destinations and can also be reached from the neighbouring valley of Gastein.
The head of the Rauris Valley was once the centre of gold mining. Today, you can experience the depths of winter here on ski tours, winter hikes and snowshoe walks, marvel at three-thousand-metre peaks or hike along the waterfall trail and in the Rauris primeval forest.
In summer, the Rauriser Hochalmbahn is one of "Austria's best summer mountain lifts" with its adventure programme. In winter, families and beginners in particular appreciate the 32 kilometres of pistes in the ski area.
The excellent nature trail through the unspoilt, centuries-old forest in Kolm Saigurn is also suitable for families with children in summer and snowshoes in winter.
Here you can hike along old mule tracks or enjoy a snack in one of the mountain huts. The more than 500-year-old Tauernhaus used to serve as a rest stop for pilgrims and traders.
In the Rauris Kruml Valley, you have a good chance of spotting bearded vultures, griffon vultures, eagles, chamois or marmots in the wild. The reintroduction of the extinct bearded vulture began in 1986.
Useful information
Which excursion destinations can I visit with my family in the Rauris Valley?
In addition to the Rauriser Hochalmbahnen, the Kolm Saigurn valley head with the Rauriser Urwald forest and the Kitzlochklamm gorge, these excursion destinations for families will make children's eyes light up:
- Gold panning sites Bodenhaus and Heimalm
- Summererpark water playground
- Waterfall trail in Kolm Saigurn
- Rauriser Urquell and Waldgeheimnis
- National Park exhibition "Facettenreich" in Wörth.
What does slow travel mean?
A slow travel destination like the Rauris Valley invites you to travel consciously and mindfully: Experience nature, culture and people intensively, take your time and discover the destination authentically. Away from mass tourism, Rauris impresses with a natural, authentic offer. These include the hiking and alpine trails, educational trails and guided hikes as well as traditions that can be experienced, such as at the folklore evenings, delicatessen markets or the Rauris Harvest Festival.
Your winter holiday in the Rauris Valley
Time out in the snow with the family
The climate-friendly Rauriser Hochalmbahnen family ski area, 34 kilometres of groomed cross-country ski trails, a signposted snowshoe trail and 30 km of winter hiking trails guarantee a real winter feeling on your holiday in the Rauris Valley. A fun toboggan ride on the Kreuzboden toboggan run, a romantic horse-drawn carriage ride in the Seidlwinkltal valley - or a guided snowshoe hike under a full moon? They are also available!
32 clearly laid out, perfectly groomed kilometres of pistes up to 2,175 m, 10 lifts
Nugget park, race track, 700 metre long family slope and visits from Tilly, the mascot
You can book your ski ticket online in advance and save up to 30%
2 km long toboggan run, 2 night toboggan evenings
Adventure Rauris ski school at Carpe Solem Rauris at the valley station
INTERSPORT Shop Pirchner in Carpe Solem Rauris at the valley station
Special experiences on a winter holiday in the Rauris region
Useful information
How do I get to Kolm Saigurn in winter?
In winter, the toll road from Alpengasthof Bodenhaus is closed. The Ammererhof and Naturfreundehaus inns at the end of the valley offer taxi transfers. Shuttle buses run from Rauris to Alpengasthof Bodenhaus on a daily basis during the winter season.
Is the Rauriser Hochalmbahnen ski area also suitable for advanced skiers?
Yes, the Rauriser Hochalmbahnen ski area is also suitable for advanced skiers. With a total of 32 kilometres of pistes, it offers a clear but balanced mix of easy, intermediate and challenging runs. Of the 32 kilometres of pistes, 15 km are marked blue (easy), 12 km red (medium) and 5 km black (difficult). The challenging valley runs Kreuzboden and Schwoagaberg (to the valley station of the Hochalmbahn cable car) deserve special mention.
Your summer holiday in the Rauris Valley
Nature as far as the eye can see.
During your holiday in the Rauris Valley, you can recharge your batteries on excursions to natural highlights such as the Rauris primeval forest or the Kolm Saigurn valley head. 300 km of marked hiking trails and nature trails, around 20 serviced alpine huts, 100 springs, wildlife watching and gold panning make the Rauris Valley one of the most diverse and largest hiking areas in Salzburg's Hohe Tauern National Park. With the National Park Summer Card, excursion destinations such as the Rauriser Hochalmbahnen cable car and the Grossglockner High Alpine Road are free for you!
Flight demonstrations by eagles and falcons at the Hochalm mountain station
Gold panning and a mineral exhibition at the Heimalm middle station
On Tilly's forest trail from the mountain station to the middle station
Over the Schwarzwand and the Reißrachkopf
Rauriser Hochalmbahnen generates a large part of its electricity requirements with its own hydroelectric power station.
Your insider tips for summer in the Rauris Valley
Useful information
When is the best time to observe birds of prey in the Rauris Valley?
Your chances are best if you take part in a national park hike: The trained rangers know the nesting sites and habits of the birds of prey in the Rauris Valley very well - and have spotting scopes with them.
What can I do on my holiday in the Rauris Valley when it rains?
- Rauris Valley Museum and "Facettenreich" in Wörth
- Gorge hike through the Kitzlochklamm gorge
- Ice rink and indoor swimming pool in Zell am See
- Stroll through the pedestrian zone & shopping in Zell am See
- National park centre in Mittersill
- Cinema visit to the Dieselkino cinema in Bruck an der Glocknerstraße
- Day trip to the city of Salzburg (approx. 85 km)
- Or spend a cosy rainy day in your spacious holiday flat at Carpe Solem Rauris, splash around in the indoor pool or relax in one of the panoramic saunas.
- More weatherproof excursion tips in Salzburger Land
Guided national park hikes
In the summer months, guided tours with trained national park rangers are offered in the Rauris Valley and other national park communities. The most popular hikes include
- vulture watching in the Krumltal valley
- the tour through the Rauris primeval forest
- "On the trail of the muleteers" in the Seidlwinkl Valley
A highlight for nature lovers and autumn holidaymakers is the excursion to the deer rut. You can take part in the ranger hikes free of charge with the National Park Summer Card.
Guest Mobility Ticket
Public transport in Salzburger Land is free of charge for you: As a guest in Salzburger Land, you will receive a Guest Mobility Ticket that is valid for the entire duration of your holiday in Raurisertal and you can use the bus & train free of charge.
A key destination for lovers of German-language literature (March)
Harvest Festival Weeks and Harvest Festival at the beginning of September
Stallion drive Rauris at Alpengasthof Bodenhaus in June
Rauris delicatessen markets in the summer months
Glockner pilgrimage on 28.6. from Seidlwinkl Valley to Heiligenblut
Rauriser Toifi on 5.12. and Schnabelperchten on 5.1.
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