The Cross-Country Area
Enjoy a relaxing yet exciting cross-country experience as you slide through the snow on your skis at Gastein Valley. Surrounded by mountains on all four sides, the valley is divided into the three villages of Bad Gastein, Bad Hochgastein, and Dorfgastein. Many of the local accommodations are only a few steps away from the next track. Furthermore, Sportgastein features more than 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) at elevations of up to 1,600 metres (5,249 feet).
More than 45 kilometres (around 28 miles) of tracks make up seven diverse cross-country trails suitable for beginners as well as experienced skiers. All tracks are suitable for classic cross-country and skating alike. Wheter you want to quicken your pulse a bit or simply enjoy a pleasurable slide through the Salzburg region, Gastein has the right trail for you.
The Most Beautiful Tracks
Bad Gastein
- Böcksteiner Loipe (beginner): 5.5 kilometres, illuminated until 9 pm, classic and skating, access at Hirschau by the car park and in Altböckstein
- Bad Brucker Loipe: 1 kilometre, classic and skating
Sportgastein
- Nassfelder Runde: 6.2 kilometres, classic and skating
- Schareck Runde: 1.7 kilometres, classic and skating
- Bernhard Gruber Olympia Loipe: 2.8 kilometres, classic and skating
Bad Hofgastein
- Kurparkloipe (beginner): 2.2 kilometres, illuminated until 9 pm, laser biathlon, classic and skating
- Sportplatzloipe (beginner): 2.5 kilometres, classic and skating, access at Achensteg/ Cross-country school
- Achenloipe (beginner to intermediate): 4 kilometres, classic and skating, access at Kurpark
- Angertalloipe (intermediate): 3.25 and 6.5 kilometres classic, 1.5 kilometres skating, access at Skizentrum Angertal
Dorfgastein
- Dorfgasteiner Loipe/ Mühlbachloipe (beginner): 1.8 kilometres, classic and skating, access at the restaurant Stoani
Interesting facts
- Elevated between 839 m and 1,600 m, the Cross-Country Skiing Area is among the 5 highest elevated Cross-Country Skiing Areas in Salzburg.
- Snow coverage is usually best during February, offering an average snow depth of 96 cm at summit elevation and 31 cm at the base. Therefore Gastein Valley is among the 5 cross-Country Skiing Areas with best snow conditions in Salzburg.
Videos
Dining along the Tracks
Neither of the three towns lets cross-country skiers hit the tracks on an empty stomach. From traditional and regional fare to exciting international cuisine, there is surely something to suit everyone's taste.
Getting Here
Gastein is situated in the south of the Salzburg region. The valley is surrounded by mountains on all four sides, and can only be accessed through Klammstein tunnel in the north or the Tauernschleuse in the south.
Coming from north (via Munich), you follow A8 motorway southbound. After you've crossed the border, continue on Tauern motorway A10 until Pongau (Bischofshofen). Continue on B311 until Lend, where you turn onto B167 to Gastein valley.
From the south (via Klagenfurt, Villach, Slovenia, Italy) you take Tauern motorway A10 until Pongau, where you exit onto Pinzgauer Straße B311 towards Gastein valley. Right before Lend, turn onto B167 towards Gastein and traverse the tunnel.
