Katschberghöhe – Family Experiences between Carinthia and Salzburg

Katschberghöhe connects the Austrian provinces of Carinthia and Salzburg and lies on the main Tauern ridge. The Katschberg-Rennweg family region extends to the gateway of the Carinthian Nockberge and Hohe Tauern national parks. Those looking for a holiday apartment in Katschberghöhe will find a starting point here for very different holiday days: mountain-lift experiences and panoramic views on Aineck, family attractions in summer, winter trails and special excursions into the Gontal valley.

Between Aineck, Hiking Trails and Mountain Bike Routes

The Almbahn is an 8-person gondola lift that runs from Katschberghöhe to Aineck at an altitude of 2,220 m. Aineck offers panoramic views; there is also a choice of easy to moderately difficult hikes. If you like to combine your holiday with active days, you can plan 60 km of mountain bike routes on Aineck. This combination makes a stay interesting if you want to bring together different interests within the family: while one day may be devoted to a tour, another can focus more on enjoying the views or going for a hike.

Family Experiences with Different Requirements

At Katschi’s summer toboggan run, children may ride alone from their 7th birthday; younger children require an accompanying adult. The valley-station staff use the lift to pull the sleds up to the starting point. The Adventurepark Katschberg is another option for active experiences. It has 200 stations at heights between 1 and 20 m, as well as 15 courses through the treetops of the Katschberg forest.

The Katschberg 3D archery course also has its own particular focus. It leads through gently hilly terrain without extreme climbs or descents. The targets include three-dimensional animal targets; the course is suitable for children aged 8 and over. Katschhausen complements the offerings as a family destination for a summer day trip. In this themed world of experiences, natural phenomena are explained with the help of characters from the story of the Katschlings, and puzzles are solved. Katschhausen can be reached from car park P3 on Katschberghöhe in the direction of the Alpine Horse Centre Katschberg.

Gontal: Winter Trail, Carriage Ride and Regional Specialities

A 4 km-long winter trail into the Gontal valley leads through a sheltered forest to the Pritzhütte and is suitable for pushchairs. For a slower-paced excursion, the Ponyalmexpress departs from the centre of Katschberghöhe. The carriage ride, powered by 2 hp, travels through the Gontal nature reserve to the Ponyalm near the Pritzhütte; registration with the Alpine Horse Centre Katschberg is required. During a horse-drawn sleigh ride through the Gontal valley to the Pritzhütte, you can sample regional specialities during a stop along the way.

If you are planning excursions with children and varied activities, the summer toboggan run, Katschhausen, Adventurepark and archery course can be the main focus. For quieter days, the winter trail, the ride into the Gontal valley or a stay with panoramic views and hiking options on Aineck are ideal. This allows you to choose a holiday apartment based on your desired experiences and the time of year you are travelling, without making every holiday day the same.

Travel Arrangements and Other Destinations in the Surrounding Region

Katschberghöhe can be reached directly via the Tauern Motorway A10. In winter, ski buses run directly to Katschberghöhe from St. Margarethen, St. Michael and Rennweg. For your planning, you can therefore choose between travelling by car and using the bus connections mentioned above in winter.

If you would like to compare other destinations in the region alongside Katschberghöhe, you can find Radenthein, Reißeck, Emberg, Söbriach, Oberkolbnitz, Innerkrems, Dellach Im Drautal and Rangersdorf here.

For the higher-level travel overview: Spittal An Der Drau.