Guest author: Astrid Biemann
“When will we finally be theeeere??” Does this question somehow feel familiar? If you’d rather not hear it on your next family hike in Austria, read on – because you certainly will *not* need to hear it on the following trails!
I’ve found a few fabulous routes in Austria that boast more than just high mountains, glittering lakes, breathtaking waterfalls, and green meadows. They offer much more and are guaranteed to keep little hikers in great spirits.
Let’s pack our hiking backpacks…
First things first! Just hitting the trail empty-handed – especially with kids – is usually not a very good idea. By the time you reach the first curve in the path, you’ll hear a loud, “I’m thirsty!” And what child can resist a big, beautiful puddle – wet socks and all? That’s why, before we really get going, we’ve first got a little packing list for your hiking trip with kids:
- Hiking socks (it’s best if you throw a second pair in the backpack in case the first pair gets wet)
- A rain jacket that folds into a little bundle and fits in the backpack
- A hat or baseball cap
- Sunblock
- Plenty of water
- Provisions such as sandwiches, fruit, and nuts
- A little first-aid kit with Band-Aids and disinfectant
And now: The best hiking routes in Austria for families
There are fantastic hiking regions for families to discover all over Austria. With Alpine lakes, waterfalls, climbing rocks, and adventurous ravines, nature here has tons to offer and will thrill your kids.
There are exciting themed trails all over, with playgrounds and treasure hunts to win over even the most reluctant little hikers. I’ve selected five very different trails for you that are also well suited for smaller children.
My tip: A lot of hiking trails can be explored wonderfully even with a stroller. Check the websites of the corresponding hiking regions to see how suitable a trail is. To help decide if it would be a good walk with your kids, you can also find information on the websites about the trails’ length, difficulty, and options for turning back if you don’t want to do the whole loop. That way, you don’t risk running out of steam halfway through!
For treasure hunters: The Baumhausweg (Tree House Trail) Stubai
This hike is really something special: Along the Stubai Tree House Trail, your kids can discover the tree houses of a dwarf named Bardin. Suspension bridges and zip lines lead in and out of the treehouses, where Bardin has set up a playground, a treasure vault, a bedroom, and a kitchen. So the fun and action factor on this hike is sky high!
Start the roughly 2.5-hour hike at the midway station Froneben / Schlick 2000. You can pick up treasure maps here so the children can search for different symbols along the way. Found all the symbols? Then a little surprise from Bardin’s treasure chest will be waiting for your kids at the end of the hike.
On top of the world on the Baumkronenweg (Treetop Trail)
On the Baumkronenweg Kopfing, you can discover the forest from a whole new perspective: from above! This hiking path follows a wooden construction that’s up to 15 meters above the forest floor. The highlight is the 40-meter-high lookout tower at the end, offering an incredible view.
If, like my kids, the word “tired” isn’t in your kids’ vocabulary, they can go wild playing at the huge adventure playground after the hike. Oh, they finally got tired after all? Then you can even sleep in the trees! In the tree hotel, the rooms are raised a few meters off the ground like in a treehouse, and you wake up in the morning with a great view of the treetop.
For little and big explorers: Muntafuner Gaglaweg
For this trail in Montafon, you need to be armed with real professional equipment: a measuring tape, stopwatch, compass, thermometer, and pencil. Luckily, you don’t need to bring a backpack filled with all these tools, but can borrow one along the way at the tourist information office (in exchange for a refundable deposit). You also get a free booklet in which your kids can answer some tricky questions with the help of the various gadgets. Whoever works out the solutions gets a reward at the end of the trail.
You can choose from a couple of different routes that will delight little athletes, explorers, and artists. Without a doubt, there’s something for everyone!
For the most daring kids: canyoning in Oberinntal
It doesn’t get more adventurous than this! In Oberinntal, you can go canyoning, abseiling into a rocky ravine and plunging into the deep on naturally formed slides. There are very different options, one of which is even suitable for young daredevils aged five and up.
You rent the gear when you arrive and are then accompanied on the tour by experienced guides. Heads up: This adventure is not exactly inexpensive, so be ready to dig a bit deeper into the vacation savings jar. But you’ll be rewarded with a once-in-a-lifetime outdoors adventure that you’ll all remember for years to come!
For nature lovers: The Seisenbergklamm gorge
In the Seisenbergklamm natural monument, it’s wonderfully cool even on hot summer days. in the Saalach valley in the Salzburg region, you wander along a boardwalk through the myth-enshrouded gorge, which was formed during the ice age. Enormous rocks tower skyward to your left and right, while water rushes beneath you.
Your kids are accompanied on this adventure by the ‘root spirit’ Wurzelgeist, a character based on an exciting (and slightly spooky) local legend. At the beginning of the hike, children get a ‘gorge passport,’ and they can pick up a little reward at the end.
Joining one of the weekly torch-lit walks is a truly mystical experience. These take place in the evening when it’s dark, so they’re better for bigger kids.
Happy and tired
Anyone who equates the word “hiking” with an activity for adults will be set straight in Austria. All over the country, there are great hikes for kids. Every member of the family will have fun – and fall into bed at night tired and happy!
