Winter in the Gesäuse

Be outdoors. Come indoors.

At your own pace. Less is more. That’s winter in the Gesäuse! When the mist drifts mysteriously through the valley whilst the sun is already shining up above. When your footsteps crunch underfoot and the cold, fresh air clears your head. When you watch the first snowflakes dancing down and then warm up with hot chocolate and mulled wine at the Advent market. Whether you’re outdoors enjoying winter sports and nature in the heart of the national and nature parks, or indoors in a cosy parlour – everything is possible, nothing is compulsory. Sounds pretty relaxing, doesn’t it?

Our recommendations for winter walks and ski tours

At your own pace. Exploring new paths.

The crunch, the crackle and the crystal-clear air: hiking in the Gesäuse in winter is a truly moving experience! Without snow, you can wear your hiking boots; when there’s snow, you simply strap on your snowshoes.

Some winter hiking trails in the Gesäuse:

Pürgschachen Moor Circuit

Route 4,6 km

Duration 1:30 h

Begin a

Difficulty easy

Johnbacher Almenrunde

Route 8,1 km

Duration 4:00 h

Begin Admont

Difficulty medium

Karleck round

Route 8,9 km

Duration 3:15 h

Begin a

Difficulty medium

Dörfelstein

Accessible by public transport

Route 5,8 km

Duration 2:15 h

Begin Admont

Difficulty medium

Lettmair-Au

Accessible by public transport

Route 1,5 km

Duration 0:30 h

Begin Admont

Difficulty easy

Leierweg

Route 2,2 km

Duration 0:45 h

Begin Admont

Difficulty easy

Weitere Touren

Zum Tourenportal

Ski, snowshoe & co

Winterdays in the Gesäuse

Get a little inspiration for your vacation in the Gesäuse. The winter landscape in the Gesäuse is magical and makes you forget that you actually want to complain about the cold season. But you can't do that at all at the sight of the thick blanket of snow, the ice crystals everywhere and the rays of sunshine that make the whole world shine. A gentle visit to the wintry Gesäuse nature - whether on touring skis or on the toboggan run - lets you share in the peace and magic of (nature's) winter.

Skitouring

Touring Portal

Ski & Snowboard

Cross country skiing

Snowshoeing

Dark Sky Reserve

Stargazing in winter? It’s actually particularly good at this time of year, as the air is wonderfully clear and cold – and it gets dark early. You’re in Central Europe’s largest natural night sky area, the darkest spot in the Alps. This means you can enjoy fantastic stargazing, guided stargazing tours, dazzling stargazing events and plenty of opportunities to gaze at the stars, even in winter.

More Infos

Good to know

Safe through the winter

Outdoor wants and needs to be learned. After all, on your tour you should mainly devote yourself to pleasure and always think you're on the safe side. So you should know in advance when and where it's best to be on the road. If you are not sure yourself, then just book a guide - they know where to go.

Guided tours

Ski touring in the Gesäuse National Park

Winter information

Lawinenwarndienst

Families with sledge, the whole shebang

When winter spreads its blanket over the mountains and valleys without a sound, there’s nothing better than spending time with your loved ones. And that calls for something everyone can enjoy. The Gesäuse has plenty of family activities to offer.

Bichlbach Toboggan Run

Lexgraben Toboggan Run

Rottenmann ice rink

Hall Amusement Park

Liezen ice rink

Impressions

Traditions leave no one cold

Out in the open. Back indoors. In winter, the Gesäuse retreats into its den – and so do you. First, with rosy cheeks, you take a stroll through the quiet winter forest, with the majestic mountains behind you. Then you warm up with mulled wine and rye doughnuts at the Advent market. Perfect for winter – here are a few snapshots to give you a taste!

FAQ

Everything you need to know about winter in the Gesäuse

Peaceful and authentic: as our region is renowned for its unspoilt natural beauty, the focus here is primarily on gentle winter sports, alpine tranquillity and experiencing nature.

Some highlights:

Hiking and snowshoeing
Ski touring
Guided ranger tours through the nature reserves
Cross-country skiing
Tobogganing
Alpine skiing on the Kaiserau
Ice skating
Advent markets & traditions
Winter culture & wellness

For independent travellers who prefer to avoid the crowds but enjoy fascinating encounters with nature. There are no large ski gondolas here, but plenty of small lifts and opportunities for outdoor sports and authentic experiences of nature.

Like everywhere else in the Alps: there’s plenty of snow – it just doesn’t always go to plan. As there’s no artificial snow here, you have to go by nature’s calendar. And nature has plenty to offer that doesn’t require a single metre of snow!

Yes! You won’t find a large ski resort here, though. But: almost every village here has a small ski lift. And: the Kaiserau is the perfect place for winter sports – for downhill skiing, cross-country skiing and walking. On the high plateau, there’s a 5 km high-altitude cross-country trail – the longest ski run in the Gesäuse – as well as opportunities to practise ski touring, a ski school, equipment hire and the ‘Sportalm’, a mountain inn where you can warm up.

To make sure the cross-country trails and lifts are actually open, it’s best to check our winter information page. We update the current opening times there on weekdays.

Any weather is good weather! In the Gesäuse, for example, you can enjoy:

• Many hiking trails, themed trails and caves in the Gesäuse are perfect for exploring even in bad weather
• City Rock climbing centre in Liezen
• Wellness, e.g. at the Hotel Spirodom’s Day Spa or at the GrimmingTherme
• Galerie Fokus in Admont
• Cinema at Starmovie Liezen
• Tennis in Liezen

Yes, it’s actually particularly good during the winter months. The nights fall early, the air is often clear and cold, and famous constellations such as Orion are clearly visible.

You can see the starry sky clearly from anywhere here on clear nights – here are a few particularly good spots for stargazing.

Buchauersattel: Mountain panorama and night-time photos
Weidendom Adventure Centre: View of the sky and the Hochtor Group
Forstgarten Campsite: Sleeping under the stars
Kölblwirt Johnsbach: Overnight stay in the Sternderl Suite
Buchsteinhaus & Ennstalerhütte: Mountain huts right beneath the starry sky
Gallenstein Castle Ruins: Viewpoint and guided tours
Lackneralm Palfau: Nature Friends’ hut, viewpoint and overnight accommodation
Leckermoos raised bog: Nature reserve and fascinating views

Planning a holiday

Useful links for planning your trip

Holidays are the best time of the year! To make sure you’re fully prepared, we’ve put together all the information you need about your stay in the Gesäuse at a glance. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch!