Even the journey to the Pongau resort of Großarl is spectacular. High above the world-famous Liechtensteinklamm gorge, the road winds along the rock into the Hohe Tauern mountains. In the middle of the beautiful valley lies the main town of Großarl with its numerous hotels, mountain railways and leisure facilities for the whole family. Here, relaxation, enjoyment and variety await the whole family. Framed by imposing mountain ranges, the picturesque village lies in the midst of untouched nature. The Grossarl Valley in Salzburg is thirty kilometres long and, thanks to its many alpine huts, is affectionately called the “Valley of Alpine Pasture” by its connoisseurs. Nowhere else in Austria are there so many huts where alpine dairymen spoil hikers and mountain bikers with homemade delicacies.
Holiday fun for the whole family
Großarl offers a spacious leisure centre with adventure swimming pool, water slide, diving tower and cosy restaurant. Three tennis courts, beach volleyball, mini-golf and “Rucki Zucki’s Gaudi-Alm” – Salzburg’s largest alpine playground with mountain lake, alpine stream, crystal mine and many great attractions right in the centre of Großarl – also provide variety and fun. At the same time, Großarl is the starting point of the Grossarl Valley-Dorfgastein ski circuit, which of course also operates in summer. The gondola takes you quickly and comfortably up to the „Erlebnisberg Großarl“, an adventure mountain. At the top, a unique panorama awaits, fun and games along the hiking trails over the Kreuzkogel to the Spiegelsee, rapid descents on the two single trails, fun and action with the mountain carts and sensual experiences on the “Grossarl Sensory Trail” at the Gehwolfalm. In the mountaineering village of Hüttschlag you will find adrenaline and adventure in the challenging via ferratas through the “Hüttschlager Wand”.
Hiking in the valley of the alpine pastures
Pleasure hikers, mountain hikers and mountaineers are all welcome in Großarl. Against the impressive backdrop of the Hohe Tauern mountains, you will feel very close to heaven when you reach the summit. After a leisurely alpine hike or a challenging high-mountain tour, you will be welcomed with warm hospitality at the rustic huts. A hike for body, mind and soul is the chapel hiking trail. From the parish church in Großarl, the pilgrimage trail leads along paths and footpaths in the direction of Hüttschlag and on to the end of the valley (total approx. 17 km).
The Salzburger Almenweg is a long-distance hiking trail through Salzburg’s Pongau region. With a total length of 350 km, this hiking trail leads in 31 more or less long daily stages to over 120 alpine pastures. Four of the 31 stages of the Salzburger Almenweg lead through the Grossarl Valley, making Grossarl and Hüttschlag ideal starting and finishing points for this long-distance trail.
Großarltal Gründegg © Gipfelfieber
Grossarl Valley Alpine Secrets
Uncover the secrets of “Großarltaler Almgeheimnisse” and collect your own cookbook with hearty, spicy, sweet and “witty” recipes from the alpine pastures in the Grossarl Valley. At every alpine hut along the Salzburg Almenweg in the two municipalities of Großarl and Hüttschlag (stages 14 to 17), interested hikers receive a recipe – the insider tips, so to speak, of the respective innkeepers. The offer ranges from “Muas” to hearty main dishes such as “Kasnock’n with kneaded cheese” and “Bauernbratl with fried potatoes” to the “Bauernkrapfen” and the popular “Schwarzbeernock’n”. Of course, tips for delicious liqueurs based on homemade farm fruit schnapps are not to be missed. Various types of cheese have been traditionally produced in the Großarltaler Bergbauernkäse region for a long time. Sour cheese, sweet and semi-hard cheese, oil cheese and fresh cheese are produced primarily on the many farmed alpine pastures, but also on the farms in the valley.
(c) Erwin Haiden Brettljause Großarltal
Winter in Großarl
As soon as the snow has covered the landscape like a thick blanket, Ski amadé beckons with its 270 lifts and cable cars and kilometres of perfectly groomed pistes. For snowshoe hikers and ski tour fans, Grossarl is known as a true winter paradise. The Grossarl Valley is the pro in Ski amadé for skiing holidays with the whole family. Guaranteed snow, wide pistes and state-of-the-art lifts – that’s how you could describe the Großarltal-Dorfgastein ski area in just a few words. Cosy ski huts and sun terraces invite you to take a traditional break. While the ski tots in the Kid’s Area at the Funslope at the Kreuzhöhe Tellerlift whiz through tunnels and around fun obstacles and race down the wave run, the older ones are magically attracted to the Snowpark Großarltal with its spectacular obstacles. The Snowpark Großarltal – the start is directly on the valley side of the Sonnenbahn mountain station – offers two lines with kickers, the Butter Box, the Rainbow Butter Box, the Mushroom and enough space for jibbing over a length of around 500 m. The Snowpark Großarltal is the perfect place to start. But every winter sports enthusiast gets tired at some point – and then it’s off to the resting point “RuhePlatzl”. Here you can comfortably experience the mountains and nature. At the „Natur Platzl“, the “Sonnen Platzl“, “Servus Platzl“, “Gamsjaga Platzl“ or “Glockner Platzl” you can relax with the best view.
All new – Even more comfort and skiing enjoyment!
Grossarltal, also linked by lift to the slopes of Dorfgastein, offers skiing and nature enjoyment for the whole family. For the winter of 2023/24, huge investments have been made in a new 10-seater gondola lift, additional pistes, a unique summit restaurant, and extensive ecological measures.
The new, state-of-the-art 10-seater “Kieserl” gondola lift runs from the valley via a middle station, ascending over 1,000 vertical meters directly to the Kieserl summit plateau (1,954 m) in just 15 minutes. It serves as your gateway to the wonderfully snowy slopes of the Roslehenalm ski area on the Grossarltal side. There is also a new direct ski link from Kieserl to Dorfgastein, bringing the two communities of Grossarl and Dorfgastein even closer together. It is now easier than ever to switch back and forth – and essentially go “valley hopping”.
The crowning glory of this particular lift is the summit restaurant WOLKE7, located on the upper floor of the mountain station with a large sun terrace and unique 360° panoramic views.
So, please enjoy our new dimension of skiing in Grossarltal.
Großarltal Skifahren © Lorenz Masser
