For adventurers of all ages – Heilbronn Circular Hiking Trail

If you think you have to decide between panoramic views and easy-going Tours when you hike with your children, I've got a special suggestion for you – the Heilbronn Circular Hiking Trail in the Dachstein Mountains in Austria. Here, you can have the best of both worlds.

You can avoid most of the tough climbs by taking the cable car up the mountains. Once there, you follow family-friendly Karst hiking trails that are specially designed for little explorers. Before long, you can enjoy the high alpine views, whether you are hiking as a family or alone.

There are lots of highlights on the way too. You can learn interesting facts about the region from the information boards dotted along the nature trail. As you hike over the impressive landscapes and rock faces, you will be captivated by the tragic history and magnificent panoramas.

Just off the path, you will find more interesting places a short detour away. A few minutes’ walk from the Krippenstein cable car station, you will find a spectacular mountain chapel, the “5 fingers” viewing platform, and spire, which is a designated world heritage site. As you descend from the Heilbronner Cross to the section III cable car’s valley station, you can make a detour to Hirzkarsee, a popular family picnic stop. Last but not least, if you are hungry at the end of your hike, you can walk five minutes from the station to Gjaidalm lodge, which serves indulgent regional delicacies.

You can reach the starting point of the hike either by car or by public transport. The train takes you to the stop "Obertraun Dachsteinhöhlen Bahnhof", where you can comfortably reach the v Dachstein Krippenstein cable car valley station with the post bus line 542.