Untertauern: Hiking Trails, Wildlife Park and Waterfalls

Untertauern combines impressive nature experiences with trails that can be incorporated into a holiday day in many different ways. At the Untertauern Leisure and Wildlife Park, you can see native wildlife and other animal species up close. A family circular trail leads through the Taurach Gorge; the facilities also include a natural swimming lake and fishing opportunities at the Fürstenbrunn ponds. This gives the area something to offer both for active days and for shared discoveries in nature.

Family Trails with Nature and History

The “Alles Alm” circular trail is a particularly appealing choice. The child-friendly trail starts directly at Gnadenalm between Untertauern and Obertauern, is approximately 5 kilometres long and has a total elevation gain of 50 metres. Its ten themed stations explore former life on Gnadenalm, nature and the animals found there. Those travelling with a pram can plan the circular trail as a pram-friendly option.

The hike from the Gnadenbrücke bridge in Untertauern to Tauernkarsee also has a clearly defined destination: after 3.8 kilometres, you reach the crystal-clear lake. A forest road also leads from the Gnadenbrücke through a forest and alpine pasture area. Depending on your preferred itinerary, you can therefore choose between a specific lake destination, the themed trail at Gnadenalm and a path through forests and alpine meadows.

Waterfalls, Alpine Pastures and Special Trails

The Johannes Waterfall is approximately 60 metres high. A hiking trail leads directly behind the waterfall, offering a special perspective of the water. The Johannes Waterfall can be reached via both Felseralm and Gnadenalm. This gives you two explicitly named access routes to choose from, without having to commit to a single trail.

From Untertauern, or from the junction near the wildlife park, a trail leads via the old “Roman Road” and the newly constructed “Hohlwandweg” to “Maierl-Alm”. The Tauernkaralm represents the traditional side of the landscape: it is one of the last original alpine pastures with a traditional smoke kitchen and invites you to stop for refreshments. Those who want to discover not only nature but also traces of former alpine farming along the way will find a fitting highlight here.

Choose Untertauern as Your Starting Point Based on Your Travel Style

When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home in Untertauern, it is worth deciding on the focus of your trip in advance. For families with prams or for days featuring several shared experiences, the circular trails mentioned above, the wildlife park and the stations on the “Alles Alm” trail provide useful points of orientation. Those who prefer waterfalls and lakes can include Tauernkarsee and the Johannes Waterfall in their plans. For a physically active trip, the Taurach Valley Cycle Path between Radstadt and Untertauern is also of interest; it is listed as being 11 kilometres long.

The season also changes the character of the activities. Gnadenalm offers numerous hiking trails and circular hiking trails. In winter, it is a cross-country skiing paradise and biathlon centre with absolute snow reliability. The various types of trails and experiences provide a concrete basis for choosing the right location for your holiday apartment.

Further Destinations for Planning Your Trip

If you would like to add further destinations to your travel plans, you can also view the pages for Bad Hofgastein, Kleinarl, Wagrain, Harbach, Werfen, Hüttschlag, Radstadt and Forstau.

For the overarching travel overview: Sankt Johann Im Pongau.