Gastein Valley Trail
Gastein Valley Trail: 7-Day Hohe Tauern Hut Hike
The Gastein Valley Trail is the waymarked Gastein Trail: an 87 km, 7-day mountain-hut traverse through the Gasteinertal in Salzburg, Austria. It links alpine pastures, forest, rocky high paths and spa towns on a horseshoe around the Gastein Valley inside the Hohe Tauern National Park. Officially graded moderate, it sits at the demanding end: expect 4,587 m of ascent, exposed alpine weather, rough ground and one black-graded section. It suits fit hikers with sure-footedness and multi-day mountain experience.
Route Overview
The official route runs point-to-point from Dorfgastein to Bad Hofgastein, though the start and finish are neighbouring valley towns, so it feels close to a circuit of the surrounding peaks. The stages climb to Heinrichalm, Biberalm and Schlossalm, traverse to Angertal, then cross the high ground by Stubnerkogel and Zittrauer Tisch before descending past Bockhartsee and the Erzwies mining area to Sportgastein. The final days pass Bad Gastein and finish in Bad Hofgastein. Trail Angels can package accommodation, luggage transport and shuttles. For comparison, see the Hohe Tauern Panorama Trail, the longer Alpe-Adria Trail or Tyrol’s Eagle Walk (Adlerweg).
Mining, Spa Towns and the Modern Gastein Trail
The Gastein Valley has Celtic and Roman traces, but its later wealth came from gold and silver mining around Böckstein and the high Erzwies/Bockhartsee district. Bad Gastein later became a fashionable thermal spa in the late 19th century, known for radon-bearing hot springs and its Belle Epoque buildings. The Gastein Trail is a modern, signposted long-distance route created by the regional tourism board to link these high pastures, mining paths and spa towns into one multi-day walk.
Notable highlights
- Zittrauer Tisch (standard high point around 2,300 m): The route reaches its highest standard section near Sportgastein, with an optional black-graded summit at about 2,463 m. The reward is a broad panorama over the Gastein Valley and Hohe Tauern.
- Stubnerkogel suspension bridge (140 m long): This footbridge hangs about 28 m above the ground near 2,300 m on the Stubnerkogel above Bad Gastein. It adds a memorable airy section to the high-stage skyline.
- Bockhartsee: A high mountain lake passed on the descent towards Sportgastein. It sits amid the former Erzwies mining district in the Hohe Tauern.
- Erzwies and Böckstein mining heritage: Old Bergbauwege mining paths and the mining village of Böckstein recall the gold and silver workings that shaped the valley’s history.
- Bad Gastein waterfall: The Gasteiner Ache drops in tiers through the centre of Bad Gastein, giving the later stages a dramatic town-centre landmark.
- Hohe Tauern National Park views: The route runs within Austria’s largest national park, with sustained views towards the Goldberg and Ankogel three-thousanders.
Challenges to expect
This is a moderate trail with alpine bite: 4,587 m of ascent, rocky and gravel surfaces, long climbs and changeable weather above the valley. Stage 4 includes the black-graded Hermann-Kreilinger-Steig, which is narrow and steep. Huts may only open from late June or early July, and lingering snow can affect early-season crossings, so booking and timing matter.
Austria - Mountainous
- Alpine Pasture
- Forest
- Rocky
- Dirt
- Gravel
- Huts
- Hotels
- Family Friendly
- Pet Friendly
- Restrooms
- Water Sources
- Shelters
The trail leaves Dorfgastein and climbs into the alpine pasture zone to Heinrichalm, gaining about 1,327 m on the first stage.
A shorter high-level hut stage across mountain pasture terrain to Biberalm, with around 701 m of ascent.
The route continues to Schlossalm, adding about 731 m of ascent on a compact but still mountainous day.
A lower-ascent stage to Angertal, officially listed with 78 m of ascent, but notable for the black-graded Hermann-Kreilinger-Steig: narrow, steep and more serious than the numbers suggest.
The biggest mountain day: about 1,233 m of ascent to the high ground near Stubnerkogel and Zittrauer Tisch, then a descent past Bockhartsee and the Erzwies mining area to Sportgastein.
The route leaves Sportgastein for Bad Gastein, with around 215 m of ascent and a shift from high valley scenery towards the spa-town setting.
The final stage links Bad Gastein with Bad Hofgastein, gaining about 228 m and finishing in the valley’s thermal-spa area.