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Unforgettable adventures
Family hiking in the Gastein valley
Hiking with children in Gastein
Mysterious forests, rushing streams, blooming alpine meadows: In the Gastein valley, nature becomes an adventure playground.
Gastein offers ideal conditions for families to explore the mountains in a fun and playful way, especially on exciting hikes for all ages. Whether in summer, surrounded by colourful alpine flowers, or in autumn, when the leaves crunch underfoot: Thanks to themed trails, encounters with animals and clever puzzle booklets, young hikers in Gastein quickly turn into great explorers. The familiar question “Are we there yet?” soon fades away – because in Gastein, every hike is an adventure from the very first step.
A practical bonus: Many of the trails start right at the mountain stations of the Gastein cable cars, so you can skip the steep climb at the beginning. That leaves more energy for the hike itself and for all the little highlights waiting along the way.
Family hiking in Gastein – the highlights
- family-friendly hiking trails with educational stations, playgrounds and nature experiences
- mascot GASTI playfully guides children through the great outdoors
- puzzle and stamp booklets for extra motivation and small moments of success
- a variety of themed trails from the dwarf trail to the bear trail
- easy access via the cable cars cable cars
- weekly programme for families with guided adventures and activities for children
- many mountain huts with playgrounds and farm animals
every child’s best hiking buddy
Mascot GASTI
Those who go hiking in Gastein are rarely alone, because mascot GASTI, the friendly water droplet, is always close by. He appears along many of the family trails, sharing exciting stories and guiding children playfully through nature. Whether on information boards, in puzzle booklets or as a fun surprise along the adventure paths: GASTI motivates, explains and makes every hike that little bit more exciting.
Motivation all the way with puzzle booklet and hiking pin
To make sure there’s never a dull moment along the way, the GASTI puzzle and stamp booklet is available from the local tourist office. With fun questions and playful challenges, it turns every hike into a treasure hunt. At selected mountain huts and stations, children can collect stamps and gradually fill their booklet. Once completed, a small souvenir awaits them at the local tourist offices.
An extra incentive is the Gastein hiking pin, which motivates children and parents alike. For every completed hike, you earn a set number of points in your stamp pass or via the SummitLynx app. Step by step, families can collect their awards in bronze, silver or gold.
Four adventure mountains – one family experience
Fulseck, Schlossalm, Stubnerkogel and Graukogel: Together, these four adventure mountains make the Gastein valley one of the most diverse family hiking areas in the Alps. At Fulseck, you’ll find a barefoot trail, the idyllic Lake Spiegelsee and a large forest playground. Schlossalm delights visitors with via ferratas, a slackline park and a motor skills park. At Stubnerkogel, the famous suspension bridge and the Felsenweg trail promise thrills and breathtaking views. And Graukogel, with its fragrant stone pine forest, invites you to a wonderfully scented hike. .
Explore the adventure mountains
The top family hiking trails in Gastein
The variety of family-friendly trails in Gastein is impressive, and each adventure has its own unique charm. Whether short and easy or slightly more challenging, all routes are designed to make hiking fun for children.
- Legends trail: Mysterious tales and characters from ancient times accompany this magical hike.
- Bear trail: A bear-themed adventure trail with play stations, a bear cave and a Kneipp pool.
- Nature experience trail: This trail introduces local flora and fauna in a fun, child-friendly way.
- Mushroom trail: Learn about the fascinating variety of local mushrooms.
- Hunters’ trail: A themed trail that helps children understand the forest and its wildlife.
- Bird trail: Discover the alpine birdlife with exciting facts and opportunities for observation.
- Dwarf trail: Fun adventure stations for the youngest hikers turn this trail into an adventure.
- Bee trail: Fascinating insights into nature and the world of bees, both educational and entertaining.
Discover family hikes
Difficulty
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Easy
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1 - 1,861 km
1,861 - 3,721 km
3,721 - 5,580 km
5,580 - 7,440 km
7,440 - 9,300 km
8 Results found
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By the way
By the way: The interactive hiking map of Gastein makes orientation easy, showing all family trails, alpine huts and adventure stations at a glance. Elevation profiles, walking times and refreshment tips are also included. If you prefer a more traditional approach, you’ll find printed overview maps with marked routes in the valley and at the cable car stations. And don’t forget: Before setting off on your family hike, be sure to check the weather forecast!
Easy access to the starting point
The Gastein valley is easy to reach even without a car. Families can travel directly by train toDorfgastein, Bad Hofgastein or Bad Gastein. From there, regional buses conveniently take guests to the valley stations of the cable cars.
A real advantage: Many family hikes start directly at the mountain stations. With the Schlossalmbahn, Stubnerkogelbahn or Fulseckbahn cable cars, you’ll be up the mountain in no time – without steep ascents, but with fantastic views right from the start.
Even more family adventures in Gastein
A family holiday in the Gastein valley also offers plenty of adventures beyond the hiking trails.
On warm summer days, attractions like the Solarbad public pool in Dorfgastein or the pump track in Dorfgastein promise fun and action. The variety continues with exciting excursion destinations such as the Gadauner Gorge. And if the sun decides to take a break, indoor attractions like the Fun Center at Stubnerkogel or the region's thermal spas are great alternatives for rainy days.
Tip: For even more variety, check out Gastein’s weekly programme for families, during which children can discover new adventures every day, from sports activities to excursions.
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