Hiking in Zell am See-Kaprun

How to pack a hiking backpack

It is always advisable to have as little luggage as possible with you. Sure, that’s easier said than done. Because you have to be prepared for all weather conditions. In the mountains in particular, the weather can quickly change. Nevertheless, we recommend that you have a maximum of 8 kilos of luggage with you when you set off on a day hike. A 20-25 liter backpack is ideal for this. But what is best to pack now? We recommend a breathable weather protection that is wind and waterproof. Overpants and a functional jacket are therefore suitable items of clothing.

Safety equipment for the hike

In addition to protective clothing, you also need safety equipment. The standard equipment includes a mobile phone for emergency calls, a small first aid kit and a sleeping bag (to protect yourself from the weather and to protect the injured). In addition to protective clothing and safety equipment, what else belongs in the hiking backpack? In any case, liquid for drinking and snacks – Ideally, you should choose drinks containing electrolytes. The minerals are important for your body when you are on your way.

What else belongs in the hiking backpack?

In any case, you should always have sunscreen and lip protection with you. A high sun protection factor starting at 30 is ideal. What is also often useful is a pocket knife. You can also pack a headlamp. If you are on the road for a long time and it gets dark, you will definitely be happy about the headlamp you brought with you. Of course, you can quickly have a digital hiking map ready on your smartphone, but we also recommend a paper hiking map. Oldschool yes, but if the cell phone fails, the good old paper walking map is helpful!

Tips for the heavy hiking backpack

With more than 15 kilos in the hiking backpack, hiking sticks are great auxiliary tools. They will help you balance the weight. The general rule is that you carry heavy weight as close to your body as possible. In a 50 liter backpack, you carry snacks, water bottle, tent, etc. (everything that is heavy) as close to your back as possible (on the inside of the backpack). The functional jacket and the sleeping bag can be packed in the bottom compartment of the backpack. It is best to attach additional items of clothing to the top of the backpack.

Exploring the Sigmund-Thun Gorge

A special experience for your vacation in Zell am See Kaprun is the Sigmund-Thun Gorge Kaprun, only a 5-minute walk from the Falkenstein Hotel Kaprun. The water masses have dug their way into the gorge up to 32m deep for centuries. Highlights worth seeing are the gorge lights illuminated at night and the legendary night of the water with stories and guided tours. A special place of strength in Kaprun with the Kitzsteinhorn glacier ski area is the “Klammsee”, which supplies the gorge with water. The Spartan Race also makes some exciting stops along the gorge every year. Canyoning is another activity that you can do in the Sigmund Thun Gorge.

• Ideal for jogging, Nordic walking and walking the dog; Canyoning spot
• Culinary: Gasthof zur Muehle, less than 1 km away

Kitzsteinhorn for your hiking holidays

The Kitzsteinhorn, Austria’s first glacier ski area, is perfect for holidays at any time ot the year. Not only are impressive hiking trails waiting for you, but also an amazing view is guaranteed. A summer experience for all the senses and the whole family. In winter, the Kitzsteinhorn becomes one of the best ski areas in Austria.

Enjoy a movie on the mountain

What is there to see? Summit world 3000 at the mountain station with a panorama platform, a film about its high alpine nature and a 362 m long national park gallery with a connecting tunnel to another viewing platform, tire slide also in summer, Austria’s oldest cinema, Cinema 3000.

• Summer Card advantages: tickets for ascent and descent free of charge
• Special features: Gipfelwelt 3000, National Park Gallery, summer and winter skiing, guided walks to the summit
• Culinary delights: Summit Restaurant, Gletschermuehle Restaurant, Krefelderhuette, Salzburger Huette

Visit the High Mountain Reservoirs in Kaprun

Visit the imposing High Mountain Reservoirs in Kaprun with the Mooserboden and Wasserfallboden reservoirs at an altitude of around 2000m. Get to know the functions of the dam on a guided tour. Then, enjoy the wonderful view of the Hohe Tauern on the sun terrace from Mooserboden and discover the unique flora and fauna of the Hohe Tauern along the herbal educational trail. Visit the children’s educational trail “Tobi Turbi” and learn more about nature and technology.

• With your Zell am See Kaprun Summer Card: free entry, free transportation to the High Mountain Reservoirs and back
• Special features: Imposing view, dam wall tours (inside), herbal nature trail, rustic stop at the Fuerthermoaralm with homemade bacon and cheese, adventure world electricity & ice  on Mooserboden, hike from the Kitzsteinhorn to the reservoirs
• Culinary: Alpenhaus Kesselfall, Fuerthermoaralm, Mooserboden mountain restaurant

Explore the Ferleiten Wildlife Park

The Ferleiten Wildlife & Adventure Park is located directly at the Ferleiten toll station on Glocknerstrasse. Take a leisurely hike through the wildlife park and observe the local fauna and game species. Afterwards, relax on the sun terrace of the rustic Wildpark Alm. The golf caddy tour through the adventure park is an exciting experience. The new highlights in the wildlife park: The lynx family is adorable, and the Wolf & Bear communal enclosure has been completed.

• Advantage with your Summer Card: Free entry to the wildlife park. Games and fun in the amusement park for free on 20,000 square meters.
• Special features: free adventure play park, free entry to wildlife park, life under water, 250 extremely interesting wild animals
• Culinary: Restaurant Ferleiten with panoramic terrace

Hike to the Krimml Waterfalls

The Krimml Waterfalls are the highest waterfalls in Europe. With an impressive height of 380 m, they are the fifth highest waterfalls in the world. Experience the refreshing drizzle and the impressive power of the water in the Hohe Tauern National Park.

• With your Zell am See Kaprun Summer Card: free entry
• Special features: fifth highest waterfalls in the world, drop height 380m. Great natural spectacle, well-developed path
• Culinary: Hanke’s Cafe Restaurant, Gasthof Schoenangerl, Reinis Pizzeria

Hohe Tauern National Park: Hiking paradise

Where can you find 550 lakes at once? Exactly – in the Hohe Tauern National Park.

Zell am See Kaprun borders directly on one of the most beautiful national parks in the world. The summit of the Kitzsteinhorn itself is already in this wonderful, wild region of the Alps. In the Hohe Tauern National Park, all major alpine ecosystems are extensively preserved and undisturbed. Above it are 266 peaks over 3,000 m. 1200 km² of the area of ​​the national park are in untouched natural landscape. The sanctuary is home to 130 km² of glaciers, over 550 lakes and 279 streams. The Salzburg part of the protected area is 805km².

Explore interesting plant species

At the same time, the Hohe Tauern National Park is the oldest of Austria’s national parks and more than a third of all plant species and more than half of all amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals that occur in Austria can be found here. The Hohe Tauern National Park has been internationally recognized by the IUCN as a Category II (“National Park”) protected area and has thus been included in the family of the very large national parks such as Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, etc.

National Park excursions

During the summer and winter months, the national park administration offers excursions on a wide variety of topics for anyone interested. From Tauern crossings in the “footsteps of the mule packers” to wildlife observation, geological excursions or snowshoe hikes in the snow-covered Tauern valleys. The national park rangers are reliable and specially trained excursion guides. They bring visitors – young and old – closer to the uniqueness of the protected area in an exciting way.

• With your Summer Card, the entry to the Hohe Tauern National Park Center is free!
• Special features: geological excursions in Austria’s oldest national park

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