SalzburgerLand Alm Summer

Last updated on April 22nd, 2022 at 09:34 am

There’s Always Something Going On In The Mountains

Nowhere is it more beautiful in summer than on a mountain pasture – at least that’s what the many hiking enthusiasts in SalzburgerLand think.

And they are right: during the summer months, the locals are also drawn to the mountains and up to the alpine pastures. Even on hot days a cool breeze blows up here, the cows lie leisurely chewing on the green meadow and everyday life is miles away down in the valley.

Nowhere else are there so many alpine pastures as in the SalzburgerLand: here the alpine summer was literally invented!

The majority of the alpine huts are still managed in a down-to-earth manner and around 80 per cent of them can be reached on foot within 60 to 90 minutes on foot on trails leading through unspoilt and healthy alpine forests. And on well-marked paths, of course! Some are even easier to reach with the Salzburg summer mountain railways.

The Salzburger Almenweg

The 350 kilometre long Salzburger Almenweg promises a special hiking and alpine pasture experience. The 31 stages across the Pongau mountains can be hiked individually, by the day, by the week or in one piece.

On the “Trail of the Blue Gentian” you can visit 120 rustic alpine huts, where you are spoiled with alpine delicacies and can even stay overnight.

If you would like to explore the flora, fauna and history of the Salzburg mountains even more intensively on hikes and excursions, you are in good hands with the rangers of the Hohe Tauern National Park.

The varied summer programme includes around 20 different packages – from track reading and wildlife watching to excursions into a river bed and trips into the Rauris primeval forest to a guided tour of the foot of the glacier.

Authentic culture on the mountain pastures

The dairymen and -women on the alpine pastures have always taken care of their cattle during the summer months. The daily alpine pasture life also includes the production of long-life food and fresh alpine pasture products.

Alpine farming has been preserved over the centuries and cheese, butter and bread are still made by hand in the summer huts. And alpine festivals are also celebrated during the summer season.

The staff from the Loosbühelalm in the Grossarl Valley are anticipating the summer eagerly: “We are already curious about the people who will visit us this summer. We are looking forward to seeing the happy faces once again when we serve our homemade cheese and bread and celebrate with convivial evenings in the huts.”

A lively start to the mountain summer on the pastures!

The opening of the Salzburg Alm Summer will take place on 16 June 2019 at the Loosbühelalm in the Grossarl Valley under the motto “Handmade – Innovation and Tradition on the Alm”. Visitors can expect a hike with the “Klausbauer” up to his alpine pasture, the finest alpine cuisine with homemade delicacies and specialities from the Großarltal mountain farm cheese region as well as folk music and an exciting programme for children.

Further special alpine summer experiences are also guaranteed when the stallions are brought up to the mountains in the national park community of Rauris on 22 June 2019 at 10.00 at the Alpengasthof Bodenhaus or on 28 July 2019 at the Jakobi-Ranggeln (traditional wrestling event) at Hundstein in Maria Alm.

Walking Events During the Almsommer

22 – 23 June 2019: Stoabergmarsch24 in Saalfelden Leogang and in the Salzburger Saalachtal
The “Stoabergmarsch24” is – as the name suggests – a 24-hour hike: 40 kilometres over the mountains between Tyrol and Salzburg with spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and the simple feeling of happiness once you have managed the previously almost inaccessible.
More information: www.saalfelden-leogang.com

30 August – 01 September 2019: 24h Hiking Trophy
Keen long-distance walkers get to know and love the special features of this alpine summer paradise by day and night during the 24-hour trophy in front of the breathtaking scenery of the mountains around Maishofen and Saalbach-Hinterglemm. Hikers can choose between the 12 hours “Pinzgauer Discovery Tour Extreme” (27 km and 2,000 hm) or the 24 hours “Glacier Views around Maishofen & Saalbach” (58 km and 3,700 hm).
More information: www.maishofen.com

06 – 08 September 2019: Hohe Tauern Hiking Days
Keen hikers will be meeting on 06 September 2019 in the Mittersill-Hollersbach-Stuhlfelden region for the “Hohe Tauern Hiking Days” under the motto “On the road with music and Harry Prünster”. The choice of alpine pasture you go to is a surprise. The following day gets a bit more sporty when the 42 kilometre long hiking marathon is on the programme. On this day, an there is also a 10 km and a 20 km route on offer. On 08 September, visitors can expect a two-hour guided hike around Mittersill, followed by a culinary national park snack.
More information: www.mittersill-tourismus.at

When Culture and Art Meet Cows and Alpine Flair

21 June – 13 September 2019: 4 Lakes Art Hike on the Schmittenhöhe
Art and nature merge to form Europe’s largest open-air art space on the mountain ridge of the Schmittenhöhe at an altitude of 2,000 metres. With a view of the mountain peaks of the Hohe Tauern and the Kalkalpen, guests on the “4 Seen Kunstwanderung” (‘4 lakes art hike’) experience art and nature led by a trained hiking guide. The tour takes place on Fridays from 21 June to 13 September and lasts about four hours. Meeting point is at 09.45 at the base station of the Schmittenhöhebahn.
More information: www.zellamsee-kaprun.com

23 June 2019: Elderflower Festival in the Fuschlsee and Wolfgangsee Region
The Elderflower Festival at the Wolfgangsee and in the Fuschlsee region is dedicated to the elder and related products. From farmer’s doughnuts with elderberry to fresh elderberry juice, to cream cheese with elder leaves – a wide variety of delicacies are available for tasting. Every mountain hut will be offering a different programme of music, delicacies, etc.
More information: www.holleralmen.at (German only)

27 June – 15 August 2019: Soundtracks at the Asitz in Leogang
The Asitz in Leogang (1,870 metres above sea level) is a unique venue. This year five great concerts will take place in this incomparable ambience. The “soundtracks” offer a platform for any kind of music that is not commercial.
Dates: 27.06./11.07./25.07./08.08./15.08.2019.
More information: www.tonspurenamasitz.com (German only)

30 June 2019: Hochkönig Herb Festival
At the fifth year of the Herb Festival at the Hochkönig everything revolves around the local herbs. Life and health are celebrated at the new “TOM” alpine hut in Maria Alm. At 09.00 there will be a herbal hike to the Almhütte, where the Herb Festival with herbal delicacies will take place afterwards with a prize for the most original herbal headgear.
More information: www.hochkoenig.at

05 July – 06 September 2019: ALM:CULTURE – Art on the Mountain Pastures
“Culture on the mountain pastures” is a big theme in summer in Saalfelden and Leogang. With the motto “tradition meets modernity” visitors can experience various handicraft and painting workshops with artists, along with musical treats and readings. The romantic landscape around the rustic alpine huts far away from the noise and the hustle and bustle of everyday life offers the ideal environment for creative and inventive hours. More information: www.saalfelden-leogang.com

01 August – 08 September 2019: Alm:Classic in Bad Hofgastein
You’ll know it is alm:classic time in Bad Hofgastein again when mountain boots are worn instead of high-heels, when homemade elderberry juice is served instead of champagne and you head up to an alpine hut instead of a concert hall to listen to music, Hikers and music lovers can follow the sounds of the Philharmonie Salzburg and other musicians with free admission at the Gastein alms.
More information: www.gastein.com

30 August – 01 September 2019: Lammertaler HeuART Festival
Artistically designed hay figures, produced by weeks of work, are presented during a parade in Rußbach am Pass Gschütt. A children’s programme, a market, live music and much more round off the programme.
More information: www.heuart.at

08 September 2019: Mountain Festival on the Schmitten in Zell am See
The top-level Alpencup Ranggeln tournament (alpine wrestling) is part of the traditional festival on the Schmitten. The mountain festival opens with the traditional mountain mass at 10.00 near the top station of the trassXpress. After the mountain mass, the morning pint. The products at the farmer’s market range from Pinzgauer delicacies to traditional craftsmanship.
More information: www.schmitten.at

14 – 21 September & 21 – 28 September 2019: Saalbach Hiking Challenge Weeks
Mountain hikers have three long-distance hiking trails and a challenge on offer in Saalbach-Hinterglemm. A total of 64 kilometres and 3,800 metres of ascent need to be completed in the course of a week. During the Wander Challenge weeks, all three hikes are carried out with experienced hiking guides. There is also a varied supporting programme.
More information: www.saalbach.com