Hikes in Werfen

The location of Werfen is special: The municipality lies in the Salzach Valley and is framed by three mountain ranges. The Hagengebirge to the north, the Tennengebirge to the east and the Hochkünig to the west. The backdrop is one of the most alpine that the Salzburger Land has to offer. The municipality is popular as an excursion destination not least because of its good accessibility (Tauern motorway, railway station). In addition, there are two of the most visited attractions in the entire province.

Throned proudly on a rock üabove the Salzach: Hohenwerfen Castle is one of the most beautiful castles in all of Austria. A guided tour through the old chambers is a must and should be on every to-do list. The second major attraction is the Eisriesenwelt, the world's largest cave of its kind.

With its excursion destinations such as the castle and the Eisriesenwelt, Werfen is a great destination for families who love hiking. Here you will find easy tours where you can experience great views of Hohenwerfen, but of course you can also hike up to the castle. A hike to the Eisriesenwelt (giant ice world) is also possible, but it takes a little longer.

How long does the hike to the Eisriesenwelt take?

There are two ways to reach the entrance to the Eisriesenwelt from the car park in front of the valley station: either you take the cable car and hike from the mountain station to the entrance of the cave. The route there and back is about 5 km long. The second option is to hike up the path. Surefootedness is required here and the hike with 550 metres of altitude takes about two hours.

Also a visit to the mountain is possible.

A visit to Hohenwerfen Castle can also be combined with a short hike. A tour along the scenic yet easy Prüllweg is a good choice. Great views of the Tennengebirge alternate here with exciting nature discoveries – perfect for the whole family!

One thing in advance: To reach the peaks around Werfen, you need stamina and surefootedness. Most of the peaks are well above the 2000-metre mark. Many hikes to the summits are therefore more like mountain tours and should only be undertaken in good conditions and with alpine experience. To shorten the hikes, it is a good idea to move the starting point further up. The neighbouring municipality of Werfenweng, for example, is a good starting point for summit tours in the Tennengebirge. A start at the Eisriesenwelt is also a good way to hike further up to the peaks. These three summit hikes are among the most beautiful around Werfen:

• Feuersangköpfl: This small peak is one of the most easily accessible peaks around Werfen
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• The difficult hike up the Tirolerkogel offers a great impression of the Tennengebirg
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• The Rifflkopf in the Hagengebirge is a challenging undertaking for anyone in good shape
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A hike through the Blühnbachtal is a treat for the soul. The intricate side valley of the Salzach valley is framed by impressive limestone peaks, but the valley floor itself is spacious and surrounded by dense forests. In a relaxed way, you can lose yourself completely in nature here, explore small B&Bs and leave everyday life far behind. In the Blühnbachtal you will find easy hikes, but you can also climb a level higher and go on day-long, difficult hikes.

In the south, the Blühnbach valley is bordered by a mountain ridge that is gentle for the region. The forested ridge is adjacent to the Hochkönig massif, but is itself only up to 1700 metres high. This is where the Ostpreu;enhte is located, from where you can catch the most beautiful views of the rock faces of the Hochkönig. The starting point for the easy hike to the Ostpreu;enh;tte is the hikers' car park at the Dielalm. 

The Salzburger Almenweg is one of the most popular long-distance hiking trails in Salzburger Land. The time budget must be quite large to tackle the entire trail. The stages around Werfen are particularly beautiful and can also be done as a hike over the weekend. Werfen is also the official start and end point of the Almenweg. Stage 1 starts in the middle of Werfen and leads over the Hochkeil to the Mitterfeldalm. Great views of the Hochkeil are among the highlights of this section.