Mountain Hike
Kals Valley Loop

This easy 20-kilometre hike at the end of the valley, leading around the village of Kals am Großglockner, passes several rivers and streams such as the rushing Kalserbach. The terrain is easy with just a few ups and downs, making it suitable for walkers and hikers of all ages. En route you will find plenty of places to fill up your water bottle as well as huts serving hearty food. The walk can be started at any of six points: Taurer, Tembler, Lana, Arnig, Glor and Burg. At each of these you will find an information station with details of the route. The entire Kals Valley Loop, which is divided into four stages, takes 6-7 hours to complete. As you make your way through the landscape you will find several wooden recliners inviting you to lie down and enjoy the majestic views of the Großglockner, Austria's highest mountain. The route also includes a crossing of the Ködnitzbach river using a spectaclar hanging footbridge. We also recommend stopping at the Mother of God Chapel in the Tuffsteingrotte in Lana.

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Starting point

Taurer, Tembler, Lana, Arnig, Glor, Burg (hike can be started at any of these points)

Finishing point

Taurer, Tembler, Lana, Arnig, Glor, Burg (hike can be started at any of these points)

Mountain chain

Glockner Mountains

Length

19.8 km

Total hiking time

6 h 30 min

Features

Wheelchair-accessible Hiking Route
Circular hike

Difficulty rating

easy (hiking trails)

Altitude

1,574m 1,234m

Elevation uphill 725m
Vertical metres downhill 725m

Fitness level

Technique

Best time of year

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

* These are approximate values and recommendations. Please take your personal fitness level, technical ability and the current weather conditions into account. Tirol Werbung cannot guarantee that the information provided is correct and accepts no liability.

Public transport

Accessible using public transport

Bus route 952, get off at Kals a. G. Taurer

Parking

Taurer: Car park for hikers a few hundred metres before you reach the Taurerwirt building
Tembler: Car park next to the snack hut ("Jausenstation")
Lana: Parking in the village
Arnig: Parking at the Gasthof Glocknerblick
Glor: Parking in the village
Burg: Parking in the village

Places serving food & drink

Snack hut ("Jausenstation") in Tembler
Gasthof Glocknerblick in Arnig
Wanderhotel Taurerwirt, Landhaus Taurer, Spöttlinghof in Taurer

Downloads

GPS data: Kals Valley Loop (gpx)

Trail description

Stage 1
We begins our hike in Taurer and soon reach Gschlöß. Continue into the valley along the banks of the river, past the Gradonna Mountain Resort to the Rastplatz Schoberblick, a good place to take a break. Continue along the trail to Tembler and then to Lana.

Stage 2
In Lana, head to the Kalserbach river and walk along the right-hand bank until you reach the fish pond. After completing the "Libenetsteg", a covered walkway, you will get to the Knopfbrücke bridge next to the main road. You will then get to Arnig. From there, follow the "Arnigerweg" trail gently uphill until you reach a hamlet a little further south. Then walk north to the Knopfbrücke bridge and take the "Uferweg Lesachgries" along the banks of the river to the Lesach-Brücke bridge.

Stage 3
From the Lesach-Brücke bridge, the Kals Valley Loop winds its way uphill through the forest. A flat trail then leads into the Lesachtal Valley to the Sagbrücke bridge. Follow the trail heading out of the valley. A slightly wider trail covered with grass takes you to the small settlement of Oberlesach. Use the opportunity to take a break here and lie down on one of the recliners overlooking the village of Kals. You will also find a number of information boards here. After a little more walking you will reach the new hanging bridge, but instead of crossing this bridge continue along a gravel path downhill to the hamlet of Glor.

Stage 4
From the hamlet of Glor, walk to the hanging footbridge anchored into the rock and then wind your way up along a series of switchback corners lined with fencing until you reach a flat trail in the forest. Continue along the old "Lucknerhausstraße" road, then turn left towards the mountain and follow the trail skirting the forest. You will pass an old stables and, a little later, cross the Kals Glockner Alpine Road. Opposite the road, follow the Kals Valley Loop to the settlement of Burg and then along a trail through the forest to the starting point in Taurer.