Kötschach Valley
Kötschachtal
A quiet side valley northeast of town with gentle paths alongside a stream leading to alpine pasture huts, and one of the gateways to Hohe Tauern National Park.
The Kötschach Valley is a side valley northeast of Bad Gastein that reaches into the Hohe Tauern range. No public motor road enters it, and its meadows, forests and streams remain in a natural state on the edge of Hohe Tauern National Park. From town, it takes about 40 minutes on foot along the Kaiser Wilhelm Promenade to reach the valley mouth. From there, a gentle path along the valley floor leads to Prossau pasture or the Himmelwandhütte, a round trip of 3–4 hours with waterfalls and alpine pastures along the way. It suits easy family hikes, and fit walkers can continue to higher mountain huts. The pasture huts serve simple meals and dairy products in summer. In winter, a groomed winter trail is available.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- St. Nicholas Church
- Kaiser Wilhelm Promenade
- Bad Gastein Belle Époque Centre
- Gastein Waterfall
- Felsentherme Gastein
- Graukogel
- Altböckstein Mining Museum
- Stubnerkogel & Suspension Bridge