Hike up the mountain, warm up in the cabin with a big cup of hot chocolate, zoom down the powdery snow on a sled, and then fall into bed, satisfied and tired. A childhood memory straight out of a picture book. Or rather, something you can experience again and again in Osttirol!
In addition to the fun on Osttirol’s numerous toboggan runs during the day, night tobogganing is another very special highlight—whether as a social outing with friends, a tobogganing duo, or a way to wrap up the day with the whole family. Head out into the unspoiled nature of Osttirol, feel the snow crunching under your feet, and build up your stamina as you walk uphill before you then enjoy the speed of your sled on the natural toboggan run. The perfect combination for a winter experience you’ll never forget, right?
Night tobogganing in Osttirol isn’t limited to full moon nights—there are a total of eleven illuminated runs for plenty of fun all winter long. You’re sure to find the perfect toboggan run for you, and it will be of the highest quality, since four of the runs even bear the Tyrolean Natural Toboggan Run Seal of Quality .
In the Defereggental Valley, starting from Maria Hilf and heading up to Alpe Stalle, tobogganing fun is guaranteed—thanks to the location and the guarantee of snow all the way through Easter. A stop for refreshments with live music at Bruno’s mountain hut at 1,714 meters is a must before heading back down to the valley. If you’re an experienced tobogganer and an adrenaline junkie, the Leppetal toboggan run in St. Veit in the Defereggental, with its narrow and fairly steep track, is perfect for you. The lower section is illuminated here. Once you reach the bottom, the hosts of the Alzenbrunnhütte are already waiting for you. The route from the Fallwindes toboggan hut in Kals am Großglockner also winds its way down through many curves all the way to the valley .
Are you one of those who enjoy tobogganing? Then the Würfelehütte in Virgen is a must-do. After the climb—whether on foot or at a leisurely pace via the hut taxi—the legendary “Rippelen,” the sledders’ snack, or one or two delicious Osttirol delicacies await you to fuel your toboggan ride down the hill.
If you don’t want to miss out on Lienz’s urban charm, the Hochstein 1–Schlossberg section—from the Moosalm via the Buchwaldweg —is perfect. Night tobogganing on the World Cup mountain, starting at the Moosalm Family Hotel and ending at the mystical Bruck Castle —now that’s something special! Are you traveling with your family and looking for a quick tobogganing outing? Then the trails in Kirchbichl/Lavant —starting at the two pilgrimage churches—and the trail in Gödnach/Dölsach are perfect. The climb is short on both and manageable even for the youngest children. At the foot of the Rauchkofel, which overlooks the district capital of Lienz in front of the Lienzer Dolomiten, the Lienzer Dolomiten natural toboggan run in Leisach—with its seven hairpin turns—awaits tobogganers of all ages.
The Villgratental Valley is not only an insider’s tip for ski tourers, but also for all tobogganers. On the Tilliachalm Trail in Außervillgraten in the Winkeltal Valley, the path winds upward in a series of switchbacks to the starting hut. After a short rest, the trail heads back downhill. At the end of the trail, you can enjoy the view of the three spectacular illuminated “icebergs” and round out the day with a visit to the Reiterstube (toboggan rental)! At the end of the Villgratental valley, in the Kalkstein district, you can also enjoy tobogganing fun on the Kalksteinerweg trail in Innervillgraten along the Kalksteinbach stream. Before you start tobogganing, stop for a bite to eat at the Badl Alm. By the way, this spot is also accessible by car.
Last but not least: Osttirol’s longest illuminated night toboggan run, the Kreithof-Tristach Dolomites Nature Toboggan Run. After hiking up, the fun part begins—the 3.5-kilometer descent. A real highlight!
Before you start sledding, you'll need the right gear. Sturdy shoes with a non-slip sole and gloves are required. Warm clothing (ideally layered) and a helmet should go without saying. Be sure to bring a warm drink and a small snack for the climb up. A headlamp, which improves visibility, will help you on the descent. A high-quality sled is just as important. If you don’t have one yourself, many trails offer sled rentals, or you can ask at a ski rental shop.
In addition to the right equipment, the following sledding rules must be observed:
If you’d like to challenge yourself even further during this nature experience, here’s the most popular variation of the sled race: It’s not the fastest who wins, but the person who achieves the “golden mean” in terms of time—the so-called average time. Each sledder times their run; afterward, all the times are added together and divided by the number of participants. The person whose time is closest to the average time is the winner—and will hopefully get to choose the next sledding course.
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