According to a T-MONA study (Tourismus Monitor Austria), winter hiking is the second most popular activity among visitors during the cold season. To ensure quality, the state of Tyrol developed a mountain trail concept, which was successfully implemented for the first time in Kartitsch in 2018. The village of 800 residents at the upper end of the Gailtal Valley, at an elevation of 1,356 meters, has since been able to call itself “Austria’s first certified winter hiking village.” Gradually, other regions are following suit by designating quality-certified trails to offer guests an experience even away from the major winter sports areas or on days when they take a break from alpine skiing. One example is the 4.4-kilometer “Zentrumsrunde” loop in Obertilliach.
Those who wish can take the Postbus back halfway through the route. A mobility concept was developed specifically to allow free use of public transportation in Osttirol. In Prägraten, too, snow hikers can enjoy well-signposted trails that are freshly groomed daily. The 9.7-kilometer route to Berger Eck takes about four hours and climbs 390 meters in elevation. The Bodenalm winter hiking trail even climbs 611 meters. Like all the tours, the meadow trail in the Defereggental (2.8 kilometers) and the moderately difficult Alte Lucknerhausweg Glor-Berg-Lucknerhaus trail in Kals am Großglockner (11.7 kilometers) are signposted and designed according to the Tyrolean mountain trail concept.
