Hiking in Raurisertal in Salzburger Land
Keep your distance? No problem! Where does that work best? The many (often remote) peaks and broad alpine pastures of the Hohe Tauern immediately come to mind. Let’s begin with the “secret jewel of Hohe Tauern National Park”, in Raurisertal. The village of Rauris is actually the biggest National Park community in SalzburgerLand by area. And that despite only 3000 permanent residents. The valley is 30 km long, lying between the Grossglockner High Alpine Road and Gastein Valley, with its famous healing Hot Springs, roughly 30 km from Zell am See-Kaprun. Raurisertal draws lovers of the outdoors with 295 km of hiking paths and alpine trails, leading across lush high pastures all the way up to the summits of the Goldberg Group. Alongside babbling mountain streams, through reenergizing forests. Including the Rauris Virgin Forest. Located at the Rauris valley head, known as Kolm Saigurn, it is definitely one of the must-sees during your holiday at Alps Residence in the Hohe Tauern National Park Holiday Region.
Natural jewel Rauris Virgin Forest in the Hohe Tauern National Park Holiday Region
We park our car at the Lenzanger car park, sling our rucksacks over our shoulders and set out along the path. Treading over exposed roots and between mighty conifers, it leads us uphill for roughly 30 minutes, “warming us up” nicely. Accompanied by the twitter of birds and a rushing stream, that we can hear off to the right of us. Reaching an area of open alpine pastures, our eyes have an opportunity to roam. To our right, the Hoher Sonnblick, the most striking peak of the Goldberg Group. To our left, the Kolmkarspitz and Silberpfennig. These names go back to the gold-mining days – during its heyday, Raurisertal accounted for as much as 10% of gold production worldwide. Attentive visitors discover evidence of those times scattered throughout Raurisertal. At gold panning sites in Raurisertal, you can still try your hand as a treasure hunter – under expert supervision – and perhaps even pan a few slivers of gold out of the water.
We now cross the small stream ahead of us and decide this time (with a heavy heart) not to take a refreshment break at the Filzenalm or the Durchgangalm. And unfortunately, also not to indulge in the fresh farmhouse doughnuts with lingonberry jam, with which Sophie greets her guests at the Gainschniggalm. Today, we just keep on going – because this also marks the start of the theme path which runs through Rauris Virgin Forest. Ancient pine trees and dark moorland ponds, in which the surrounding peaks are reflected, giant anthills teeming with activity. And that gloriously fresh mountain air! Our motto today: Slow down the pace of life and take a deep breath. Time and again, we stop to enjoy the incredible tranquility. And peruse the info boards which reveal some of the secrets of this magical forest inside Hohe Tauern National Park. After some 30 minutes, we come to the end of the theme path, but are far from reaching the end of our unforgettable discovery tour of Kolm Saigurn.
