Summit happiness and alpine enjoyment
Our Bad Kleinkirchheim is located in the heart of the Nockberge Biosphere Park and impresses with its magnificent natural scenery. The many hiking trails invite you to discover the secrets of the region. And we are convinced: if you are on vacation in Bad Kleinkirchheim, then you have to go up the mountain at least once. Whether by cable car or on foot – summit happiness and alpine enjoyment are simply part of a vacation in Bad Kleinkirchheim.
Ambitious hikers will find plenty of variety in the extensive network of hiking trails in the UNESCO Nockberge Biosphere Reserve. Whether it’s a summit conquest or a leisurely alpine hike: we have the right hiking destination for every fitness level. What’s more, we know that the journey is the reward. Enjoyment is also the top priority on the mountain. Simply enjoy the breathtaking scenery or learn interesting facts about the flora and fauna in our mountains on the nature trails. In summer, you can escape the heat up here in the valley. Can you feel the cool breeze? A real treat for your heat-stricken circulation.
Download hiking map Bad Kleinkirchheim
Mountain railroads
In winter, skiers play first fiddle. In summer, hikers hungry for exercise wait to take the cable car up to the Nockberge mountains. Float away from the valley on the Brunnach Biosphere Park cable car or the Kaiserburgbahn. Once you reach the top, take a deep breath and enjoy the magnificent view and the scent of alpine herbs. Then it’s off on one of the many hiking trails. Or you can look for a nice spot in the sun and simply enjoy the day. Because there are plenty of hours of sunshine in Austria’s southernmost province!
As a member of Kärntner-Berggenießer Gastgeber, we share our passion for hiking with you. Put yourself in our hands with a clear conscience. We are the experts for your successful hiking vacation in Bad Kleinkirchheim. With our expertise and passion for the mountains, we will make your hiking vacation a special experience.
Mountain connoisseur services that will delight every hiking fan
Go in search of the “Speik”
The “Speik” or “Speick” is THE medicinal herb of the Carinthian Nockberge. This rare species of valerian only grows in the Nockberge mountains and in parts of the Niedere Tauern. The unique speick plant likes calcareous soil and high altitudes between 1,800 and 3,300 meters. And the small, inconspicuous plant has it all. It has both a calming and stimulating effect on the nervous system and helps people to relax. The superpower of the spikenard is mainly found in the roots of the medicinal herb, from which the essential valerian oil is extracted for healing products.
Discover the Speik in the Nockberge mountains
On your hikes between June and August, you are guaranteed speik-scented baths. The tart, fresh, spicy fragrance makes the delicate little plant a star among hikers. At 11 alpine huts in Bad Kleinkirchheim, you can test the healing power of the Speik on your own body. Soothing Speik foot baths are offered there – a real treat after a strenuous hike!
Speik hike in the Nockberge mountains
From the Brunnach National Park cable car, follow hiking trail 1 up to the Mallnock and on over the Klomnock to the Falkert. Below the Falkert summit, the trail descends to the right via the “Tanzboden”, past the Lärchenhütte and the Falkerthaus and back to the valley station of the National Park cable car. Walking time: 5 hours
The circular hiking trail in the valley (no. 1) starts opposite the Hotel Trattlerhof. The Sonnenweg trail begins there and leads you across sunny meadows to the Oswaldbach stream. Cross the stream and follow the path above the Hotel Almrausch about 100 meters upstream. There is an old mill here that is well worth seeing. Leave the St. Kathrein church behind you and continue to the Gutzingerhof and the Protestant church. Then cross Oswaldstraße and pass the Hubermühle mill and the Catholic church of St. Ulrich. The path now continues behind the church and halfway up the slope towards the east. Follow the road downhill for about 100 m and then hike up to Pension Sonnblick. After a few bends behind the guesthouse, you will reach a road that leads past the Stampferhof farm to the Zirkitzerbach stream. Then turn left to Hotel Felsenhof and follow the secluded forest and meadow meadows to Gasthof Drage. After crossing the main road, the valley trail leads you above the golf course past Franz Klammer’s K70 downhill run to the sports field. The last section of the hiking trail runs across meadows along the Zirkitzerbach stream to the Ottinger farmstead and the Kaiserburgbahn cable car. Behind the Pension Hubertushof, the trail continues to the Hotel Kirchheimerhof. Follow the road further down to the Hotel Kristall. Turn left there and continue through the forest to the spa gardens and along the Kirchheimer Bach stream back to the starting point.
Via the Hochsteig Ploninger to St. Oswald
Start your hike at the Thermenhotel Ronacher. From there, walk past the St. Kathrein church along the Sonnenweg to Aigen. Follow the main road towards Bad Kleinkirchheim for approx. 50 m and then turn left up the Sonnenblumenweg to the Tischnerhof. Continue along the viewing trail to the Ploninger inn and the fairytale meadow. Walking time: approx. 1.5 hours Follow the Hochsteig St. Oswald trail on the right up to above the quarry and then turn left through the forest down to Bichlbauer. Follow the water trail in the direction of Bad Kleinkirchheim to the Oswaldi spring. Leave the quarry behind you and follow the stream to the Tschernerwirt. After crossing the main road, follow the Wasserweg and later the Sonnenweg to the Trattnighof. Here, turn left onto the asphalt road and walk to the St. Kathrein thermal spa. Walking time: approx. 2 hours
The mountain valley hike (no. 8) starts at the Kaiserburg mountain station. Hike down towards the Rossalmhütte. Above the hut is a goods road which you follow. Turn left before the ski slope and hike down the slope to the T-bar lift valley station. Follow the goods road to the Dragehütte and then keep right in the forest down to the goods road. Walking time: 1.5 hours
Now you have two options to reach the valley.
Option 1 is to follow the goods road to the left and hike to the “Waldratte” middle station. It takes about 15 minutes to get there. From here, a goods road continues to the Ottingerhof. The path continues down into the valley to the Kaiserburg valley station. Walking time: 1.5 hours Variant 2 is slightly faster. Follow the goods road to the right until you reach the junction. Now take the path down into the valley, crossing the farm track several times and passing the Ottingerhof farm. Follow the valley path until you reach the Kaiserburg valley station. Walking time: 1 hour