Gerlitzen: Hiking and Summit Views

Gerlitzen Alpe offers 147 kilometres of well-marked hiking trails, ranging from gentle walks to challenging mountain hikes. From the Gerlitzen summit at an elevation of 1,911 metres, the 360-degree panorama stretches across mountains and lakes. This raises a practical question when planning a stay: should the day be devoted to a short hike, a longer circuit, or a combination of a cable car ride and a trail?

Hiking Routes by Duration and Character

One specific hike to the summit starts at the top station of the Pöllingerbahn at an elevation of 1,660 metres. From there, an easy, family-friendly trail runs for 1.8 kilometres to the summit; the walking time is about 30 to 45 minutes. Trail conditions can vary by season, so it is advisable to check them before setting out.

If you are looking for a circuit rather than a route to the summit, you can compare the approximate walking times: the Kanzelhöhe Circular Trail takes about an hour and is suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs. The Traumbogen summit circular trail takes about an hour and a half. These figures refer to different routes and provide a guide for planning your time.

Another hike leads from the top station of the Pöllingerbahn double chairlift to the Kammerhütte. The flat, family-friendly trail takes around 30 minutes on foot; along the way, there are views of the Hohe Tauern and the Carinthian Nock Mountains. The routes described therefore differ not only in duration, but also in destination and character.

Cable Car and Kanzelhöhe

The Kanzelbahn travels from its bottom station on Lake Ossiach, at an elevation of 550 metres, directly to the Kanzelhöhe Adventure Arena at 1,440 metres in about ten minutes. For planning your day, the ride can serve as a convenient connection between the valley station and the mountain area. Check the current timetable if you plan to include the cable car in your itinerary. The Kanzelhöhe Adventure Arena includes a summer tubing run; this activity is seasonal.

Cultural Stops and Activities

The Traumbogen summit circular trail combines walking time with an artistically designed landscape: in recent years, various artists have created numerous places for relaxation and reflection on Gerlitzen Alpe, many of which line the trail. The Bergeralm Circular Trail includes, among other features, the Greetings to Tibet, Landscape Acupuncture, the Noreia Sky Ladder, the Rock Lake and the Rock Chapel. There are also activity stations for children at Berger Alm.

Other activities offer different kinds of experiences. On the wooden ball run, children can watch their wooden balls make their way through funnels, spirals and wavy tracks. The forest ropes course is at an elevation of 1,520 metres and has 160 stations, four difficulty levels and 31 zip lines at heights of 1 to 18 metres. These features may change; check them before your visit.

The Gerlitzen Adventure Park has a 9-hole miniature golf course on artificial turf. The 3D archery course winds through a forest landscape and offers archery with bow and arrow. Admission, equipment, instruction and practice shooting are included in the course offer; opening conditions are seasonal and weather-dependent.

Winter Activities and Rules for Ski Tourers

For winter, Gerlitzen Alpe lists 26 ski runs of all difficulty levels, 45 kilometres of groomed pistes and 15 kilometres of natural ski routes. There are also more than twelve kilometres of groomed winter hiking and snowshoe trails through snow-covered mountain scenery. The length of groomed trails may vary depending on seasonal conditions; the number of pistes and routes may also change following infrastructure updates.

There is a specific restriction on ski touring on the pistes: it is permitted only on the official Gerlitzen-Klösterle ascent route, on the ski touring strip along the 6.3-kilometre Klösterle valley run. It is prohibited on all other pistes. Check the current rules before setting out. At the Skiline Speedcheck, visitors can measure their personal top speed on a closed course and receive a photo showing their speed; this offer is seasonal.

Getting to the Valley Station

There is a parking deck with 800 free parking spaces right next to the Gerlitzen cable car valley station. If you are visiting during peak season, it is advisable to check capacity and availability in advance. This makes it easier to factor your arrival at the valley station into your day’s plans, whether you have a hike, a cable car ride or a winter activity in mind.

Discover more destinations: Treffen Am Ossiacher See, Latschach, Ragain, Verditz, Weißenstein, Petschnitzen, Laastadt, Kreuzen

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