New Hiking Experiences in Austria
Introduction
This summer brings a range of new developments for hikers across Austria, including Europe’s first fully vegan long-distance high-alpine trail in the Gesäuse National Park.
Hiking is in fashion. Across all generations. Walking amidst nature delights the senses, ignites the body and promotes well-being. Year after year, Austria's tourism professionals are expanding the already extensive range of offerings. New long-distance hiking trails and pilgrimage routes are added. Themed trails provide insights into regional specialities. Adventure stations and interactive paths make hiking fun for families. Hiking quality seals and the hiking village certifications underline quality and expertise.
Please find some highlights of our hiking news below.
You can also download the full press release and all the hiking news here.
Introduction
Tirol/SalzburgerLand/Carinthia: Alpina Antica Trail
The Alpina Antica Trail will launch as a new transalpine long-distance hiking trail in the summer of 2026, leading from Kössen in Tirol to Mittersill and Kaprun in SalzburgLand in more than 30 daily stages. From here the route heads to Carinthia via the Grossglockner High Alpine Road and then on to Italy and the Adriatic Sea. The Austrian section of the trail is approximately 300 km long, mainly along paths that were once used by pack animals and traders. 21 stages with the accommodation of your choice can be booked at https://www.bookyourtrail.com/trail/alpina-antica-trail.
Introduction
Carinthia: New hiking villages
Gurk, Sankt Urban and Guttaring in the Central Carinthia region have extended the choice of certified hiking villages since autumn 2025. Hüttenberg is to be certified in 2026. The region is also aiming to obtain the European Hiking Quality Label, with the corresponding certification to take place during the course of 2026.
Introduction
Lower Austria: Extension of the Luchs Trail in Ötscherland
The long-distance Luchs Trail, created by ARGE, leads through three internationally recognised protected areas: Kalkalpen National Park, Gesäuse National Park and the Dürrenstein Wilderness Area. From the beginning of the 2026 hiking season, it will boast 13 (as opposed to 11) daily stages. The new trail sections lead through the Mostviertel, first from the mountaineering village of Lunz am See via the pass to the hiking village of Lackenhof/Ötscher, and then through the breathtaking Ötscher ravines to the Ötscher-Basis Nature Park Centre in Wienerbruck. This means that the long-distance trail will now take hikers from Reichraming in Kalkalpen National Park across 245 challenging km and around 12,000 m of altitude difference through the impressive forest landscapes in eastern Austria.
Introduction
Upper Austria: Wilheringer Pilgrim Trail
The new Wilheringer Pilgrim Trail will be accessible from May 2026. The 132 km long route, divided into six stages, leads from the Danube near Linz through the Mühlviertel to the Vltava in the Czech Republic. It thus also connects the Cistercian monasteries of Wilhering and Vyšší Brod, which share a history spanning centuries. 14 churches invite you to stop and reflect along the way. Pilgrims can begin their journey at any point along the route and also hike the stages individually.
Introduction
Styria: Seven Elements long-distance hiking trail in the Gesäuse
The new Seven Elements long-distance hiking trail opened in the Gesäuse in autumn 2025. The spiritual long-distance trail leads for 126 km with an altitude difference of 6,100 m through the Styrian Eisenwurzen Nature and Geopark in seven days, through a landscape that offers space for tranquillity, a search for meaning and renewed energy. Wayside crosses, shrines and churches lend depth to the trail and invite you to stop and reflect along the way.
Introduction
Styria: Grazer Bergland Trail
A new premium circular hiking trail has been running through the region north of Graz in six day-long stages since autumn 2025. The route passes historic castle ruins, a mysterious bear cave, majestic churches, the Cistercian Monastery Rein and the Austrian Open-Air Museum Stübing. Cosy huts, welcoming inns and top-class restaurants invite you to stop and refuel along the way. The Grazer Bergland Trail covers a distance of 103 km and around 4,300 m altitude difference. The daily stages range between 14 and 20 km. All start and finish points are easily reached by public transport, making it simple to organise accommodation and travel.
Introduction
Tirol: Cross-border hiking and cycling
In the Kufsteinerland region, a new 4.6 km long cycling and hiking trail will create a cross-border connection to the Bavarian network towards Schliersee and Tegernsee from spring 2026. The section runs from Langkampfen over the Drei-Brunnen-Joch to Thiersee and then on to Germany.
Stay up to date
Our news are updated twice a year in cooperation with the regional tourist boards.
Need further information about Austria as a holiday destination? The press teams in our market offices are here to support journalists, influencers and other media professionals in their coverage.
Download the latest hiking news here:
Hiking News (PDF)
Summer News 2026 (PDF)
Photos available below. Please credit all photos accordingly and use images only in connection with the featured destination/location.
Droga wysokoalpejska Großglockner Hochalpenstraße
© Julius Silver
Region Mittelkärnten, Summer
© Michael Stabentheiner
National park Gesäuse
Park Narodowy Gesäuse
© Rainer Mirau
Weitblick im Grazer Bergland
© Stefan Leitner
More pictures in the media archive.