Accessible Trails in Austria: Mountain Adventures for Everyone

Hiking with a pram, wheelchair, or rollator, with painful knees or other impairments poses a challenge to many. However, more and more Austrian regions provide trails to comfortably walk, roll or ride on, making mountain adventures accessible to everyone.

Vorarlberg has no less than 30 fully accessible hiking trails. Tirol’s Kaunertal Valley has won several awards for accessibility. There is also a growing offer for hiking enthusiasts in SalzburgerLand’s Lungau region, Schladming-Dachstein and in Styria while Carinthia has launched a highly regarded initiative called “Naturerleben für alle” (“Nature experiences for everyone”).


HIKING ON WHEELS IN VORARLBERG

Hiking enthusiasts will find barrier-free trails in Vorarlberg all the way from Lake Constance to the mountain regions. The valley plains and high plateaus are particularly suitable. The Vorarlberg Tourismus website lists 30 appropriate hikes, ranging from the trail at Lake Constance (6,3 km / 3,9 mi) to the Bregenzerwälder Kulturweg (4 km / 2,5 mi) in Andelsbuch to the Bahnweg (7,6 km / 4,7 mi) in the Inner Montafon. Further up, the cable cars all have barrier-free access and there’s usually a restaurant at the summit to enjoy the view. Accessible accommodation can be found in all six holiday regions of the country.

Acessible trails in Vorarlberg 


ALPINE EXPERIENCES IN TIROL'S KAUNERTAL VALLEY

"Accessible holidays with no ifs or buts" – is one of the goals of the Kaunertal Valley. Families with prams, wheelchair users and people with mobility impairments can comfortably explore the unspoiled landscapes around the information centre Naturparkhaus Kaunergrat by using marked hiking trails. The wetlands, a natural monument called Piller Moor, with its educational moor trail is easily accessible, too, thanks to numerous footbridges. Visitors take the Karlesjoch cable car all the way up to the areas of "eternal ice." At the mountain top station, the fully accessible viewing platform at an altitude of 3,108 metres offers a spectacular three-country view.

Another special feature in the Kaunertal Valley is the use of rent-free "Swiss-Tracs." With these traction devices, wheelchair users can master steeper forest paths and even visit some alpine pastures and the Adlerblick viewing platform high above Feichten. Just like a pram, a "Swiss-Trac" may be transported in cable cars.

Accessible Trails in Kaunertal


MOUNTAIN AND WATER TOURS WITH VIEWS OF THE DACHSTEIN

Freizeit-PSO (Freizeit Para-Special Outdoorsports) is the name of a group of specially trained guides who design holiday programmes and experiences for everyone in the Schladming-Dachstein Region. Whether hiking, diving, rafting, riding, horse-drawn carriage riding or climbing - the specialists make it happen.

In addition to individually bookable programmes, Freizeit-PSO also offer summer package deals. This could be a multi-adventure holiday, a wheelchair week, or a hiking week for comfort seekers. If you want to go on a hike by yourself, choose from the numerous accessible trails: particularly suitable ones are the 8,5 km (5,3 mi) loop around Lake Schwarzsee, the 7,5 km (4,7 mi) Wilde Wasser theme trail or the 2,4 km (1,5 mi) Bankerlweg trail.

Accessible trails in Schladming


ACCESSIBLE NATURE EXPERIENCES IN CARINTHIA

Emerald green lakes, forest soils, herbal meadows, and endless views: the landscapes in Carinthia offer the perfect break from busy everyday life. To ensure that everyone gets the chance to indulge in nature, the province has introduced a special project called "Naturerleben für alle" (“Nature experiences for everyone”), featuring eleven fully accessible paths ranging from adventure loop trails around Lake Weissensee to the Nockberge Biosphere Reserve.

There are also seven adventure programmes for people with and without mobility impairments, including visiting a cheese factory in the Gailtal Valley, learning more about the energy of trees in the Warbad Villach spa, and an evening stroll in Kötschach-Mauthen.

Accessible trails in Carinthia 



As always, we are happy to assist you in planning your research trip. Please get in touch at pressuk@austria.info.