A family holiday in Saalbach is an experience for the whole family. The Saalbach area is also called the Valley of Games, and rightly so, because there are plenty of excursion destinations for children here. Montelino's Adventure Path, Berg Kodok, a huge high-rope park, and the Devil's Water are just a few attractions that will delight children.
In addition to theme parks, the Valley of Games also features beautiful hiking trails that are family-friendly. Some can even be navigated with a stroller. Cable cars lead up to the 4 grass mountains, allowing families to quickly and comfortably use the hiking trails at the mountain stations. The paths are well-signposted, mostly gravel, and with little to no incline, making them perfect for toddlers as well. Here is a selection of excursion destinations for the whole family in Saalbach:
Excursions in Saalbach with children
Montelino’s Adventure Path – Kohlmaisbahn
- Route length: 2.2 km
- Duration: 1:30
- Difficulty: easy
- Age: 4-10 years
- Admission: no admission
- Stroller-friendly: no
- Starting point: Kohlmaisbahn mountain station
First, you climb the mountain using the Kohlmaisbahn. Be sure to request the game pass with stickers at the ticket office so the children can help Montelino. Montelino has lost all his toys on the mountain, and the children are supposed to help him find them. The adventure path leads from the mountain station down to the middle station and is approx. 2.2 km long.
The paths are easy, mostly gravel, and a duration of approx. 1:30 is indicated; with toddlers, I would calculate more time, as some play stations are small playgrounds and the children run around. The play stations are really beautiful and child-friendly. Here you will find the large squirrel nest with the golden nut, the giant snake Paula, or a giant slide. On the way, there are also huts where you can refresh yourself and take a break. Once you have reached the middle station, the children must finish filling out the game pass and drop it off so they can also participate in a prize draw. From the middle station, you take the Kohlmaisbahn back down into the valley.
Talschluss Devil's Water
- Route length: n/a
- Duration: as long as you like
- Difficulty: easy
- Age: all ages
- Admission: no admission
- Stroller-friendly: no
- Starting point: Talschluss Hinterglemm
Extra tip:Possibly pack towels and spare clothes and socks.
Schnitza’s Wood Park
- Route length: n/a
- Duration: as long as you like
- Difficulty: easy
- Age: all ages
- Admission: € 5.00 (-10% with Joker Card)
- Stroller-friendly: yes
- Starting point: Talschluss Hinterglemm
Right next to the Devil's Water is Schnitza’s Wood Park, an adventure playground centered around the element of wood. Here, a stroller-friendly path leads through the park, where numerous play stations await the children. Giant wooden animals, pendulum bowling, competitive milking at the wooden cow, extreme mini-golf, or tree slice puzzles are just a few attractions in the park. Children can wonderfully train their motor skills and dexterity here, as the park features balancing beams and poles and many skill games. For very small children, there is also a covered sandbox and a wooden platform with building blocks to play with.
Once a week, Herbert Aschaber gives woodcarving demonstrations, and children, teenagers & the young at heart can carve their own walking stick for only € 3.00 (tool & material fee). In the summer months of July and August, there is all-day children's entertainment & magic shows with the clown "Montelino" on Tuesdays.
High-Rope Park
- Route length: 5 km
- Duration: as long as you like
- Difficulty: medium
- Age: from 130 cm
- Admission: from 130 cm: € 12.00, from 150 cm € 15, from 16 years € 25.00
- Stroller-friendly: no
- Starting point: Talschluss Hinterglemm
The high-rope park in the Talschluss is the largest in Austria with Europe's longest zip line and is a major attraction. Here, visitors can balance at dizzying heights over narrow beams or fly over the valley head like Superman.
First, you are trained by a qualified safety instructor and receive proper climbing equipment. For acclimatization, a practice course must be completed first, where you are allowed to climb up to the treetops.
The high-rope park has several courses at different levels from 3 to 40 meters high. This course requires climbing, balancing, sliding, and swinging over a wide variety of rope and bridge constructions.
Extra tip:If you are looking for even more action, you should try tubing: great fun with the ultimate whitewater couch
or Bockerl – downhill sledding of a special kind or Skyvern descent with unique freeride scooters.
Tree Top Path & Golden Gate
- Route length: 1 km
- Duration: as long as you like
- Difficulty: easy
- Age: all ages
- Admission: from 4 years € 6, from 16 years € 9.00
- Stroller-friendly: no
- Starting point: Talschluss Hinterglemm
The Tree Top Path starts with the impressive Golden Gate Bridge of the Alps. This suspension bridge is 200 m long and, at 1300 m above sea level right next to the Lindlingalm, is the highest treetop path in Europe. Together with the Golden Gate Bridge of the Alps, this combination with the hiking trail above the treetops is a globally unique project and should definitely be visited.
After crossing the bridge, the 1 km long "Tree Top Path" begins, a robust circular path made of solid larch wood, which leads over stairs, towers, and bridges over several floors up to over 40 m above the ground between the treetops. The hiking trail, which is open all year round, offers wonderful viewpoints on platforms for young and old.
NEW: Right next to the Tree Top Path is a low-rope park with 20 stations that are similar to those in the high-rope park, but can be walked on without safety gear as they are close to the ground.
Berg Kodok
- Route length: 3.5 km
- Duration: 2:30 h
- Difficulty: medium
- Age: 8-14 years
- Admission: no admission
- Stroller-friendly: partially – only up to the Rosswaldhütte
- Starting point: Reiterkogel mountain station
Once again, the children get to help, because the poor clown's hat was stolen by the mean goblin Kodok. The hat was hidden in a secret place, but the goblin was careless and left traces that the children can follow.
You get the game pass at the ticket office of the Reiterkogel valley station. You take the cable car up to the mountain station, where you can find a hut with drinks and refreshments right at the beginning. This hut also has a small playground.
Then the Expedition Kodok starts immediately, where the children can solve puzzles at various stations, such as the "secret message," and also have to be brave, for example at the "Dark Gorge."
Flora Path on the Schattberg
- Route length: 4.1 km
- Duration: 1:30 h
- Difficulty: medium
- Age: from 6 years
- Admission: no admission
- Stroller-friendly: no
- Starting point: Schattberg mountain station
Another excursion leads to the Schattberg. The ascent is very comfortable with the fast Schattberg X-press. On the mountain, there is a beautiful playground for children with slides and a 'Tarzan swing rope'.
Right at the mountain station and next to the playground, there is a restaurant where you can refresh yourself or sunbathe on the terrace.
The Flora Path is a small panoramic hike and leads from the Schattberg X-press mountain station to the Limbergalm and via the goods road to the Schattberg East Peak. Here you reach a summit with the highest point at 2018 m.
Medicinal Herb and Alpine Flower Path
- Route length: 2.9 km
- Duration: 0:30 h
- Difficulty: easy
- Age: from 4 years
- Admission: no admission
- Stroller-friendly: no
- Starting point: Reiterkogel mountain station
Right next to the Reiteralm on the Reiterkogel at 1544 m above sea level is the beautifully laid-out Medicinal Herb and Alpine Flower Path in Saalbach Hinterglemm. After a leisurely walk of approx. 30 minutes, you reach this area. Here you can admire and study over 200 native plants.
Anyone who wants to find out exactly about the herbs can take a "medicinal herb folder"; this is available either directly at the Reiterkogelbahn or in the herb area.
Visiting the Medicinal Herb and Alpine Flower Path is, of course, free of charge.
Fairy Tale Forest in Saalbach
- Route length: n/a
- Duration: as long as you like
- Difficulty: easy
- Age: all ages
- Admission: no admission
- Stroller-friendly: n/a
- Starting point: right next to the Hinterglemm tennis hall (approx. 400 m after the tunnel towards the valley head, left side)
For children and the young at heart, there is a fairy tale forest in Saalbach Hinterglemm. The figures are lovingly carved from wood and painted. Let your children guess which fairy tale is being shown; signs are also attached everywhere for verification. Admission to the fairy tale forest is free, freely accessible, and open around the clock.
Older children can let off steam in the adjacent skate park.
Fishing and Archery at the Bärenbach
An exciting excursion leads to the Bärenbach in Saalbach. Here, children and sports enthusiasts can fish or do archery. In a large lake, there are many fish to be caught.
The fishing equipment can of course be rented here, and the bait for the fish is also provided. Smaller children still need help here, as the fishing line can easily get tangled, but after a short time, they can already fish like the pros. And who knows, maybe they will really catch a fish. By the way: If a fish is caught, it can either be prepared and eaten in the restaurant immediately or taken home.
The Joker Card
In Saalbach, there is the Joker Card, where many admissions are included or discounted. This card cannot be bought, but is issued by accommodations that are Joker Card partners. When choosing your accommodation, check whether they issue the Joker Card, because it is worth it. With the Joker Card, for example, you do not pay extra for all cable cars as well as for the Talschluss train. There are discounts for the high-rope park, Schnitza’s Wood Park, or the Tree Top Path.
Further information on the Joker Card can be found here:Joker Card in Saalbach
Photos by Sabine, meinhaushalt.at
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