Hiking - Mountaineering

With 400 km of impressive hiking trails, Zell im Zillertal is a paradise for hiking enthusiasts. Whether you want to hike comfortably and relaxedly with the entire family, gather your first mountain experiences, or hike on demanding trails to the horizon and beyond - there's something for everybody.

Hiking holidays in Zell provide rest for the senses: hike along the freshly mowed meadows, taste the fresh mountain air of the alpine forests, listen to the babbling of the crystal-clear streams, and enjoy the marvellous views of the Ziller valley mountains!

Of course your taste buds will have something to look forward to - almost every trail leads past a cosy cabin run by friendly hosts.

Fichtenschloss und Fichtensee

On the Rosenalm high above Zell am Ziller there is a magical place of fantasy. According to legend, the Fichtenschloss was built by the mystical Spruce Sprites and is a very special kind of adventure playground! When the Spruce Sprites grew tired of their building efforts, they longed for rest and refreshment and expanded their habitat around Fichtensee.

Every childhood is a time of wonder and enchantment. In the Fichtenschloss children and their families, together with the little Fichtenwichtel, can discover that magic again. A long, long time ago the busy little Fichtenwichtel came to the Rosenalm pastures and set to work to create a grand castle and grounds on more than 5,000 m² for the Prince and his wife, who planned to come and live in the mountains.

Even from a distance, you can see the four towers you can climb, made entirely of wood, rising majestically into the sky. Guests, both children and ‘kids at heart’, can now enjoy a world of fun and adventure clambering on the climbing tower, sliding down the tower chute and ‘working’ in the crane tower. The breathtaking view of the surrounding mountains is best enjoyed from the 18 metre-high viewing tower or daring explorers can try out the treetop path, which leads from the slide tower through the adjacent trees. In addition to a wooden marble run, the vast water and sand play area and an adventure playground, budding little builders can carry on the work of the Fichtenwichtel in the builders’ hut and crane tower. The hammock forest is not the only comfortable spot for you to rest, relax and unwind.

The "Gauder Fest"

Traditionally, on the first weekend in May the Ziller valley is in a celebratory mood. Reasons for that are many in number - the high-quality festival beer, the "Gauder Bock", which is brewed early in September, and the second specialty, the "Gauder Wurst" sausage are only two of them. At the centre of the festival are the many different traditional dresses of the various alpine regions. The impressive highlight is the big Gauder Fest parade on Sunday with selected traditional dress groups, music bands, oxen- and horse-drawn carts, as well as beautifully decorated carriages.

Cattle Drive

For centuries, the cattle drive from the mountains into the valley has been one of the most important days of the year in the Alps. The cows' head decoration and the ringing of the hand-made bells are a show of gratitude for the fact that no accidents happened during the summer months in the mountains. Every year, the decorated cattle return to the valley in Zell im Zillertal on the Saturday before Rosary Sunday (1st Sunday in October).

Leisure Park Zell

Zell leisure park was completely redesigned in the summer of 2018. On an area with over 45,000 m² you will find every conceivable recreational activity for all ages. One special highlight is “The Treasures of the Zillertal” adventure mini golf course. Mini golf with a difference. Everyone can take a little journey through Zillertal’s special highlights with their golf ball. Each of the 18 holes is themed around one of Zillertal’s treasures. The adventure mini golf course is the only one of its kind in the whole of western Austria. The obstacles to play through come in the shape of cheese or a cable car, among other things. Artfully carved wooden figures show, among other things, traditional costumes and tools.

Children and parents can immerse themselves in this historic, adventurous world at the Gold Diggers’ Playground. The Restaurant-Café im Park with its panoramic view of the Zillertal mountains ensures you are well catered for.

The large sports pool, the whitewater canal and the two giant slides ensure a varied day at the outdoor adventure pool, and the children’s pool gets children’s pulses racing. In the tennis hall (3 courts) with two glass fronts you can also enjoy a fantastic view of the surroundings while playing. Four outdoor courts and a tennis wall are available during the outdoor season. Come rain or shine, tennis enthusiasts can practice at the leisure park any time of year. Furthermore, there is a bowling alley, a beach volleyball court as well as a football and fun court (volleyball, streetball and basketball) and bouldering tower.

Almparadies Gerlosstein

There are many new attractions to discover on the Gerlosstein adventure mountain in Hainzenberg under the motto “back to the source”. On the “Almpromenade” themed trail you can learn a lot of interesting facts about Zillertal’s history and culture from beautifully designed information boards. The stations’ stories include the exciting legend of the witch of Gerlosstein, you learn what the stone sheep has to do with the Zillertal Doggln and it becomes clear just how important music has always been for the longest Tyrolean side valley. Many interactive elements make the trail exciting for children as well, so that even the youngest mountain enthusiasts can complete the approximately one-hour hike with ease. Tip: Why not play the world-famous Christmas carol “Silent Night, Holy Night” with the bells or turn the stone sheep’s horn and see what happens! At the end of the Almpromenade you will be rewarded with a fantastic view of the surrounding mountains from the Almtribüne, the box seat above the Zillertal.

Bike

Demanding mountain bikers have the chance to enjoy 232 bike kilometers with direct connections between Zell, Gerlos, and Königsleiten/Wald.

For instance, go on the federal road in the direction of Zell for about 2 km to the Fürstalm lift's bottom station (1,200 km altitude). Here the road branches off before the boardinghouse Andrea onto the Brennachweg. From there you put about 600 altitude meters behind you until you reach the Gerlostalalm (1,770 m) above the tree line. You'll find a marvellous view of the Ziller Valley and Tux Mountains waiting for you, and you'll feel a mixture of awe and great inner satisfaction. In the direction of the Gerlos pass, the Hohe Tauern national park can already be seen, with its majestic peak, the "Reichenspitze".