If you're spending your summer holidays in the Gastein Valley, don't miss a trip to the Sportgastein Valley.

At the end of the Gasteinertal is the Sportgastein ski area, which is definitely worth a visit even in summer. A mountain road leads to the area from Bad Gastein, which is free for skiers in winter with a ski pass. In summer, a toll of 4 euros per adult is charged. Although you may be surprised at first, you won't regret the experience in the end. Along the way you will be enchanted by the beautiful panoramas, some of which are even passable through illuminated rock tunnels.
You leave your car at the Sportgastein car park at 1587 m and only unspoilt nature awaits you.
The Sportgastein is the ideal starting point for hikes and more demanding hikes in the mountains. The valley is wide and safe. The trails run across the entire area and also on flat ground, making it a great place for family outings even with small children in a stroller.
There are plenty of farmed shepherd's huts where you can sample Austrian home-made specialities - bacon, ham, cheese, bread, butter. In the summer months you will definitely come across large herds of cattle - horses, cows, sheep, goats.

A hike to the Bockhartseen lakes will be appreciated by fit hikers. The hike takes approximately 2 hours. It first leads along a serpentine path and towards the end the path narrows into a rocky path that leads to the hut, below which the Bockhartseen lakes spread out. From these lakes you can continue along the ridges to the top of the Stubnerkogel and from there return by cable car to the station in Bad Gastein.
A very popular and more challenging hike is the journey to Niederschasenhaus (2472m). With an elevation gain of 890m, it takes almost 3 hours. First you will pass through the valley of the Sportgastein along a stream, at the end of the valley you will see a large waterfall and at these points the path starts to climb steeply. From Niedersachsenhaus you can walk even further to Neuenerkogel (2827m), this extension with an elevation gain of 400m takes about 1,5 hours.
The hike to HagenerHutte (2446m) has a similar profile . Initially the route also goes around a stream. At an altitude of 2000 m there is a small wooden hut. From there, the path leads through alpine meadows past a small lake and climbs up a traverse to the hut. The hike takes less than 3 hours and can be done with children.

Distance Bad Gastein from Sportgastein - 10 km, approx. 16 min by car.