Gentle peaks, fragrant Swiss stone pine forests, wide alpine pastures and a breathtaking panorama overlooking beautiful Carinthia. In the Bad Kleinkirchheim region, you can expect a hiking area that offers everything from leisurely walks to challenging summit tours. Start your hike directly in the village or take the mountain lift up to higher altitudes. The mountain lift rides are included with the Kärnten Card until November 1. Along the Nockalm Road, you can enjoy stunning views. The Nockberge are made for your hiking holiday in Carinthia.
The Nockberge are unique worldwide. Instead of rugged rocky peaks, rounded “Nocken”, the typical mountain shape, open alpine landscapes and extensive Swiss stone pine forests characterize the region. This very combination makes the area one of the most beautiful hiking regions in Austria. The Nockberge are known for their biodiversity. Together with the Salzburg Lungau, the Carinthian Nockberge have been designated a UNESCO Biosphere Park since 2012. Nature conservation, development and living tradition come together in this region.
For you, this means: hiking in a landscape that is consciously protected and sustainably managed. Well-marked trails, rustic huts, regional delicacies and numerous tours of all difficulty levels await you.
Bad Kleinkirchheim is an ideal starting point for hikes in the biosphere park. Over 1,000 km of marked hiking trails await you in the region. From valley walks to high-altitude trails at around 2,000 m, everyone will find the right route. Many tours start directly in the village. Additional starting points can be reached quickly by mountain lifts or a short drive.
| Starting point/hiking area | Distance from Hotel Pulverer | Travel time by car | Typical hikes |
| Kaiserburgbahn Talstation | 1,6 km | 4 min | Wöllaner Nock, Kaiserburg-Höhenwege |
| St. Oswald | 5,7 km | 8 min | Almwanderungen, Familienwege |
| Biosphärenparkbahn Brunnach | 6,6 km | 9 min | Pfannnock, Brunnachhöhe, Panoramawege |
| Falkertsee | 14,9 km | 19 min | Falkertspitze, Sonntagstal |
| Windebensee | 24,6 km | 51 min | Naturlehrweg Windebensee |
Would you like to start hiking directly from the village? No problem! In Bad Kleinkirchheim you will find numerous tours that begin right in the village: from easy valley trails to longer ascents towards Kaiserburg. If you want to change your plans spontaneously, many routes can be flexibly shortened (e.g. by taking the mountain lift back down to the valley).
To make choosing your next hiking tour easier, we have compiled our top 5 hikes in the Nockberge for you. Discover easy alpine hikes, scenic panoramic trails and challenging summit tours.
| Hike | Type | Length | Walking time | Starting point |
| SILVA MAGICA Naturbegegnungspark | Short themed trail, easy | 0,74 km | 0:20 h | Grundalm |
| Rundweg St. Oswald | Easy to moderate circular hike | 6,77 km | 2:20 h | Biosphärenparkbahn Brunnach oder Parkplatz bei der Kirche St. Oswald |
| Nockberge Biosphärenpark-Runde | Scenic circular hike at altitude, moderate | 7,23 km | 3:20 h | Bergstation Biosphärenparkbahn Brunnach |
| Audienz am Königstuhl – Krems | Challenging summit hike | 7,66 km | 3:00 h | Karlbad/Nockalmstraße |
| Falkertsee – Sonntagstal – Falkert | Scenic panoramic hike, moderate | 4,74 km | 2:30 h | Falkertsee |
If you prefer a relaxed pace or are travelling with children, you will find numerous easy hikes in the Bad Kleinkirchheim region.
Those who want to spend more time outdoors and enjoy beautiful viewpoints will find many moderate hikes around Bad Kleinkirchheim.
Those who are not put off by longer hikes and significant elevation gains will also find challenging summit hikes in the Nockberge Mountains. These hikes require a good level of fitness, sure-footedness and experience in alpine terrain.
Several long-distance hiking trails run through the Nockberge mountains, spanning multiple stages.
The Nockalmstraße is a key starting point for hikes in the UNESCO Nockberge Biosphere Reserve. Along this scenic route, there are numerous starting points for walks of varying lengths and difficulty levels. From short themed and educational trails to longer hikes in the higher reaches of the Nockberge mountains, there is plenty to choose from.
A frequently chosen starting point is the area around Lake Windeben. The Grundalm is also very popular, with several hiking trails starting from there, for example towards Pfannnock.
There are several parking facilities available along the Nockalmstraße. During the summer season, some starting points can also be reached by the Nockberge summer bus.
Many hikes in the Nockberge Mountains can be easily combined with a stop at a mountain hut. Numerous huts serve regional specialities such as Carinthian cheese noodles, traditional platters or fresh dairy products from the alpine pastures.
Several lakes can also be easily combined with a hike. Particularly well-known is Lake Windebensee along the Nockalmstraße, which is ideal for a short stroll. A little further afield lie Lake Falkertsee and several smaller mountain lakes in the Turracher Höhe area.
Guided hikes offer the chance to explore the natural world of the Nockberge mountains alongside qualified rangers from the Biosphere Park. You’ll learn more about plants such as Swiss stone pine and Speik, about alpine farming, and about the region’s flora and fauna.
This is how your hiking holiday in Bad Kleinkirchheim becomes the perfect blend of active relaxation, unspoilt nature and deeply relaxing wellness. At the Hotel Pulverer, you’ll enjoy the ideal balance between outdoor activities in the Nockberge Mountains and 5-star indulgence: warm hospitality, soothing relaxation and alpine joie de vivre.
As a guest at the Pulverer, you enjoy a special advantage: the Kärnten Card is already included from the very first night – which means that the ascent and descent with the railways are also free of charge for you.
Numerous hiking trails around Bad Kleinkirchheim lead into the UNESCO Nockberge Biosphere Park. Many tours start directly in the village or can be reached quickly by mountain lift. Popular hiking areas are located around the Kaiserburg, the Brunnach and along the Nockalm Road.
The region offers a wide variety of hikes. From short themed trails and alpine pasture walks to panoramic routes and summit tours, there is something for everyone. Well-known destinations include the Pfannnock, the Rosennock and the high-altitude trails around Kaiserburg and Brunnach.
Many hiking trails in the Nockberge are family-friendly. Particularly suitable are themed trails, alpine pasture hikes or short routes with only gentle inclines. Our favourites are the SILVA MAGICA nature adventure park on the Grundalm, the Nocky’s AlmZeit family hike on the Turracher Höhe and the Nockberge Trail “nock/art” adventure trail on the Brunnachhöhe.
There are several starting points for hikes into the Nockberge along the Nockalm Road. Popular options include short walks around the Windebensee as well as longer tours from the Grundalm, from where hiking trails, for example, lead towards the Pfannnock.
The hiking season in the Nockberge usually begins in late spring and continues into autumn. The months from June to October are especially popular, when the alpine huts are open and many mountain lifts are operating.
Yes, many hikes start directly in the village or can be reached by mountain lift. In addition, there are seasonal offers such as hiking buses that serve some starting points in the region.
Yes, the region is very dog-friendly and, with its gentle ascents, many lakes and rest stops, offers ideal conditions. Please note that dogs must be kept on a leash in the protected and nature zones of the biosphere park in order to protect wildlife.
Your five-star thermal spa holiday
in Bad Kleinkirchheim
Austria - Carinthia
