--- title: 16 things you must have experienced in the Kalkalpen National Park url: "https://www.upperaustria.com/en/kalkalpen-national-park/16-things-you-must-have-experienced-in-the-kalkalpen-national-park.html" description: Here are the 16 most beautiful experiences in the Kalkalpen National Park that you should have on your bucket list. image: "https://www.upperaustria.com/fileadmin/user_upload/upperaustria/000Canto-Imports/NationalparkregionWandernSebaldusweg_OberoesterreichTourismusGmbHStefanMayerhofer.jpg" date: 2023-09-20 modified: 2023-09-20 --- # 16 things you must have experienced in the Kalkalpen National Park 16 things you must have experienced in the Kalkalpen National Park ================================================================== Where nature is allowed to be. Where it creates a green place of power between Steyr, Enns and Pyhrn-Priel, lies the Kalkalpen National Park. It is rich in opportunities - whether on a hike or a bike tour across gentle alpine pastures and through old forests. Here are the 16 most beautiful experiences in the Kalkalpen National Park that you should have on your bucket list. 1. Walking on the Trämpl towards the sun ---------------------------------------- A sunrise in the mountains is something very special. Getting up when the rooster is still asleep and hiking up to the Trämpl. That takes a little effort. But at the top of the 1,424-metre-high peak you will be richly rewarded as you marvel at the sun rising over the Kalkalpen National Park. Breakfast coffee is served on the descent to the [Ebenforstalm](https://www.upperaustria.com/en/oesterreich-unterkunft/detail/100097/ebenforstalm.html "Link opens in new window"). [Hike to the Trämpl](https://www.upperaustria.com/en/oesterreich-tour/detail/100372/ebenforstalm-traempl.html "Link opens in new window") © Open copyright © Foto: Nationalpark Kalkalpen/Roman Königshofer: Sonnenaufgang im Nationalpark Kalkalpen Close copyright ![Sonnenaufgang im Nationalpark Kalkalpen](https://www.upperaustria.com/fileadmin/_processed_/a/7/csm_Nationalpark-Kalkalpen_Sonnenaufgang_NP-KA-Roman-Koenigshofer_DJI_0259_f8354740ce.jpg "Foto: Nationalpark Kalkalpen/Roman Königshofer: Sonnenaufgang im Nationalpark Kalkalpen") 2. Cross the great gorge ------------------------ The best way to reach the start of the Triftsteig is by mountain bike along the [Hintergebirgsradweg cycle path](https://www.upperaustria.com/en/oesterreich-tour/detail/430008030/r9-hintergebirgsradweg.html "Link opens in new window") from Reichraming or Weißwasser. Then continue safely on foot through the Große Schlucht gorge, where you follow the Triftsteig along the Großer Bach stream on the secured via ferrata. Once upon a time, lumberjacks made sure that the trees washed up on the water didn't get wedged in. [Triftsteig](https://www.upperaustria.com/en/oesterreich-tour/detail/430000847/on-the-triftsteig-through-the-great-gorge.html "Link opens in new window") © Open copyright © Foto Nationalpark Kalkalpen/Roman Königshofer: Am Triftsteig entlang des Großen Bachs Close copyright ![Am Triftsteig entlang des Großen Bachs](https://www.upperaustria.com/fileadmin/_processed_/d/e/csm_Nationalpark-Kalkalpen_Triftsteig_NP-KA-Roman-Koenigshofer_DSC01516_2a9c447622.jpg "Foto Nationalpark Kalkalpen/Roman Königshofer: Am Triftsteig entlang des Großen Bachs") 3. Stop for a Brettljause on the alpine pasture ----------------------------------------------- Hospitality with classic Upper Austrian cuisine has many addresses in the Kalkalpen National Park. One of them is the Anlaufalm in the heart of the Reichraminger Hintergebirge, which can be reached on a [hike](https://www.upperaustria.com/en/oesterreich-tour/detail/430002645/anlaufalm-small-hintergebirge-circuit.html "Link opens in new window") or by [mountain bike](https://www.upperaustria.com/en/oesterreich-tour/detail/430001846/mtb-anlaufalm-ueber-den-hintergebirgsradweg.html "Link opens in new window"). The owners take care of your physical well-being. Here you can get fresh farmer's doughnuts and a typical Brettljause with spicy farmer's bread. [Anlaufalm](https://www.upperaustria.com/en/oesterreich-unterkunft/detail/101164/anlaufalm.html "Link opens in new window") © Open copyright © Photo Upper Austria Tourism/Pyhrn-Priel/Stefan Mayerhofer: The Brettljause is being prepared Close copyright ![The Brettljause is served](https://www.upperaustria.com/fileadmin/_processed_/e/a/csm_JauseGowilalm_OberoesterreichTourismusPyhrnPrielStefanMayerhofer_6bb41abdd2.jpg "Photo Upper Austria Tourism/Pyhrn-Priel/Stefan Mayerhofer: The Brettljause is being prepared") 4. Hiking through beech wilderness ---------------------------------- On a hike along the Wildnistrail Buchensteig, you will get to know the UNESCO World Heritage Site as it once was. Full of magnificent mixed beech forests, whose play of colours is most magnificent in spring and autumn. The oldest trees are witnesses to the late Middle Ages and are around 550 years old. [Buchensteig wilderness trail](https://www.upperaustria.com/en/oesterreich-tour/detail/430005913/wilderness-trail-buchensteig-reichraminger-hintergebirge.html "Link opens in new window") © Open copyright © Foto Nationalpark Kalkalpen/Sonja Schäfer: Am Luchstrail durch den Nationalpark Kalkalpen Close copyright ![Am Luchstrail durch den Nationalpark Kalkalpen](https://www.upperaustria.com/fileadmin/_processed_/7/4/csm_Nationalpark-Kalkalpen_Luchstrail_NP-KA-Sonja-Schaefer_0320_075886b646.jpg "Foto Nationalpark Kalkalpen/Sonja Schäfer: Am Luchstrail durch den Nationalpark Kalkalpen") 5. Cycling through tunnels, valleys and gorges ---------------------------------------------- Whether it's pleasure cycling or a test of strength: Everyone will find what they are looking for on a total of 500 kilometres of cycling and mountain bike trails in the Kalkalpen National Park. The Hintergebirge Cycle Path is particularly attractive, both scenically and historically. On the route of the old forest railway, it leads for almost 30 varied kilometres through tunnels, valleys and gorges. It is surrounded by refreshing natural water basins. [Hintergebirge Cycle Path](https://www.upperaustria.com/en/oesterreich-tour/detail/430008030/r9-hintergebirgsradweg.html "Link opens in new window") © Open copyright © Foto Nationalpark Kalkalpen/Sonja Schäfer: Mit den E-Bikes durch die Tunnel im Nationalpark Kalkalpen Close copyright ![Mit den E-Bikes durch die Tunnel im Nationalpark Kalkalpen](https://www.upperaustria.com/fileadmin/_processed_/6/d/csm_Nationalpark-Kalkalpen_E-Bike-Tunnel_NP-KA-Sonja-Schaefer_0041_9e9d1420da.jpg "Foto Nationalpark Kalkalpen/Sonja Schäfer: Mit den E-Bikes durch die Tunnel im Nationalpark Kalkalpen") 6. Enjoying the view of the forest sea -------------------------------------- The Wasserklotz is about 1,500 metres high. The view of the National Park Forest - over 5,000 of which are UNESCO World Natural Heritage Sites - as well as 54 two-thousand-metre peaks from the Ötscher to the Großer Priel is breathtaking. The starting point of the hike is the Hengstpass - the tour is especially recommended during the week. [Hike to the Wasserklotz](https://www.upperaustria.com/en/oesterreich-tour/detail/430000948/wasserklotz.html "Link opens in new window") © Open copyright © Foto: Max Mauthner: Luchstrail - Blick auf die Große Schlucht im Reichraminger Hintergebirge Close copyright ![Luchstrail - Blick auf die Große Schlucht im Reichraminger Hintergebirge](https://www.upperaustria.com/fileadmin/_processed_/7/d/csm_2018_Luchstrail-E02_c-Max-Mauthner_02443_Blick-auf-die-Grosse-Schlucht-im-Reichraminger-Hintergebirge_c55c1afccb.png "Foto: Max Mauthner: Luchstrail - Blick auf die Große Schlucht im Reichraminger Hintergebirge") 7. Roaming through the wilderness with a ranger ----------------------------------------------- The more you know, the more you see! Accompanied by a ranger, you go on a knowledge hunt in the Kalkalpen National Park. You will learn to see the big in the supposedly small things. [Book a Ranger](https://www.steyr-nationalpark.at/en/kalkalpen-national-park/oesterreich-angebot/detail/9327/book-a-ranger.html "Link opens in new window") © Open copyright © Foto Nationalpark Kalkalpen/Sonja Schäfer: Am Luchstrail durch den Nationalpark Kalkalpen Close copyright ![Am Luchstrail durch den Nationalpark Kalkalpen](https://www.upperaustria.com/fileadmin/_processed_/0/5/csm_Nationalpark-Kalkalpen_Luchstrail_NP-KA-Sonja-Schaefer_0322_d7144aa58d.jpg "Foto Nationalpark Kalkalpen/Sonja Schäfer: Am Luchstrail durch den Nationalpark Kalkalpen") 8. Visit the hunting lodge of the nobles ---------------------------------------- Since it was built over 300 years ago, the Bärenriedlau hunting lodge high up in the Sengsengebirge has been used by many a nobleman as a base for stalking - Archduke Franz Ferdinand, for example. Today, the area is a National Park and game reserve. The historically significant hunting lodge can be visited during the open lodge door day. [Bärenriedlau hunting lodge](https://www.upperaustria.com/en/oesterreich-veranstaltung/detail/430230283/baerenriedlau-day-of-the-open-hut-door.html "Link opens in new window") © Open copyright © Foto: Nationalpark Kalkalpen/Herfried Marek: Jagdhütte Bärenriedlau Close copyright ![Jagdhütte Bärenriedlau](https://www.upperaustria.com/fileadmin/_processed_/d/8/csm_Jagdnuette-Baerenriedlau-DJI_0047-Herfried-Marek-NP-Kalkalpen_1140x641_9672b5ead2.jpg "Foto: Nationalpark Kalkalpen/Herfried Marek: Jagdhütte Bärenriedlau") 9. Enjoy a panoramic view of 21 two-thousand-metre peaks -------------------------------------------------------- On the Wurbauerkogel in Windischgarsten, a breathtaking 360° view of 21 two-thousand-metre peaks awaits you in the National Park Panorama Tower. And that's not all - the glass tower houses the exhibition "Fascination Rock", where you can learn about unusual and remarkable things from the local animal and plant world. [Panorama Tower Wurbauerkogel](https://www.upperaustria.com/en/oesterreich-poi/detail/430001638/national-park-panorama-tower-wurbauerkogel.html "Link opens in new window") [Adventure Mountain Wurbauerkogel](https://www.upperaustria.com/en/oesterreich-poi/detail/430016517/adventure-mountain-wurbauerkogel.html "Link opens in new window") © Open copyright © Foto: HIWU/Hinterramskogler: Abenteuerberg Wurbauerkogel mit Spielplatz Close copyright ![Abenteuerberg Wurbauerkogel mit Spielplatz](https://www.upperaustria.com/fileadmin/_processed_/8/5/csm_Abenteuerberg_Wurbauerkogel_Spielplatz_Fotoquelle_HIWU_Hinterramskogler_..._95c08c8346.jpg "Foto: HIWU/Hinterramskogler: Abenteuerberg Wurbauerkogel mit Spielplatz") 10. Take a forest bath ---------------------- A humus-rich soil and millions of needles and leaves aromatise the air in the forest in an incomparable way. Under the treetops of the Kalkalpen National Park, everything is in place for an extensive forest bath. Including a proven health-promoting effect, which can be further enhanced with gentle forest yoga[.](https://www.oberoesterreich.at/oesterreich-veranstaltung/detail/430230228/wald-yoga-entspannung-in-der-wildnis.html "Wald-Yoga") [Forest bathing](https://www.upperaustria.com/en/events/oesterreich-veranstaltung/detail/430233317/forest-bathing-recharge-your-batteries-in-the-forest-wilderness.html "Link opens in new window") © Open copyright © Foto: Nationalpark Kalkalpen/Roman Königshofer: Waldboden im Nationalpark Kalkalpen Close copyright ![Waldboden im Nationalpark Kalkalpen](https://www.upperaustria.com/fileadmin/_processed_/8/f/csm_Nationalpark-Kalkalpen_Waldboden_NP-KA-Roman-Koenigshofer_DSC01167_28f6e01926.jpg "Foto: Nationalpark Kalkalpen/Roman Königshofer: Waldboden im Nationalpark Kalkalpen") 11. Climb the highest peak -------------------------- The Hohe Nock is the vertical champion in the Sengsengebirge. Nowhere do you go higher, nowhere do you get closer to the sky in the Kalkalpen National Park than here on this high plateau at almost 2,000 metres above sea level. [Hike Hoher Nock](https://www.upperaustria.com/en/oesterreich-tour/detail/430000989/hoher-nock-mountain.html "Link opens in new window") © Open copyright © Foto Pyhrn Priel Tourismus GmbH/Florian Lierzer: Gipfelregion des Hohen Nocks bei Sonnenuntergang. Close copyright ![Gipfelregion des hohen Nocks bei Sonnenuntergang.](https://www.upperaustria.com/fileadmin/_processed_/5/0/csm_PyhrnPrielWandernHoherNockGipfel_PyhrnPrielTourismusGmbHFlorianLierzer_bccf49a11d.jpg "Foto Pyhrn Priel Tourismus GmbH/Florian Lierzer: Gipfelregion des Hohen Nocks bei Sonnenuntergang.") 12. Observe butterflies ----------------------- Among the messengers of summer are the countless butterflies of over 1,500 different species. They are particularly easy to observe on the alpine path on the Hengstpass between [Puglalm](https://www.upperaustria.com/en/oesterreich-gastronomie/detail/102484/puglalm.html "Link opens in new window") and [Laussabaueralm](https://www.upperaustria.com/en/oesterreich-gastronomie/detail/430000463/laussabaueralm.html "Link opens in new window"). In this summer-coloured flower paradise, grass frogs, common toads, alpine newts and yellow-bellied toads also cavort in small pools. [Alpine path at the Hengstpass](https://www.upperaustria.com/en/oesterreich-tour/detail/100254/circular-walk-along-the-alpine-meadows.html "Link opens in new window") © Open copyright © Foto: Nationalpark Kalkalpen/Herfried Marek: Schmetterlinge im Nationalpark Close copyright ![Schmetterlinge im Nationalpark](https://www.upperaustria.com/fileadmin/_processed_/8/d/csm_Schmetterling_081-Herfried-Marek-NP-Kalkalpen-Hi-Rettenbach_MH17727_1140x641_a3ccbd2502.jpg "Foto: Nationalpark Kalkalpen/Herfried Marek: Schmetterlinge im Nationalpark") 13. Enjoying gourmet cuisine from nature ---------------------------------------- In Pechgraben in Großraming, friends of fine dining will find their gourmet happiness. Michelin-starred chef Klemens Schraml took over his parents' inn there and has since been serving sustainable "nature-based cuisine" at RAU together with his congenial kitchen partner Christopher Koller. Regional and yet cosmopolitan. [RAU - nature-based cuisine](https://www.upperaustria.com/en/oesterreich-gastronomie/detail/102768/rau-nature-based-cuisine.html "Link opens in new window") © Open copyright © Foto: Oberösterreich Tourismus GmbH/Mathias Heschl: Speisenkreation von Klemens Gold vom Restaurant RAU in Großraming Close copyright ![Speisenkreation von Klemens Gold vom Restaurant RAU nature-based cuisine in Großraming](https://www.upperaustria.com/fileadmin/_processed_/b/2/csm_Im-Rau_Nature-based-cuisine_Pechgraben_Ennstal_Kulinarik_Oberoesterreich-Tourismus-GmbH_Mathias-Heschl__7__8bdb2a38cb.png "Foto: Oberösterreich Tourismus GmbH/Mathias Heschl: Speisenkreation von Klemens Gold vom Restaurant RAU in Großraming") 14. Hiking through the forest sea --------------------------------- Under expert guidance, you will roam the Kalkalpen National Park in multi-day stages with National Park rangers. Over hill and dale, on old paths, over peaks and through lonely gorges you hike through a sea of old trees. You will eat and sleep in cosy huts. [Long distance hiking](https://en.kalkalpen.at/weitwandern) © Open copyright © Foto Nationalpark Kalkalpen/Sonja Schäfer: Vater und Sohn beim Wandern im Nationalpark Kalkalpen Close copyright ![Vater und Sohn beim Wandern im Nationalpark Kalkalpen](https://www.upperaustria.com/fileadmin/_processed_/c/6/csm_Nationalpark-Kalkalpen_Wandern-Familie-Vater-Sohn_NP-KA-Sonja-Schaefer_1003_4cf03a4578.jpg "Foto Nationalpark Kalkalpen/Sonja Schäfer: Vater und Sohn beim Wandern im Nationalpark Kalkalpen") 15. Spend the night in a stately villa -------------------------------------- In the Kalkalpen National Park you can spend the night quite spartanly on a bivouac site under the stars or in a cosy hut, but also very comfortably in the stately Art Nouveau Villa Sonnwend in Mayrwinkl. Built in 1907 during the summer retreat, Villa Sonnwend is today the ideal starting point for ranger programmes or individual tours as a National Park Lodge. [Villa Sonnwend](https://www.upperaustria.com/en/oesterreich-unterkunft/detail/102913/villa-sonnwend-national-park-lodge.html "Link opens in new window") © Open copyright © Foto Nationalpark Kalkalpen/Sonja Schäfer: Villa Sonnwend im Nationalpark Kalkalpen Close copyright ![Die Villa Sonnwend im Nationalpark Kalkalpen](https://www.upperaustria.com/fileadmin/_processed_/9/3/csm_Nationalpark-Kalkalpen_Villa-Sonnwend_NP-KA-Sonja-Schaefer_0163_6d20a806b7.jpg "Foto Nationalpark Kalkalpen/Sonja Schäfer: Villa Sonnwend im Nationalpark Kalkalpen") 16. Cycling through two national parks by mountain bike ------------------------------------------------------- On lonely forest roads through wild forests and to breathtaking views, that is what the TRANS NATIONALPARK promises. This mountain bike tour connects two national parks on six stages, 240 kilometres and 7,200 metres of altitude: the Kalkalpen National Park and the Gesäuse National Park. [Trans National Park Tour](https://www.upperaustria.com/en/kalkalpen-national-park/oesterreich-tour/detail/430008312/trans-national-park.html "Link opens in new window") © Open copyright © Foto Oberösterreich Tourismus GmbH/Stefan Mayerhofer: Mit Freunden und dem Mountainbike unterwegs im Nationalpark Kalkalpen. Close copyright ![Drei Mountainbiker in größerer Entfernung des Betrachters und von oben gesehen fahren auf einer Schotterstraße leicht bergauf. Seitlich der Straße sind grüne steile Almwiesen. Im Hintergrund Waldhänge und Berge. Spätsommerlicher Sonnenschein, leicht bewölkter Himmel.](https://www.upperaustria.com/fileadmin/_processed_/f/0/csm_PyhrnPrielNationalparkKalkalpenMountainbikeFreunde_OberoesterreichTourismusGmbHStefanMayerhofer_c8fea52dd2.jpg "Foto Oberösterreich Tourismus GmbH/Stefan Mayerhofer: Mit Freunden und dem Mountainbike unterwegs im Nationalpark Kalkalpen.") More nature experiences in the primeval forest in the middle of Europe. Summer in the Kalkalpen National Park [ To the info ](https://www.upperaustria.com/en/kalkalpen-national-park.html)