Tips for trails for your cross-country skiing holiday

Here we would like to make some suggestions for special tours in the Salzburg region. The follwing trails are particularly popular among cross-country skiers and on the 200-km-long "Pinzga Loipe" or Pinzga trail you can enjoy a real treat. You can take part in the guided cross-country tours with certified cross-country guides at any time. The certified guides are at your disposal for tips on technique as well as for individual advice.

From October to June you can start training on the 3-km-long groomed high trail up at 2900 metres. After skiing up the gently circular trail which rises in a series of switchbacks you can enjoy the unique view from the Kitzsteinhorn, explore "Gipfelwelt 3000" with its National Park Gallery and cinema, and have a bite to eat and drink in the restaurant at the summit. You can also reach the trail by cable car, the Kitzsteinhornbahn, an unrivalled experience.

Only 100 metres from the hotel you can join the 200-km-long trail network of the "Pinzga Loipe" or Pinzga trail (double trail for classic style and skating) running from Krimml to Zell am See. You can discover the villages along the Salzach with your cross-country or skating skis and after the tour you just jump onto the Pinzgauer Lokalbahn, the small local train, to return to your starting point. The trail network was awarded five stars (out of five) by the ADAC.

Only 100 metres from Hotel Sonnblick you can join the trail "Schlossloipe" (5.2 km) which leads along the Kaprun Moor and Kaprun castle to the bridge across the Salzach. The slightly ascending trail is a real treat and at the bridge across the Salzach you can join two more trails, one leading to Bruck the other to the golf course.

The 3.5-km-long trail leads from the cross-country centre to the Tauern Spa Kaprun Therme and is illuminated until 10pm. The easy trails have a gentle incline rising from 754 to 765 metres, a mere 10 metres difference.

Using the City Express you can get to the high altitude trail Schmitten starting just behind the "Gasthof Mittelstation" restaurant. A 3-km-long circular trail leads you round the reservoir storage lake of the Schmittenhöhebahnen, the operators of the lifts. From there you have a breathtaking view of the national park Hohe Tauern mountain range.

The Brunnwiesen trails starts at the same point as the trail at the castle. This trail is only about 2.3 km long, has a gentle incline of 10 meters, and is ideal for beginners. Also for those who are interested in culture the trail has something to offer because Kaprun Castle is always in sight.

This trail appeals to nature lovers as it runs along the nature reserve at the south side of the lake for more than 4.4 km. You can fully indulge in nature as there is only a slight incline on this trail.

As the name already indicates the golf course trail leads across the golf course Zell am See/Kaprun. Where the golfers roam in summer, you can enjoy your rounds on 5.4 km of trail in winter and indulge in the fantastic view of the Kitzsteinhorn and the adjacent national park Hohe Tauern mountain range. The trail is quite flat and when you have reached the end of the round it is only a few minutes walk to the castle trail and the trail to Bruck.

Start at the bridge across the river Salzach and continue along the Salzach for a while. The 5.8 km trail has no significant inclines and leads to the village Bruck. But the bridge across the Salzach is not only the starting point for the trail to Bruck. From there it is also only a few minutes walk to the golf course and the castle trails.

A few minutes from Hotel Sonnblick there is the Kaprun night trail. The 4.5 km trail has a slight incline and runs along the trail to the Tauern Spa. Since this trails runs directly to the Tauern Spa, you can also join the trail there.

The night trail in Zell am See is 4.2 km long and is perfectly flat. The starting point is at the tennis centre Zell am See/Schüttdorf. As this trail is illuminated until 10pm you can enjoy an unforgettable night run.