Lungau in Summer: Hiking, MTB & Alpine Lakes
An alpine summer holiday can be challenging when popular destinations suffer from overcrowded trails and valley heatwaves. The Lungau summer offers a refreshed alternative. With the valley floor elevated above 1,000 meters, summer temperatures remain pleasantly mild (typically around 22–24 °C), while the broad plateau naturally disperses visitors across vast open landscapes.
The infrastructure in this UNESCO Biosphere Reserve focuses on sustainable ecotourism. Instead of artificial theme parks, the valley provides an impeccably maintained network of trails. Whether you are planning a focused hiking holiday in the Lungau or an organized cycling holiday in the Lungau, the region delivers excellent terrain and logistics.
Hiking in the Lungau: 1,200 Kilometers of Marked Trails
The hiking network covers elevations ranging from 600 to over 3,000 meters, divided into three main difficulty tiers. Summer cable cars at Grosseck-Speiereck and Katschberg operate throughout the season, allowing hikers to bypass steep ascents and access high-altitude ridge walks above 2,000 meters with ease.
1. Family & Valley Walks
Mostly flat or gently sloped paths along valley floors. Highlights include the educational nature trail around the unique Lake Preber (Prebersee) and scenic routes in the Weißpriach Valley, suitable for rugged pushchairs.
2. Intermediate Ridge Trails
Popular ascents include Speiereck (2,411 m) from Mauterndorf or the iconic Preber peak (2,740 m) starting from Lake Preber. These routes require surefootedness and solid stamina, rewarding hikers with panoramic vistas across the entire Tauern range.
3. High-Alpine Treks
For experienced mountaineers, Mount Großer Hafner (3,076 m) near the Carinthian border offers the ultimate challenge. This route enters alpine rock terrain, requiring full mountain gear and careful weather monitoring.
Mountain Biking: 480 km of Marked Routes
With 480 kilometers of approved trails divided into 15 to 18 official circuit tours, the area is a well-established cycling hub.
Important Legal Framework
The official Bikervereinbarung (Biker Agreement) strictly regulates cycling access on forest roads in SalzburgerLand to protect wildlife and livestock. MTB riding is permitted exclusively from June 1st to October 31st during designated daylight hours. Outside these dates, forest paths are closed to cyclists.
The Flagship Circuit: Lungau EXTREM
For endurance mountain bikers, the MTB Lungau EXTREM circuit is a premier challenge. Covering 158.5 kilometers and a demanding 7,172 vertical meters, the route spans four valleys in four stages: Tamsweg → Göriach → St. Michael → Katschberg → Tamsweg. Most riders complete it as a multi-day tour with hotel stays and luggage transfers. Full GPS data and maps are available on bike.lungau.at.
Panoramic Descents and River Paths
If you prefer less technical terrain, ride the summer gondola up Grosseck-Speiereck. Note: there are no artificial downhill bikeparks or shaped flow trails at Grosseck-Speiereck. Instead, bikes are transported up via cable car, and riders descend along the Panorama-Radweg — a wide, gravel forestry road leading down to Mauterndorf or St. Michael.
For leisure cyclists, the world-famous Mur Cycling Path (Murradweg) begins at the river source in Muhr. The first 40 to 50 kilometers wind gently downhill through the Lungau valley, making it ideal for e-bikes and hybrid bikes.
Jewels of the UNESCO Biosphere: Alpine Lakes
Over 60 Lungau mountain lakes dot the landscape. The most famous is Lake Preber (Prebersee) at 1,514 meters. A dark, peat-water lake, it warms to refreshing swimming temperatures in mid-summer. It is world-renowned for the historic Preberschießen — a traditional shooting competition where marksmen aim at the reflection of the target on the water's surface, bouncing the bullet off the water to hit the target on shore.
Other notable lakes include Etrachsee near Krakaudorf (ideal for families), Wildsee nestled beneath the Hafner massif (a high-alpine hike), and Schwarzensee in Ramingstein, which features a lakeside mountain inn.
Budget Clarity: The Truth About Regional Guest Cards
The LungauCard Summer (valid May 22 – November 1, 2026) offers free cable car rides, museum entries, and pool visits. However, this card cannot be purchased independently — it is distributed exclusively by registered TVB partner accommodations.
Stay Lungau is not a LungauCard partner. We share this openly so you can plan accordingly.
However, an excellent alternative for independent travelers is the SalzburgerLand Card. Available for 6 or 12 days, this purchased pass grants access to over 180 attractions across the entire province of Salzburg, including the Grossglockner High Alpine Road and key attractions in Salzburg City.
| Activity Type | Top Regional Location | Distance from Tamsweg Base |
|---|---|---|
| Classic Alpine Hiking | Mount Preber (2,740 m) / Lake Preber | 15 mins to Lake Preber parking |
| Leisure & E-Biking | Mur Cycling Path (Muhr starting point) | 20 mins to official trail head |
| Scenic Downhill Cycling | Grosseck-Speiereck Panorama Route | 15 mins to Mauterndorf cable car |
| High-Alpine Trekking | Riedingtal Nature Park (Zederhaus) | 25 mins via motorway access |
Your Summer Basecamp: Stay Lungau in Tamsweg
When planning an active summer holiday, Stay Lungau in Tamsweg (Sauerfeld 44) provides ideal amenities for outdoor enthusiasts. This modern 60 m² 2nd-floor apartment sleeps 3–4 guests and features views of the Grosseck-Speiereck massif.
Key summer amenities include a secure, lockable bike storage room to safely store and charge e-bikes, as well as a private Wallbox (EV charging station) at your covered parking spot. The apartment also offers a fully equipped kitchen, high-speed Wi-Fi, and Smart TV with Netflix. Pets are accepted upon request.
Read more: Explore our pillar guide on Why Choose the Lungau or plan ahead for winter with our Lungau Skiing Guide.
For further planning, we recommend the following official resources:
SalzburgerLand Official Tourism — salzburgerland.com
Salzburger Lungau Regional Portal — lungau.at