Adventures Away from the Pistes and Cross-Country Ski Trails

Snowshoeing and Winter Hiking
With around 300 kilometers of nicely maintained winter hiking and snowshoeing trails through snowy forests or around frozen lakes, the region reveals a very special side of itself. A winter hike around the Steirischer Bodensee or through the magical Talbachklamm near Schladming is particularly beautiful. The Stoderzinken near Gröbming is ideal for snowshoeing, treating you to magnificent views of the Enns Valley and the surrounding mountains. True winter tranquility awaits hikers on the Planneralm, where they can ascend to the remote Jochspitze, passing snow-blanketed expanses of pine trees along the way. The Winter Hiking Ticket is highly recommended, offering discounted lift fares on seven different ski mountains in the region.

Ski Touring
Ski tourers and freeriders can choose from more than 40 different routes in the Schladming-Dachstein region, ranging from easy beginner tours to real challenges for experienced alpinists. In addition to the ski touring areas in the Schladming Tauern range, Sölktäler Nature Park is particularly renowned for its wide variety of routes. The Planneralm and Riesneralm in Grimming-Donnersbachtal also offer numerous skiing and freeriding tours. The Planai, Hochwurzen, and Galsterberg have dedicated touring ascents located adjacent to the actual pistes. The Riesneralm offers weekly ski-touring evenings when ski tourers have the pistes all to themselves. One very special experience—possible as of February – is a ski traverse of the UNESCO World Heritage Dachstein Glacier.

Ice Skating
Schladming-Dachstein actually has five different ice skating rinks. In Schladming, a 200-meter-long skating expanse with an extra loop offers plenty of space to glide across the ice with long, elegant strides. You can also enjoy idyllic skating experiences in Haus im Ennstal, Öblarn, and Gröbming. One true highlight is the Putterersee in Aigen im Ennstal, a lake which freezes over during the wintertime, offering the largest natural ice skating area in the entire Styrian region.

Horse-Drawn Sleigh Rides
In Ramsau am Dachstein alone, known as Austria’s "most horse-friendly community," 25 providers offer the opportunity to experience the region in the most enchanting way imaginable. Snuggly wrapped up in a warm, cozy blanket, passengers can simply lean back in the sleigh, relax, and enjoy nature, while the majestic mountain panorama glides by like the pages of a fairytale, and the coachman shares an anecdote or two.

Fatbiking
Even in winter, bikers in Schladming-Dachstein don't have to forego their favorite sport. Thanks to fatbikes, equipped with wide, balloon-like tires, you can easily ride on trails covered deep in snow. These tires provide excellent control, making winter biking an exceptionally enjoyable experience. In the Styrian vacation region, you’ll find the perfect tour to suit your requirements, whether you are looking for a leisurely ride on an E-fatbike or an all-out, adrenaline-pumping downhill adventure.