Press Info Summer 2020 – Overview in Brief Press Text 1 | Mountains of summer experiences for the whole family

Holders of the Schladming-Dachstein Sommercard can take one round-trip lift ride daily for free.

With eight different mountains and a wide range of opportunities to choose from.

Press Text 2 | Schladming-Dachstein massively expands mountain bike trails for rookies

A major expansion of Bikepark Schladming provides enormous upgrades to mountain biking

opportunities in the Schladming-Dachstein Region. With a dimension unlike anywhere else in Austria.

On the Uphill Flow Trail, E-bikers can look forward to a whole new riding sensation.

Press Text 3 | The third course of “Alpine Cuisine by Richard Rauch”

Styrian star chef Richard Rauch, recently awarded four toques by Gault Millau, takes culinary

experiences at 15 mountain huts in the Schladming-Dachstein Region to a whole new level. Together

with the hut operators themselves, he has developed creative dishes based on traditional regional

products.

Press Text 4 | Floating the River Enns: adventures for the whole family

Between Mandling and Gesäuse, the River Enns is an El Dorado for water adventures by kayak, river-

capable inflatable canoes and SUP (stand-up paddling) boards. This 90 km long extent of the river is

actually the longest navigable stretch in Central Europe. It combines nature experiences, water

sports and sightseeing attractions close to the riverbanks.

Press Text 5 | Trail Running: 47 running experiences for every expectation

With 47 clearly marked trails and four levels of difficulty, the Schladming-Dachstein Region has a

broad range of opportunities for trail runners. Torlauf Dachstein on 5 September promises an

unforgettable trail running event amid breathtaking scenery.

Mountains of summer experiences for the whole family

Holders of the Schladming-Dachstein Sommercard can take one round-trip lift ride

daily for free. With eight different mountains and a wide range of opportunities to

choose from.

Power Duo: Sommercard & Summer Lifts

With more than 100 free holiday experiences and over 100 bonus services, the Schladming-Dachstein

Sommercard is one of the biggest all-inclusive cards in the Alps. And it’s automatically issued to

guests who stay as little as one night between 21 May and 18 October 2020 – at any one of over

1000 participating accommodation providers. During your stay, the card includes use of mountain

lifts, swimming lakes and pools, museums and public transportation in the region. If you hear

mention of lifts in the Schladming-Dachstein Region, what generally first comes to mind is skiing in

winter. That said, eight of our regional lifts continue to run in the warmer months. The popular ski

resorts of wintertime are transformed in summer into attractive mountains filled with unforgettable

experiences for the whole family. Sommercard holders can enjoy one round-trip ride on the lift of

their choosing for free every day. For hikers, that means avoiding long, sometimes strenuous climbs.

The mountain terminals of the lifts are ideal starting points for summit hikes in the alpine regions. In

addition to enjoyable hikes, our summer mountains are also home to a whole series of unique

attractions:

Riesneralm: original, with new avalanche[GALLERY] and many attractions

The Riesneralm lifts are some of the best and most innovative summer lifts in Austria, operating

Friday through Monday. Setting out from the mountain terminal, you have many different tours to

choose from in an extensive hiking area very popular with nature lovers. In addition, the Riesneralm

lifts offer a wide selection of summertime attractions for the whole family: the Summit Pool, the

Universum special exhibition, Krispini’s treasure hunt for kids, a herb theme path, the HochSEEsitz,

TierHOLZpark, Summit Barefoot Path, JAGAsteig. Beginning this summer, the Avalanche[GALLERY]

takes art to a whole new level, with the avalanche safety galleries on the Riesner Krispen

transformed into a walkable exhibition. A winding pathway leads from the Hochsitz through the

Avalanche[GALLERY] up to the summit cross on top of the 1950 m high mountain.

Hauser Kaibling: sheep path, E-trials and disc golf

The “Schafsinn-Rundweg” circles the summit of the Hauser Kaibling. It is a theme path that provides

intriguing insights into the lives led by approximately 800 sheep grazing here, tended by a

professional shepherd and his sheepdogs. Other hiking paths lead from the Hauser Kaibling to the

idyllic Moaralmsee, up the Bärfallspitze or to the top of the striking Höchstein. In addition to the

Schladminger Tauern-Seilbahn, the 8-passenger gondola and the connecting Quattralpina quad

chairlift will also be operating in summer 2020. With an E-trials park, disc golf course, interactive

children’s trail, big playground as well as a petting zoo with sheep and small lambs, the Hauser

Kaibling has all kinds of opportunities in store for families.

Planai: jam-packed with variety, for families and summiteers

The Planai, with its ultra-modern 10-passenger gondola completed in 2019, makes all of your

summertime wishes come true: hiking, mountain biking, exploring Hopsiland with your children,

relaxing, or giving yourself a well-deserved culinary treat. If you are looking for a leisurely hike, the

Panorama Path – which circles the summit – is the way to go and is even suitable for prams.

Ambitious hikers may wish to conquer the Krahbergzinken, a neighboring mountain. This year, the

always-popular Hopsiland has expanded its water attractions significantly. Also new: the Kasalm at

the bottom of the Hopsi-Express, with an indoor ball track and climbing opportunities.

Hochwurzen: total enjoyment including the Höhenweg, Bankerlweg or mountain go-karting

Gipfelbahn Hochwurzen is a modern 10-person gondola, which brings passengers to a popular

starting point for enjoyable hikes. Neighboring Rossfeld mountain is less than an hour away, while

another hour will get you to the Guschen. If you are a “summit collector”, the Höhenweg will lead

you via the Hochfeld and Schiedeck to the Giglachseen. Opened in summer 2019, the Bankerlweg

takes you on a pleasant family hike with opportunities for a break as needed thanks to 25 original

benches along the way. If you prefer to hurtle down the hillside instead, we suggest renting out a

mountain go-kart. This fun vehicle with good disc brakes and wide tires promises a once-in-a-lifetime

ride down the Hochwurzenstrasse.

Reiteralm: “reflective” excursion, including the Three Summits Tour

Every Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the Preunegg Jet lifts on the Reiteralm are in

operation. From the mountain terminal, a very nicely maintained trail leads out to the famous

“Mirror Lake”: On days when the wind is calm, an image of the imposing Dachstein massif is reflected

on its surface. If you opt for a full hiking tour, your visit to Mirror Lake can also incorporate three

Alpine peaks: the Gasselhöhe, Rippeteck and Schober. One interesting alternative for hikers is the

“Silent Waters” theme path, which branches off the main Mirror Lake path. At the lovingly designed

Summer Snow Playground close to the Preunegg Jet mountain terminal, kids are in for a true treat as

they get to play in real snow.

Rittisberg: adventurous, family-friendly

The Rittisberg in Ramsau am Dachstein truly is one of the most adventurous mountains in Styria. A

hugely popular excursion destination, it brings together a variety of attractions for the whole family:

the Flyline, a forest high-ropes course, a mountain playground, archery, Segway course and barefoot

path, as well as the all-weather Rittisberg Alpine Coaster. The hiking opportunities are also very

family-friendly: If you have floated up to the summit plateau on the Rittisbergbahn, you have several

options for continuing your hiking expedition. The Fairytale Path is especially popular with children,

with 30 different stations along the way guaranteed to add excitement to their hike.

Dachstein: magnificent, caressing the sky

Standing there on its own and towering above the surrounding countryside, the Dachstein is one of

the most beautiful and most scenic mountains in the Alps. Even the lift ride to the top on the glass-

walled Dachstein Glacier Lift promises extraordinary panoramas, rising a total of 1000 vertical meters

along the way. Just a few minutes from the mountain terminal are an array of attractions including

the Ice Palace, a suspension footbridge, the “Stairway to Nothingness” and the “Sky Walk”.

Ambitious hikers have various tours to choose from, including routes to the new Seethalerhütte or

the Guttenberghaus.

Schladming-Dachstein massively expands mountain bike trails for rookies

A major expansion of Bikepark Schladming provides enormous upgrades to mountain

biking opportunities in the Schladming-Dachstein Region. With a dimension unlike

anywhere else in Austria. On the Uphill Flow Trail, E-bikers can look forward to a

whole new riding sensation.

Bikepark Schladming: new trails, new 10-passenger gondola

After its successful premiere this past winter, the new 10-passenger gondola lift on the Planai will

begin its first summer season on 21 May 2020 (Bikepark opens officially on 30 May). With the help of

this lift, bikers and their gear will be transported quickly and comfortably up the mountain. In parallel

to building the lift itself, Schladming went ahead and made some major changes to the Bikepark as

well. 15 kilometers of new trails were created on the Planai, meaning that bikers can now look

forward to discovering and experiencing a grand total of 35 km of trails on two wheels.

Highlights: Flowline, 99 Jumpline and Uphill Flow Trail

The new Flowline is ideal for rookies and families with children. The average gradient is just 7%, the

lines are intuitive and incorporate easy curves and waves. For over 8 km, it meanders from the Planai

mountain terminal through forests and meadows, past the reservoir and down to the Planai mid-

station. The new 99 Jumpline is a kind of Holy Grail for experienced downhill bikers. This 3.5 km long

downhill ride is punctuated by perfectly constructed jumps. In the last section, true pros can switch

over to the parallel Monster Jumpline, greeting them with jumps of as much as 12 meters. Even

before it opened, this extremely attractive 99 Jumpline was a Europe-wide hot topic of conversation

on the bike scene. The new Uphill Flow Trail promises a whole new riding sensation, especially for E-

Bikers, but even on bikes not mounted with an electric motor. It begins at the Planai mid-station and

involves a moderate climb – with banked curves included.

Other trails in Bikepark Schladming:

Fairy Trail (easy): moderate incline, perfect for E-bikers.

Rookie Downhill (intermediate): many curves, smallish jumps, ideal introduction to downhilling.

Downtown Line (intermediate): crushed-sand surface and a few easy obstacles.

Jack Lumber Trail (very difficult): first Northshore Trail in the Bikepark with steep traverses and

surfaces of exposed roots.

Pro Downhill (difficult): Austria’s longest downhill course, long since legendary.

World Cup Downhill (very difficult): not for the faint-hearted - as the name suggests, a World Cup

course.

The perfect introduction: Bike Area

Beneath the mountain terminal on the Planai, anyone who has never been in a bike park before or

who wants to fine-tune elements of their technique, will find perfect terrain. The biking area features

three different courses (beginner/green, rookie/blue, advanced/red). A conveyor lift carries bikers

comfortably up to the starting point. Thanks to unobstructed views that allow parents to keep a close

eye on their kids, this is a great opportunity for the youngsters to collect their first mountain biking

experiences.

Full service including bike school and bike center

At the new bike school in Planai Stadium run by former downhill mountain-biking professional

Markus Pekoll, bikers of all abilities will have true specialists right there at their side. With the help of

excellently trained coaches, beginners will learn the correct technique for taking on their first curves.

Experienced bikers will head for the Flowline, which also features a number of cut-offs and added

segments intended for practice purposes. The true “pros” will likely want to improve their skill level

on the Jumpline with the help of a coach. The “icing on the cake”, so to speak, for everyone who

comes to Bikepark Schladming is the Alpreif Bike Center in Planai Stadium. There, you will be able to

buy or rent virtually everything you could possibly need for biking.

Wide range of opportunities also on the Reiteralm

15 km of single-trails in total have been built on the Reiteralm. Two of the trails are rated blue (easy)

and the other two red (intermediate). In addition, two old hiking paths are also open to bikers,

having been designated “shared-use trails”. Opened in 2019, the Reiteralm Junior Trails are the

biggest bike playground in Austria. On four courses with a full range of difficulty (total length: 600

meters), children and young beginners can playfully learn the basics of mountain biking or improve

their skills.

Biking in the Schladming-Dachstein Region | An Overview

Bikepark Schladming: 35 km of trail-riding enjoyment, 15 km of new trails

Reiteralm Trails: 6 single-trails and 4 Junior Trails (especially for kids)

25 Bike & Hike tours

30 tours with all levels of difficulty

E-Enduro Bikepark Riesneralm

Enns Bike Path

11 Bike-Hotels

The third course of “Alpine Cuisine by Richard Rauch”

Styrian star chef Richard Rauch, recently awarded four toques by Gault Millau, takes

culinary experiences at 15 mountain huts in the Schladming-Dachstein Region to a

whole new level. Together with the hut operators themselves, he has developed

creative dishes based on traditional regional products.

Culinary Flagship Project

Mathias Schattleitner, CEO of the Schladming-Dachstein Region, explains the philosophy behind the

collaboration with Richard Rauch: “We want to develop Schladming-Dachstein into one of Austria’s

leading culinary destinations. Bearing that goal in mind, Alpine Cuisine by Richard Rauch is our most

important flagship project. After last summer’s successful launch and an equally successful winter

season for Alpine Cuisine, we are now excited to see what the third course has to offer.” In spring,

the new, innovative Alpine Cuisine dishes were cooked and optimized together in workshops. The

ingredients are for the most part regional and, in many cases, home-produced.

Hiking, fine dining – and earn a digital hiking pin for your efforts!

This season’s visitors to the Schladming-Dachstein Region now have an unbeatable opportunity to

combine culinary exploration with the joys of hiking. All 15 Alpine Cuisine huts can be reached on

foot by hiking various distances. The free Summit Lynx app adds even greater value to the whole

experience and brings the classic hiking pin into the digital age: This year, for the first time, hikers will

also have the opportunity to earn the “Alpine Cuisine Hiking Pin”.

Details about the Alpine Cuisine dishes as well as the official Alpine Cuisine wine for summer 2020

will be published in May.

Floating the River Enns: adventures for the whole family

Between Mandling and Gesäuse, the River Enns is an El Dorado for water adventures

by kayak, river-capable inflatable canoes and SUP (stand-up paddling) boards. This

90 km long extent of the river is actually the longest navigable stretch in Central

Europe. It combines nature experiences, water sports and sightseeing attractions

close to the riverbanks.

90 kilometers in five stages

The River Enns has long been an insider tip for adventurers and outdoor fans. But since last summer,

a 90 km stretch of the river between Mandling and Gesäuse can now be experienced as part of an

extended float trip. Fans of water sports can complete the tour in five stages spanning several days –

paddling a kayak, captaining a river-capable inflatable canoe or balanced on an SUP (stand-up

paddling) board. Numerous locations to put in along the way also make it possible to do some

memorable sightseeing a little off the beaten track. The organizers will help you with planning and

also offer complete rental equipment, trained tour guides along with shuttle service. The

Schladming-Dachstein Sommercard includes discounts on professional training and courses.

Family-friendly, obstacle-free and clearly described

Helmut Knaus, initiator of this river-floating project, summarizes the advantages of floating the River

Enns: “We proudly boast the longest stretch of river in Central Europe where you can go floating

without having to detour man-made obstacles such as weirs and power stations on foot. In addition

to that, along the 90 km there are no difficult white-water stages to negotiate. Which makes the

entire stretch family-friendly and also suitable for adventure-lovers with very little paddling

experience.” Aspiring river explorers are invited to visit ennsflusswandern.at, where valuable

information is provided to facilitate planning. You can even go ahead and book a personal tour guide.

On the river itself, major points of interest as well as boat landings on the shore are clearly

signposted.

In addition to river exploration, the Schladming-Dachstein boasts a whole range of different

adventures both in, on and by the water - from canyoning and rafting to wild-water kayaking. For

complete information, please visit: https://www.schladming-dachstein.at/en/summer/water-

experiences

Trail Running: 47 running experiences for every expectation

With 47 clearly marked trails and four levels of difficulty, the Schladming-Dachstein

Region has a broad range of opportunities for trail runners. Torlauf Dachstein on 5

September promises an unforgettable trail running event amid breathtaking scenery.

Get off the paved trails and out into nature

More and more runners are discovering the fascination of trail running, pushing themselves

physically as they explore exciting trails and beautiful countryside. Trail running is much more than a

trend. It is an experience that involves all your senses, not least because those uneven paths through

open terrain demand far more concentration than regular running along a road. You also develop a

closer relationship with your natural surroundings, which in turn makes your running experience far

more intensive. Trail runners in the Schladming-Dachstein Region are also able to enjoy a truly

unique cultural and rural landscape.

47 trails and four levels of difficulty

With the arrival of spring running season, the toughest issue for trail runners is choosing where to

begin: 15 trails are in Grimming-Donnersbachtal alone, 10 in Schladming, 9 in Ramsau am Dachstein,

7 in Haus im Ennstal, 5 in Gröbming as well as in Öblarn. They are subdivided into four difficulty

levels:

Running: easy, short running routes with a mixture of paved, forest and gravel pathways.

Easy Trail: easy up- and downhills on various surfaces.

Medium Trail: technically challenging trails, in some cases alpine terrain with significant gains.

X-treme Trail: exposed single-trails in high-alpine terrain with significant vertical gains.

5 September: Torlauf Dachstein

Trail runners looking for sporting challenges will definitely find what they’re looking for at Torlauf

Dachstein on 5 September 2020. And this year, for the first time, the event will also be part of the

Austrian Trail Running Cup. Participants can choose from two different courses: At 24 kilometers, the

Half-Marathon is a little bit longer than a “true” half-marathon, requiring runners to overcome a 496

m vertical gain. The Marathon takes racers across the rooftop of the Ramsau, including an

intimidating 2545 m vertical challenge.

More info: www.schladming-dachstein.at/torlauf

Other trail running events:

12th Wild Waters Run on 4 October 2020: www.schladming-dachstein.at/wildewasserlauf

Schladming-Dachstein in numbers

Accommodation providers 1.912 Guest beds 30.318

Overnights Arrivals

Winter half-year 2018/19 1.993.178 470.553

Sommer half-year 2019 1.588.996 400.728

Hiking paths: ca. 1,000 km of marked hiking paths

Long-distance hikes: Dachstein Rundwanderweg, Schladminger Tauern Höhenweg,

Panoramaweg 100, “From Glacier to Wine”

Water features: 300 mountain tarns, 1.000 springs, 100 waterfalls

Huts: More than 50 huts that are also refreshment points

Sommercard: The admission card for over 100 free experiences and over 100

bonus services! www.sommercard.info

Highlights: Dachstein Glacier with the Sky Walk viewing platform, Ice Palace,

suspension footbridge, Stairway to Nothingness. Panoramic gondola

with balcony. Europe’s longest zip line on the Stoderzinken, Alpine

Coaster on the Rittisberg

Nature park: Naturpark Sölktäler

Via ferrata tours: 22 fixed-cable climbs in the Schladming-Dachstein Region

Golf courses: 1st organic golf course in Austria at the Kobaldhof; Schladming-

Dachstein Golf Region with 4 golf courses: Golf & Country Club

Dachstein-Tauern, Golf Club Schloss Pichlarn-Irdning, Golf Club

Radstadt, Golf Club Ennstal – Weissenbach/Liezen