There is that moment in the morning when the trail ahead lies completely untouched, the snow crunches softly under your skis, and you are surrounded only by mountains. That is exactly why people come to the Rauris Valley for cross-country skiing. Here in the inner reach of the Salzburg region, surrounded by the Hohe Tauern National Park, peace and quiet take priority – and around 30 kilometers of perfectly groomed trails (classic and skating) are waiting to be discovered right outside the doors of our 4* Hotel Rauriserhof.
The beauty of the location: at 950 to 1,280 meters above sea level, snow is reliable and fog is a rare guest up here. Whether you glide comfortably across sunny valley meadows or do a few ambitious laps with a view of the Hohe Sonnblick (3,106 m) – everyone finds their ideal track in the Rauris Valley. Beginners and experienced cross-country skiers alike.
Your Cross-Country Skiing Day in the Rauris Valley at a Glance
Rauris Trail · approx. 4 km · easy
Entry near Gasthaus Maislau or Lagerhaus Rauris. The perfect loop for warming up and your first few meters—flat, close to the village center, and featuring wide views of the surrounding mountains.
Bucheben Trail · approx. 14 km · intermediate
Entry at the Nigglgut parking lot / Kathrin's Laden. A true scenic highlight: gently ascending, the trail leads through the quiet valley toward the Sonnblick massif.
Lohningwiesen Trail · approx. 12 km · intermediate
Entry at the Krumltal parking lot or at Alpengasthof Bodenhaus. A varied loop in the Hüttwinkel Valley, framed by pristine nature and imposing 3,000-meter peaks.
Bodenhaus Sunny Trail · approx. 4 km · easy to intermediate
Entry directly at Alpengasthof Bodenhaus (1,280 m). The snow-sure high-altitude trail at the head of the Hüttwinkel Valley – this is where the sun shines the longest, and you have the tranquility almost to yourself.
First-Hand Tips from the Rauriserhof Team
Rent Equipment On-Site
Traveled without your own skis? No problem. In the Rauris sports shops, you can rent top-maintained cross-country equipment – for both skating and classic styles:
Learn or Refine Your Technique
Looking to learn the skating technique from scratch or polish your classic style? The local ski schools – such as Skischule Hohe Tauern and Adventure Rauris – offer private lessons and group courses tailored to your pace.
Convenient Access to the Trailheads
The free shuttle bus takes you comfortably from the village center directly to Alpengasthof Bodenhaus. And the regional bus (Line 640) stops right at the trailhead in Bucheben – leave your car parked, grab your skis, and go.
Arrive and Recharge at the 4 Rauriserhof*
After a day on the trails, what awaits you at Hotel Rauriserhof is pure relaxation:
