Walk to the Käfertal and the Oberstattalm from Ferleiten

What it is

The Käfertal is the valley that opens up behind Ferleiten, on the Salzburg side of the Grossglockner road, next to the north ticket office. Two easy walks run through it: the short, 20-minute one to the Oberstattalm hut, and the Käfertal nature trail, of about 4 km, which goes deeper into the valley towards the Rotmoos bog.

It is the stop for stretching your legs before starting the bends, and the one that works best with small children on the whole road.

The walk to the Oberstattalm

It starts at the Fusch/Ferleiten ticket office. A pushchair-friendly path reaches the Oberstattalm in about 20 minutes, a pasture hut with a large play area dedicated to marmots. Have something to drink, let the children play and return the same way. With the stop, allow a good hour.

The Käfertal nature trail

If you want more, the Naturerlebnisweg Käfertal starts from the Gasthof Tauernhaus Ferleiten: about 4 km through the valley, almost flat, with information stations, benches and panels. What children look forward to most is the water play area, with Kneipp installations for dipping your feet and a raft. At the far end is the Rotmoos, a protected bog, one of the most valuable mountain wetlands in Salzburg.

You return the same way. Anyone who wants to climb a bit more can continue in zigzags to the Trauneralm, already with some ascent: look at the route on the map before setting out.

Getting there and parking

Ferleiten is in the Fusch valley, at the foot of the road, at the first point of the road if you come from Zell am See or Bruck. Park in the Ferleiten car park, next to the ticket office: it costs €4 for four hours, €6 for six hours and €10 for the day, with a maximum of 48 hours. Without a car, the Glocknerbus stops at the Ferleiten toll at 9:40.

At the Ferleiten ticket office there is an accessible toilet.

When to go

The road company presents the walk within its season, from early May to early November. Go first thing, before the queue of cars grows at the ticket office: the valley is quieter and it is easier to see marmots.

With children and a dog

It is the option for a day with children under six: short distances, pushchair-friendly and games at the end. If you are going to do the whole road that same day, make the long stop here and leave the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe for the viewpoint.

Dogs can come, but on a lead: it is compulsory throughout the national park. If you meet livestock on the pastures, pass slowly with the lead short and do not approach animals with young.

If the weather changes

The Käfertal is much lower than the pass. It is a plan for a day of high cloud, when you cannot see the Grossglockner up there and it is not worth paying the toll.