Stop - I think I saw something move up there on the rock! Slow down your steps, lift the binoculars up to your eyes - and there it is. Not far from the trail leading up to Rudnig Alm pasture, a marmot has come out of its hiding place to sunbathe on the rocks. A wonderful sight for mountaineers! The chances of spotting a marmot are highest during the early hours or late morning, when the trails of the Carnic Alps are not yet busy. Head along the gravel path up to Rudnig Alm at dawn, where you can watch the beautiful colours of the sunrise while enjoying a proper mountain breakfast with home-made delicacies aplenty - Gailtaler Almkäse, fresh butter, "Schotten" cheese, curds and soft cheeses from the mountain dairy. Rudnig Alm pasture is located just below the Roßkofel and Troghöhe mountains. From the hut, climbers can get up the Roßkofel in approximately three and a half hours. The Rudnigsattel is a 45-minute hike away. The pasture makes an ideal starting point for hiking and climbing tours, and there is also the option of staying overnight. If you prefer to take it easy, explore the spacious pasture surrounding the hut and enjoy the fantastic panoramic views of Nassfeld Pass and Madritschen mountain and the nearby reservoir. And who knows, you might even spot another marmot on the way back!
The pointed cone of the Findenigkogel (Monte Lodin) at the Italian border is visible from afar. As charismatic as the mountain itself is the gnarled wooden cross on the summit and the splendid views across the Carnic Alps. Hikers descending to the foot of the Findenigkogel or mountain bikers who explore the area of the former World War I front will pass the rustic Achornacher Alm pasture just below the Karnischer Höhenweg trail and can expect a lovingly prepared snack, using home-made dairy products. Specialties included Gailtaler Almkäse cheese (protected status), fresh butter and a tender soft cheese. The so-called "Schotten" is also served here, a curd-like, crumbly cheese made from butter milk without pressing. Achornacher hut is a Mecca for cheese connoisseurs, and cheese from the pasture has made it onto the winner's podium of mountain cheese contests several times. Cheeses are judged on their internal and external appearance, on fragrance and on flavour, and the Gailtaler Almkäse was able to convince the highly critical gourmets in every respect. It is worth setting aside more time for a visit to the hut in order to sample the culinary highlights while basking in the glorious panoramic views!
A sparkling blue sky, lush green mountain pastures, a far cry from the hustle and bustle of the outside world - and yet so close: Dellacher Alm pasture is the perfect destination for all those yearning for a break from the everyday routine and keen to replenish their energy levels by going offline in a beautiful mountain setting. Up here, there is no mobile phone, radio or television signal. Entertainment is provided by nature, and nothing else. However, there is no question of things getting boring: kids can roam around and let off steam to their heart's content, the adults can have a chat at the fountain or soak up the sun on the little bench outside the hut. Dogs are also welcome up here. If you really can't bear the thought of leaving so soon, simply rent one of the 25 huts available. In total, Dellacher Alm consists of 36 huts, original structures made from stone and timber. Some even come with a traditional roof made of wooden shingles, such as the Almgasthaus inn that is run by the Pipp family, where guests are treated to regional delicacies such as the Gailtaler Almkäse cheese or freshly made butter. No one has ever left this place hungry! Dellacher Alm pasture is easily accessible via Egger Alm pasture - simply follow the road past wildly romantic Lake Almsee. After an approximately 3.5km walk, you will reach the pasture of Dellacher Alm, which also makes a great starting point for hikes, for instance up the Poludnig peak and Poludnig Alm pasture.
Just a few steps uphill from Egger Alm pasture is the perfect spot for having a rest on the mountain meadow, amidst blooming herbs and with wonderful views to boot. Let your gaze wander across the 47 huts, the veterans' chapel of the mountain village, the lush forests and further on across Lake Presseggersee to the other side of the valley, where the Gailtal Alps present themselves from their best angle. But it is not just the wide-open vistas that make this high valley with its little mountain lake so unique. The hummocky meadow is bursting with vegetation and the cows can take their pick of tasty grasses and herbs, making for particularly flavoursome dairy products, starting with Gailtaler Almkäse (Protected Designation of Origin). The pasture has a long cheese-making tradition and cheese is prepared here as it was a hundred years ago, with plenty of love and time. Visitors are welcome to take a peek at the cheese-making facilities. The inn on Egger Alm pasture is the perfect place for sampling award-winning cheeses, not just cold on a platter, but also in hot dishes such as cheese soup or "Kaspressknödel" dumplings. Fresh mountain butter, "Schotten" cheese, yoghurt and curds are also on the menu. Kids will appreciate the playground and being free to roam the surrounding area. At the end of July and the beginning of August, the annual cheese-cutting ceremony is celebrated with a Kirchtag festival directly on the pasture!
Großfrondellalm pasture is a small, remote communal pasture of the Grafendorf neighbourhood, located high above the mountaineering village of Mauthen near the Italian border. The production of high-quality cheeses such as Gailtaler Almkäse and “Schotten” cheese as well as butter has a long tradition on the pasture. Cows are kept here during the summer months, grazing on the steep slopes together with a few goats. The kettle-shaped area also contains an ice tongue that usually remains intact throughout the summer. Großfrondell is well-known among hunters, due to its abundant wildlife stock of chamois, grouse and red deer. No matter what brings you here - you will be served a sustaining platter of cheese, speck and homemade sausages. The stone hut already functioned as a supply base for soldiers at the front during WWI. The path leading up to the hut with its 103 serpentine bends was constructed over just 13 days in 1915. Today, hikers may take the historic trail up to Köderhöhe, where a summit cross was constructed not long ago. There is also the option of "shadowing" the dairy workers as they go about their tasks. The pasture is sometimes also referred to as the "Grafendorfer Alm", due to the fact that the members of the farming community come from Grafendorf.
Rattendorfer Alm pasture is an absolute gem in the Carnic Alps, first mentioned in a document from 1403, when it was still called "Schellekalm". The livestock count was recorded precisely, with almost 600 cows and goats grazing on the pasture during its heyday. Eleven dairies and 16 herdsmen farmed the pasture during the summer months. Today, things are a little more quiet - what has remained the same, however, is the traditional production of Gailtaler Almkäse and other Alpine dairy specialties such as "Schotten" cheese, butter, yoghurt and hard cheese. Then and now, visitors to the pasture can expect wholesome treats from the dairy. In fact, Rattendorfer Alm pasture is a perfect destination for a family hike. For a comfortable walk across the border to Italy and back, follow the cheese-themed circular trail ("Käserundwanderweg"), or take the kids on a proper mountain tour up the Zottachkopf summit. The soldier-themed circular trail holds a wealth of information about the old emplacements from WWI, and a memorial chapel reminds us of all those who lost their lives. Climbers might want to make their way up the Trogkofel, while mountain bikers can choose between different tours hopping from one pasture to the next. Whether you arrive walking, climbing or pushing pedals: Rattendorfer Alm pasture affords beautiful views across the valley and the surrounding peaks. Overnight accommodation is also on offer, as are traditional Alpine fairs and a festival to mark the return of the livestock to the valley. The pasture may be reached via a well-maintained gravel path.
The trail up Reisacher Joch Alm pasture is wonderfully quiet - in fact, the only sound you'll hear will be your hiking boots crunching the gravel underfoot. Be prepared to stop for a rest several times along the way, not just to catch your breath, but to let your gaze wander across the beautiful mountain panorama. This spot, embedded in the Gailtal Alps, affords fantastic views of the Carnic Alps and the entire Gailtal valley. The last stretch before your reach your destination is nothing short of spectacular, with the rustic hut of the Reisach Joch Alm, nestling against the the imposing massif of the Reißkofel, being visible from afar. The location alone makes the pasture a popular destination for hikers and mountain bikers: it is perfect for reviving flagging spirits before hiking up the Reißkofel. For mountain bikers, the pasture marks the highest point of the circular trail. There is also a small petting zoo for young visitors. In addition to the dairy farmers and the hospitality staff, numerous cows, sheep and horses spend their summer up Reisacher Joch Alm. The entire milk yield is used to make the famous Gailtaler Almkäse, right here on the pasture. "Schotten" cheese, butter, buttermilk and curds are also made on site. Hikers can fortify themselves with bacon and sausages from the farm - best enjoyed in a sunny spot! In August, a traditional mountain festival with a mass is celebrated up here.
Action-packed fun, tranquillity and nature, culinary highlights and expert knowledge: on Treßdorfer Alm pasture, all these attributes unite to provide a wonderful day out for all the family. The pasture has its own inn with rustic "Stuben", cosy rooms and a show dairy. Nearby Nassfeld Pass offers numerous round trails for hiking and walking, all with splendid views, via ferratas for climbing, a playground and summer sledding run for children and much more. As you can see, a trip to Treßdorfer Alm is never boring! Getting there is easy even for the little ones: from Nassfeld, a walking trail leads up to the pasture in just 25 minutes. It is also possible to take the car directly to the hut and start your hike in the surrounding mountains from there. Early summer is a particularly good time for a visit, from mid-June onwards, when the wulfenia flower is in bloom - a rare type of flower that is only found here. Towards the end of July, the Gailtaler Almkäse is cut, and the traditional "Kirchtag" festival is celebrated at the beginning of August. The show dairy is open daily during the summer months and offers visitors the chance of watching the dairy workers as they go about their business. Drop in at the farm shop afterwards or taste the home-made dairy products in the Almgasthaus! If you are hungry, opt for a cold platter that includes Gailtaler Almkäse, or a traditional Carinthian dish, prepared using fresh and regionally sourced produce.
Tröpolacher Alm pasture with its own dairy and refreshment point is located in an idyllic spot high above the Gailtal valley in the Nassfeld region, below the imposing Zweifkofel peak and near a reservoir. During the summer months, more than 50 dairy cows and around 90 young cattle graze here. Their fresh milk is processed into Gailtaler Almkäse cheese, butter, “Schotten” cheese and yoghurt in the pasture's dairy. If you drop in for refreshments, you will of course be served the dairy specialties made right here on the pasture, as well as hot dishes such as “Frigga”, bacon and eggs or goulash soup, all freshly prepared in the traditional way. Tours of the dairy and the barn are offered (registration is required). Tröpolacher Alm pasture is a perfect starting point for hiking tours in the Carnic Alps, for instance up Roßkofel or Trogkofel mountains in the immediate vicinity of the pasture. However, it doesn't have to be a long or strenuous hike: from the hut and its terrace, visitors enjoy splendid views of the Gailtal valley and the refreshing mountain air. If you would like to experience the pasture in the early hours of the morning or in the evening, you have the option of spending the night in the hut and be woken up by cowbells in the morning. Tröpolacher Alm may be reached via a well-maintained gravel path.
On the foot of the Gartnerkofel lies picturesque Watschiger Alm pasture, surrounded by the imposing peaks of the Carnic Alps. A trip up Watschiger Alm is particularly worthwhile from early June until mid-July, when the wulfenia flower is in bloom around the hut, transforming the mountain meadows into a colourful sea of blossoms. Every year, plant enthusiasts from all over world come here to admire and photograph this unique flower that grows only in the Nassfeld region. The wulfenia flower is protected and picking it is strictly forbidden. It owes its pretty name to its discoverer, Franz Freiherr von Wulfen, who was the first to discover this blue flower that had previously not been recorded or described by any botanist, more than 200 years ago. If you feel like getting some exercise after soaking up the sun on the terrace, embark on a hike up the Gartnerkofel or, if you are pressed for time, pay nearby Garnitzenalm pasture a visit. Both trails offer beautiful panoramic views and hearty refreshments at the end, such as Gailtaler Almkäse, "Schotten", butter and hard cheese. Watschiger Alm may also be comfortably reached by car via a tarmacked road.
On the foot of the Gartnerkofel lies picturesque Watschiger Alm pasture, surrounded by the imposing peaks of the Carnic Alps. A trip up Watschiger Alm is particularly worthwhile from early June until mid-July, when the wulfenia flower is in bloom around the hut, transforming the mountain meadows into a colourful sea of blossoms. Every year, plant enthusiasts from all over world come here to admire and photograph this unique flower that grows only in the Nassfeld region. The wulfenia flower is protected and picking it is strictly forbidden. It owes its pretty name to its discoverer, Franz Freiherr von Wulfen, who was the first to discover this blue flower that had previously not been recorded or described by any botanist, more than 200 years ago. If you feel like getting some exercise after soaking up the sun on the terrace, embark on a hike up the Gartnerkofel or, if you are pressed for time, pay nearby Garnitzenalm pasture a visit. Both trails offer beautiful panoramic views and hearty refreshments at the end, such as Gailtaler Almkäse, "Schotten", butter and hard cheese. Watschiger Alm may also be comfortably reached by car via a tarmacked road.
The Warmuth family's love of nature and mountain dairy farming is in their genes: they are the ninth generation to farm the Bischof farm in the upper Gailtal valley, a family farm of 300 years' standing. Traditionally, the farm livestock spends the summer on the Bischof pasture, divided into an upper and lower pasture. The location of both pastures is idyllic and well worth the uphill hike or mountain bike ride. To reach the lower pasture ("Untere Bischofalm"), follow the forestry road from the valley. It may also be reached from Zollneralm, on foot or by mountain bike, or via the Karnischer Höhenweg trail from the Plöcken region or Pramosio pasture on the Italian side. Bischofalm pasture is the only privately held pasture among the mountain dairies in the Gailtal valley. Despite the enormous work load, the family is determined to keep alive its cheese-making tradition that goes back hundreds of years, and to pass on the required skills to the next generation. Milk is made into Gailtaler Almkäse, butter and smoked "Schotten" cheese right here on the pasture. The Almkäse is wonderfully aromatic and full-bodied, and the "Schotten" is used in the kitchen in a variety of ways: served with cold platters and salads, deep-fried as a main dish or as a pasta filling. Unsmoked "Schotten" is even made into desserts. Unmissable flavours that alone make a visit worthwhile!
