High valley floor just over the Tauern pass beyond Obertauern — easy ski touring terrain, a cross-country skiing base, and a natural toboggan run below the Johanneswasserfall.
Gnadenalm
Gnadenalm is where the Tauern pass exhales: a wide, quiet valley floor just past the Obertauern snow bowl, made for the slower winter sports. ## Why go - **Ski touring** — the gentle open slopes above the Gnadenalm are a classic first-tour terrain: enough climb to earn the descent, none of the exposure. Local schools run introductory touring courses here. - **Tobogganing** — a natural toboggan run descends near the Johanneswasserfall; sleds can be rented nearby in season. - **Cross-country** — the Gnadenalm doubles as a cross-country base with tracks along the young Taurach. ## Food The Gnadenalm huts serve fondues worth the drive alone: - **Meat fondue** — around 250 g of beef, pork, and turkey fillet, cooked at the table and served with six different sauces, mixed salad, French fries, and baguette. - **Cheese fondue** — the classic alpine version, served the same way. Both are a full dinner, not a snack stop — plan accordingly. ## Summer In the snow-free months the Gnadenalm turns into a trailhead. The free car park at the huts is where the easy **"Alles Alm" experience trail** starts: themed stations about pasture life, cows and water, playground stops, and after about an hour at family pace the [Johanneswasserfall](/lungau/places/johanneswasserfall/), a 60 m natural monument with a secured path that leads right behind the falling water. See the [Gnadenalm to Johanneswasserfall hike](/lungau/itineraries/gnadenalm-johanneswasserfall-hike/). ## Good to know - About 30 minutes from Mariapfarr — over the pass, a few minutes beyond Obertauern (technically in Untertauern, Pongau). - Being terrain outside groomed resorts, ski touring requires avalanche awareness — check the bulletin and go with a guide if unsure. - Verify toboggan run opening and sled rental locally; conditions vary through the season.
{"agentSummary":"Gnadenalm is a high valley area (about 1,300 m) just north of Obertauern on the Tauern pass road, roughly 30 minutes from Mariapfarr. Winter offerings: gentle ski-touring terrain popular for first tours, a cross-country skiing base, and a natural toboggan run near the Johanneswasserfall. The huts here serve a standout meat fondue (meat or cheese) worth planning dinner around. Check snow conditions and toboggan run opening locally before travelling. In summer the free car park at the huts is the trailhead of the easy \"Alles Alm\" experience trail to the Johanneswasserfall, about an hour each way at family pace.","canonicalUrl":"/lungau/places/gnadenalm/","description":"High valley floor just over the Tauern pass beyond Obertauern — easy ski touring terrain, a cross-country skiing base, and a natural toboggan run below the Johanneswasserfall.","destination":"lungau","driveMinutesFromBase":32,"entityKind":"MountainPass","geo":{"latitude":47.2679,"longitude":13.4967},"goodWithKids":true,"lastVerified":"2026-08-31","name":"Gnadenalm","nearbyFood":"Gnadenalm huts serve meat fondue (beef, pork & turkey fillet, six sauces, salad, fries, baguette) and cheese fondue — both worth planning dinner around. Full resort dining in Obertauern.","placeKind":"attraction","rainyDayFallback":"Mauterndorf castle or the Tamsweg indoor pool back in the valley.","relatedItineraries":["winter-weekend","gnadenalm-johanneswasserfall-hike"],"relatedPlaces":["johanneswasserfall","obertauern"],"schemaType":["Place","TouristAttraction"],"type":"Place","weatherSuitability":["snowy","sunny"],"whatToBring":["touring or cross-country gear","toboggan (rentals nearby)","headlamp for late runs","hiking shoes in summer"]}
Clouds parting over winter mountains
Wide snowy field near ski slopes and forest
Low sun over groomed snow tracks and winter mountains
Snow tracks leading toward a bright mountain horizon
Misty snowy field and forested ski slopes
Mountain stream flowing through snow in a winter valley
Quiet winter lake reflecting low light and snowy mountains
Snow-covered alpine hut beside a winter valley
Horses standing near a wooden barn in deep snow
An easy family loop from the Gnadenalm huts along the Alles Alm trail to the 60 m Johanneswasserfall, with about 200 steps to a viewing platform and a secured path right behind the falling water.
Gnadenalm to Johanneswasserfall Hike
This is the hike to pick when the walk has to be easy and the ending has to be worth it: pastures and cows on the way, and a path that takes you behind a 60-metre waterfall at the end. ## Why this hike works for families Nothing about the approach is steep or long. From the free car park at the Gnadenalm huts the "Alles Alm" experience trail rolls across open pasture with themed stations — alpine life, cows, milk, honey, wood and water — and playground stops that break the hour into short legs. Shortly before the alm huts a signpost points left to the waterfall, and the sound of falling water does the rest of the motivating. **From our hike, the cows grazing on the pasture were the first highlight, and the roar building up on the last stretch had everyone hurrying.** ## The waterfall reward About 200 steps lead to a viewing platform and then to the part that makes this walk special: a secured path that runs along the rock wall directly behind the Johanneswasserfall. You stand in the spray with the whole valley framed by the curtain of water. **The kids walked behind the fall — the kind of finish that turns "are we there yet" into a story they tell at dinner.** The fall has been a natural monument since 1931 and is named after Archduke Johann, who had the first railing built here. ## Good to know - Allow about an hour each way at family pace, or 2 to 2½ hours for the full loop with the platform and the passage behind the fall. - The steps and the path behind the water are wet and slippery: shoes with grip, one hand free for small children, and a light rain jacket if you want to linger in the spray. This last section is not for strollers or carriers with a wide base. - Shorter option: start from the alm huts near the fall, or from the lay-by on the Tauern pass road (B99) just above it — roughly 200 steps straight down to the curtain and back up. - Pick a dry day; sunny mornings light the curtain best, and rain makes the steps slick. - The Gnadenalm huts at the car park serve hut food in season, so the loop can end with lunch. - Gnadenalm and the waterfall lie on the Pongau side of the Tauern pass (Untertauern), a few minutes below Obertauern — about 30 minutes from Mariapfarr. The linked Garmin activity is retained as supporting route evidence; trail conditions, parking and hut opening information should still be checked for the day of the hike.
{"about":"johanneswasserfall","agentSummary":"An easy half-day family hike from the Gnadenalm huts (free car park, about 30 minutes from Mariapfarr over the Tauern pass) along the Alles Alm experience trail to the Johanneswasserfall, a 60 m waterfall and natural monument. About an hour each way at family pace, 2 to 2.5 hours for the loop; the trail is stroller-friendly until the final stretch. The reward is a secured path that leads right behind the water curtain, reached by about 200 steps — wet and slippery, so good shoes and a hand for small children. A shorter version starts at the alm huts near the fall or the lay-by on the pass road above it. Best in summer and early autumn.","bestAudience":["family-with-kids","hikers","couple"],"canonicalUrl":"/lungau/itineraries/gnadenalm-johanneswasserfall-hike/","days":[{"afternoon":"Take the roughly 200 steps to the viewing platform and walk the secured path behind the 60 m water curtain, then return to Gnadenalm by the same trail or via the forest loop. Hut food at the Gnadenalm huts closes the day.","day":1,"evening":"Keep the evening easy back at base — this is a half-day outing with a big finish, not a long mountain day.","morning":"Drive about 30 minutes from Mariapfarr over the Tauern pass, through Obertauern and down to Gnadenalm; park at the free car park by the huts. Follow the \"Alles Alm\" experience trail across the pastures and past its themed stations — about an hour at family pace until a signpost just before the alm huts sends you left to the waterfall.","places":["gnadenalm","johanneswasserfall"],"title":"Gnadenalm to the Johanneswasserfall and back"}],"description":"An easy family loop from the Gnadenalm huts along the Alles Alm trail to the 60 m Johanneswasserfall, with about 200 steps to a viewing platform and a secured path right behind the falling water.","destination":"lungau","durationDays":1,"entityKind":"TripPlan","lastVerified":"2026-08-31","mentions":["gnadenalm","obertauern","samspitze-4-mariapfarr"],"moods":["family-adventure","quiet-nature"],"name":"Gnadenalm to Johanneswasserfall Hike","recommendedBase":"samspitze-4-mariapfarr","relationships":{"hasBase":["samspitze-4-mariapfarr"],"includesPlace":["gnadenalm","johanneswasserfall"]},"schemaType":["TouristTrip"],"sourceUrl":"https://connect.garmin.com/app/activity/23849330687","type":"Itinerary"}
A 60 m waterfall of the Nördliche Taurach between Gnadenalm and Obertauern, protected as a natural monument since 1931, with a secured path that leads right behind the falling water at the end of an easy family walk from Gnadenalm.
Johanneswasserfall
The Johanneswasserfall is the family walk with a proper finale: an hour of easy trail from the Gnadenalm huts, then about 200 steps and a secured path that leads right behind a 60-metre curtain of falling water. ## Why go Most waterfalls you look at. This one you walk through — or rather behind. At about 1,390 m the [Nördliche Taurach](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C3%B6rdliche_Taurach) — the Pongau Taurach, which rises at the Tauern pass — takes its first big step down the valley here, dropping some 60 m over a rock overhang, and a railed path runs along the wall underneath it, so you stand in the spray with the whole forested valley framed by the water in front of you. Archduke Johann of Austria was impressed enough on a visit in the early 19th century to have the first railing built, which is how the fall got its name; it has been a protected natural monument since 1931. The approach matters as much as the finale for families. From the free car park at Gnadenalm the "Alles Alm" experience trail — themed stations about alpine pasture life, cows, milk, honey, wood and water, with playground stops — reaches the fall in about an hour at family pace. Shortly before the alm huts, a signpost sends you left to the waterfall. **From our hike, the pastures with grazing cows and the sound of the water getting louder kept the kids moving, and the passage behind the fall was the reward that made the whole walk feel earned.** ## Good to know - Allow about an hour each way from Gnadenalm, or 2–2½ hours for the loop; from the Gnadenalm car park the trail is stroller-friendly until the final stretch to the fall. - Shorter option: start from the alm huts near the fall, or from the small lay-by on the Tauern pass road (B99) just above it, where roughly 200 steps lead straight down to the curtain. - The steps and the path behind the fall are wet and slippery — shoes with grip, a hand for small children, and a light rain jacket if you want to stand in the spray for long. - The waterfall lies on the Pongau side of the Tauern pass in the municipality of Untertauern, a few minutes below Obertauern; it is over the pass from Lungau, about 30 minutes from Mariapfarr. - Free to visit; dogs on a leash. Sunny mornings light the curtain best. Current trail and hut details are on the [Gnadenalm operator's page](https://www.gnadenalm.com/sommer-wandern/johanneswasserfall/). - In winter the fall freezes into an ice spectacle, but the path behind it is a snow-free-season walk — this is a summer and autumn outing.
{"agentSummary":"The Johanneswasserfall (Johannesfall) is a roughly 60 m waterfall of the Nördliche Taurach (Northern Taurach; the river is Wikidata Q2006745, the fall itself has no Wikidata item) at about 1,390 m, on the Tauern pass road between Gnadenalm and Obertauern (Untertauern, Pongau) — about 30 minutes from Mariapfarr over the pass. It has been a protected natural monument since 1931 and is named after Archduke Johann, who had a railing built after visiting it. The classic approach is the easy \"Alles Alm\" trail from the free Gnadenalm car park, about an hour each way at family pace; a shorter version starts at the alm huts near the fall or the lay-by on the pass road just above it. About 200 steps lead to a viewing platform and to the secured passage behind the water curtain — the part children remember. Good shoes and a hand for small kids on the wet steps; not a stroller section. From our 2026-08-04 hike.","alternateName":["Johannesfall","Johannes Waterfall"],"canonicalUrl":"/lungau/places/johanneswasserfall/","description":"A 60 m waterfall of the Nördliche Taurach between Gnadenalm and Obertauern, protected as a natural monument since 1931, with a secured path that leads right behind the falling water at the end of an easy family walk from Gnadenalm.","destination":"lungau","driveMinutesFromBase":32,"entityKind":"Waterfall","geo":{"latitude":47.25136,"longitude":13.50785},"goodWithKids":true,"lastVerified":"2026-08-31","name":"Johanneswasserfall","nearbyFood":"The Gnadenalm huts at the trailhead serve hut food in season; full resort dining in Obertauern, a few minutes further up the pass road.","rainyDayFallback":"The steps and the passage behind the fall get slippery in rain — save the waterfall for the first dry morning and pick Burg Mauterndorf or the Tamsweg indoor pool instead.","relatedItineraries":["gnadenalm-johanneswasserfall-hike"],"relatedPlaces":["gnadenalm","obertauern"],"sameAs":["https://wiki.sn.at/wiki/Johannesfall"],"schemaType":["Waterfall","TouristAttraction"],"sourceUrl":"https://www.salzburgerland.com/de/magazin/johanneswasserfall-obertauern/","type":"Waterfall","weatherSuitability":["sunny","cloudy"],"whatToBring":["hiking shoes with grip","rain jacket for the spray","water","snack"]}
Pastures and grazing cows on the Alles Alm experience trail between the Gnadenalm huts and the Johanneswasserfall.
A black-and-white cow grazing on an alpine pasture with maple trees and a forested peak behind, on the Alles Alm trail near Gnadenalm.
Two-bedroom family apartment in Mariapfarr, Lungau, in the Austrian Alps with a lake view and a Salzburg AG EV charging station available for guest use. Sleeps up to 6 guests with 2 bathrooms, a full kitchen, balcony, free parking, Wi-Fi, and shared sauna access.
Samspitze 4
Samspitze 4 is a family-friendly, two-bedroom apartment located in Mariapfarr, Lungau, within the Austrian Alps. This apartment can accommodate up to 6 guests and is well-suited for various family trips, including summer holidays, ski weekends, and longer alpine stays. Situated in Pichl, a quiet locality of Mariapfarr—known as one of Austria's sunniest villages—the apartment provides a comfortable base for exploring the region. The property features two bedrooms and two bathrooms. For outdoor activities, Fanningberg is reachable in about 15 minutes, Prebersee in approximately 20 minutes, and Obertauern in about 25 minutes. For families, Samspitze 4 offers practical amenities for extended stays. The full kitchen and free on-site parking make longer visits straightforward. During summer and early autumn, the apartment serves as a calm base for activities like easy hikes with children, lake days, mountain lift rides, and castle visits, with evenings to be enjoyed on the balcony. After an active day, guests can utilize the shared sauna. The apartment also includes Wi-Fi and an EV charging station for guest use.
{"address":{"addressCountry":"AT","addressLocality":"Mariapfarr","addressRegion":"Salzburg","postalCode":"5571","streetAddress":"Pichl 141"},"agentSummary":"Samspitze 4 is a 68 m² two-bedroom family apartment in Mariapfarr/Pichl, Lungau, in the Austrian Alps. It sleeps up to 6 guests and has 2 bathrooms, Wi-Fi, a balcony, full kitchen, free parking, and shared sauna access. It is a practical base for family summer holidays, hiking with children, ski weekends, two couples, and longer alpine stays. Bookable via BookingNests.","alternateName":["6_ALP - Samspitze 4"],"amenities":["Wi-Fi","balcony","full kitchen","parking","shared sauna","EV charging station"],"bathrooms":2,"bedrooms":2,"bestFor":["family summer holidays","hiking with children","ski weekends","two couples","longer alpine stays"],"bookingProvider":"BookingNests","bookingUrl":"https://bookingnests.at/vermietung/ferienwohnung-mariapfarr-6-alp-samspitze-4-441179.html?id=441179&bk=bk_nests&Idioma=DE","canonicalUrl":"/lungau/apartments/samspitze-4-mariapfarr/","checkinTime":"15:00","checkoutTime":"11:00","description":"Two-bedroom family apartment in Mariapfarr, Lungau, in the Austrian Alps with a lake view and a Salzburg AG EV charging station available for guest use. Sleeps up to 6 guests with 2 bathrooms, a full kitchen, balcony, free parking, Wi-Fi, and shared sauna access.","destination":"lungau","distances":[{"driveMinutes":15,"km":11,"place":"fanningberg"},{"driveMinutes":22,"km":14,"place":"prebersee"},{"driveMinutes":15,"km":12,"place":"grosseck-speiereck"},{"driveMinutes":25,"km":25,"place":"obertauern"},{"driveMinutes":25,"km":22,"place":"katschberg"},{"driveMinutes":10,"km":7,"place":"mauterndorf"},{"driveMinutes":12,"km":10,"place":"tamsweg"}],"entityKind":"Apartment","geo":{"latitude":47.1400081,"longitude":13.73805},"hasMap":"https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=47.1400081,13.73805","identifier":"441179","lastVerified":"2026-08-12","locality":"pichl","maxGuests":6,"name":"Samspitze 4","parking":"free on-site parking","pets":"allowed with restrictions","priceRange":"€€","propertyManager":"mountain-nests-rentals","ratings":[{"bestRating":5,"lastVerified":"2026-07-21","ratingValue":4.9,"reviewCount":87,"scope":"resort","source":"Google","sourceUrl":"https://share.google/DGjqQ3xtgOqtUsBGO","subject":"AlpiNest Feriendorf Lungau","worstRating":1},{"bestRating":10,"lastVerified":"2026-08-11","ratingValue":8.5,"reviewCount":35,"scope":"property","source":"Booking.com","sourceUrl":"https://www.booking.com/hotel/at/apartment-samspitze.de.html","subject":"Samspitze 4","worstRating":1}],"relationships":{"bestFor":["family-holiday","ski-weekend"],"containedIn":["alpinest-feriendorf-lungau"],"locatedIn":["mariapfarr"],"supportsItinerary":["3-days-with-kids","winter-weekend"]},"sameAs":["https://www.booking.com/hotel/at/apartment-samspitze.html","https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1127361663737719742","https://www.houfy.com/lodging/6-alp-samspitze-4/336810"],"schemaType":["VacationRental","LodgingBusiness"],"sizeSqm":68,"type":"Apartment","village":"mariapfarr"}
One of Austria's most snow-sure resorts, with a 100 km connected circuit at 1,740 m. A big-mountain day trip 25 minutes from Mariapfarr.
Obertauern
Obertauern offers a serious ski day with a full circuit ("Tauernrunde") of approximately 100 km of pistes around a snow bowl situated at 1,740 m. ## Why go Choose Obertauern when you require altitude, significant mileage, and near-guaranteed snow conditions from late November through May, all within a 25-minute drive of the apartment. ## Good to know - The circuit can be traversed in both directions, featuring green and red routes. - This area is better suited for confident intermediates and advanced skiers; beginners are advised to choose Fanningberg. - Weekends are peak times, so starting before 9:00 is recommended.
{"agentSummary":"Obertauern is a high-altitude ski resort (1,740 m base) on the Tauern pass, about 25 minutes from Mariapfarr. Around 100 km of connected pistes, season from late November to early May, very snow-sure. Suits confident skiers; families may prefer Fanningberg.","canonicalUrl":"/lungau/places/obertauern/","description":"One of Austria's most snow-sure resorts, with a 100 km connected circuit at 1,740 m. A big-mountain day trip 25 minutes from Mariapfarr.","destination":"lungau","driveMinutesFromBase":25,"entityKind":"SkiArea","geo":{"latitude":47.2481,"longitude":13.5592},"goodWithKids":false,"lastVerified":"2026-07-05","name":"Obertauern","nearbyFood":"Slope-side huts and resort restaurants.","placeKind":"ski-area","rainyDayFallback":"Return to the valley — Mauterndorf castle or Tamsweg.","relatedItineraries":["winter-weekend","one-week-in-lungau"],"relationships":{"activityType":["skiing"]},"schemaType":["SkiResort","SportsActivityLocation"],"type":"SkiArea","weatherSuitability":["snowy"],"whatToBring":["ski gear","helmet","goggles"]}
The end of the easy walk from Gnadenalm: the secured path leads right behind the 60 m curtain of the Johanneswasserfall, a natural monument since 1931.
View from the secured path beneath the rock overhang, looking out through the falling curtain of the Johanneswasserfall to forested slopes and a rocky peak under a summer sky.
About 200 steps climb the cliff to the viewing platform and the passage behind the fall — wet and slippery, so shoes with grip.
The Johanneswasserfall pouring off a rock overhang, with wooden steps and a railed path climbing the cliff beside it; a few hikers are small figures on the path.
The reward at the end of the easy walk from Gnadenalm: the secured path leads right behind the 60 m curtain of the Johanneswasserfall.
Walking behind the Johanneswasserfall
Small huts partly buried in deep snow
Aggregate rating sourced from Booking.com
Private bathroom with glass shower and vanity in Samspitze 4
Modern apartment bathroom with shower and vanity in Samspitze 4
Small wooden sauna or wellness building in a snowy setting
Side window view towards the surrounding Mariapfarr mountain panorama
View from the side window towards sunny Mariapfarr alpine mountains
On-site parking lot and winter property view at AlpiNest Mariapfarr
On-site parking area and winter property view in Mariapfarr
Salzburg AG EV charging station on-site for electric vehicles
Salzburg AG EV charging station available for guest use at the property
Exterior view of Samspitze 4 chalet in Mariapfarr during summer
Exterior view of Samspitze 4 chalet surrounded by green alpine mountains in summer
Comfortable living area with seating in Samspitze 4
Living room seating area in Samspitze 4
Full kitchen and dining area for family meals
Fully equipped kitchen and dining area in Samspitze 4
Bedroom with alpine wood furnishings and double bed
Main bedroom with comfortable double bed in Samspitze 4
Resort grounds and natural pond at AlpiNest Feriendorf
Calm water feature and grounds at AlpiNest Feriendorf Mariapfarr
Alpine chalet exterior in winter snow
Wi-Fi
EV charging station
balcony
full kitchen
parking
shared sauna
Double
Sofa Bed
Nenad Barbul