Harbach: Cycling Route, Hiking Trails and Local History
Accommodation in Harbach
The Dorfgastein Family Cycling Route passes through the district and continues to Luggau. On the descent from the Schockhochalm hike, the trail crosses Harbach and reaches the main road. There is also a winter hiking trail in Luggau, along with information about the chapel and the elevation zones of the mountain flora.
Cycling through Harbach to Luggau
The Dorfgastein Family Cycling Route runs from the centre of Dorfgastein along the Alte StraĂźe, past the Kneipp pool, and into the district of Harbach. From Harbach, it continues through an underpass to Luggau. So the route to Luggau begins in Harbach and goes through the underpass. The tour is described in a 2023 tourism guide. Route conditions may vary seasonally, so take the timing of your planned visit into account when checking the route.
Hiking trails and return options
On the descent from the Schockhochalm hike, the trail passes through Harbach and reaches the main road. There is a bus stop there, from which you can return to your starting point. If you plan to use this connection for your return journey, check the timetable for your visit.
Another option is the Dorfgastein–Luggau–Dorfgastein circular hike. It passes through the nature experience area with the Kneipp facility at Stucktor, past large marble boulders and the Patschwiese moor habitat, as well as beautiful farms, to Stöcklgut. Seasonal trail conditions may vary. The landmarks described differ: the descent from the Schockhochalm hike includes a return option at the main road, while the circular hike is characterised by its landscape features and the route to Stöcklgut.
Winter hiking trail and local history
In Luggau, the short winter hiking trail follows the Präauweg to Präaubauer; the return to Luggau is via a field path. The description therefore names both the destination and a separate return route. For planning, you can divide the route into two sections: the trail via Präauweg to Präaubauer and the return via the field path.
Harbach, Laderding and Luggau are considered some of the oldest settlements in the Gastein Valley. A regional history account from 1977 classifies the three places accordingly. Harbach Chapel was built in 1832 as a masonry chapel with a flat ceiling inside. The two details concern different scales: one relates to several settlement areas in the valley, the other to the construction style of a single building.
Elevation zones of the mountain flora
The landscape can also be described in terms of approximate elevation zones. A biotope description reporting a survey from April 1994 places the beginning of the mountain flora in the Harbach area at around 1,000 m. The krummholz zone is at around 1,900 m; the alpine flora begins there as well. This means that the beginning of the alpine flora and the krummholz zone are at approximately the same elevation. These values are reference points, not precise boundaries. They provide context about the landscape, but are not a current ecological survey.
Discover more destinations: Werfen, Bad Gastein, Wimm, Filzmoos, HĂĽttschlag, Altenmarkt Im Pongau, Obertauern, Untertauern
Back to the overview of the region: Sankt Johann im Pongau District.
