Gaal: Skiing, Snowshoe Route and Ingeringsee

Gaal combines a documented range of ski lifts with winter trails, snowshoeing opportunities and excursion destinations in the mountain landscape. If you would like to combine different activities during your stay, you will find both groomed slopes and alternatives away from skiing here.

• The Gaal ski lifts include a 2.3 km ski highway.
• Night skiing is available on 1.4 km of groomed slopes.
• In the Gaal snowshoe trial area, you can rent snowshoes at the Wachter inn and follow a signposted circular trail.
• Walking around Ingeringsee takes about 45 minutes.
• The access road to Ingeringsee is closed in winter.
• Maria Loretto is a destination for ski tourers and snowshoe hikers in winter.

Winter activities for different interests

In addition to the Gaal ski lifts, Alpinpark Steinmühle offers a high ropes course in a rocky natural landscape. The various difficulty levels range from activities for beginners to challenges for experts. This makes it possible to enjoy a varied stay even when not all travelers choose the same sporting activity.

Alpinpark also includes a rappelling course, a Pamper Pole, a glockenspiel and several Flying Fox ziplines. These elements complement the high ropes course with additional experience-oriented activities. The Alpinpark is therefore an independent excursion option for families or groups with different preferences, alongside winter sports.

Ingeringsee and the question of winter access

Ingeringsee is a mountain lake in Gaal at an altitude of 1,200 m, surrounded by the Seckau Alps. The documented walking time for walking around it is about 45 minutes. When arriving by car, an asphalt road initially leads to the lake. Shortly before it, a gravel road begins and leads to the parking area. The access road is closed in winter.

This combination is important for your planning: Ingeringsee is described as a destination for a walk around the lake, but the winter car access is not available. When choosing your accommodation, you should therefore check the seasonal accessibility of the respective excursion destination separately from the location of the accommodation.

Churches, chapels and historic sites

Wasserberg Castle was built around 1260 by Bishop Bernhard of Seckau. St. Peter's Church in Gaal has Romanesque origins and was probably built around 1200. Both places give your stay a historical focus, but differ in their documented dates of origin and their character.

Klementi Chapel was built in 2015 by the Wasserberg Forestry Administration and dedicated to Saint Clement. The Maria Loretto alpine chapel lies below the Rosenkogel at an altitude of 1,850 m. It was built in 1935 after the previous chapel burned down in a lightning strike during the First World War. Maria Loretto thus combines a specific historical background with a location in alpine terrain.

Regional specialty

Kühbrein Most represents modern, high-quality cider made from traditional old apple varieties. This adds a culinary aspect to the winter and culture-related destinations. For a comparison with another place, you can also consider Weißkirchen in Styria.

Orientation for your stay

A free hiking and leisure map is available in Gaal. It shows hiking and ski routes, a circular hiking trail, themed trails, as well as parking areas, inns and snack stations in the municipality. This allows you to classify the planned destinations and available paths on site without automatically inferring a specific proximity to a lift, lake or chapel from the location of the accommodation.

FAQ

Where can you get a map for hiking and leisure activities?

It shows hiking and ski routes, a circular hiking trail, themed trails, parking areas, inns and snack stations in the municipality.

What additional activities are available at Alpinpark Steinmühle?

In addition to the high ropes course, Alpinpark includes a rappelling course, a Pamper Pole, a glockenspiel and several Flying Fox ziplines.

What can you experience at the Kühbrein farm?

With advance booking, you can take a look behind the scenes at the Kühbrein farm, experience the production process and taste ciders.

What is special about Klementi Chapel?

Klementi Chapel has an altar made from a large tree trunk and a window offering a view of Ingeringsee.

When does the traditional alpine horn players' gathering take place at Maria Loretto?

A traditional alpine horn players' gathering takes place at Maria Loretto on the fourth Sunday in August.

To the higher-level travel overview: Murtal District.