Altenmarkt: Cross-Country Skiing, Trails and Rochus Grotto

If you are looking for accommodation in Altenmarkt and would like to plan additional trails, natural attractions and cultural destinations alongside cross-country skiing, the area offers several clearly distinct points of interest. Winter orientation begins with the Altenmarkt cross-country skiing loop. In addition, the documented attractions range from short circular trails and a hiking trail to Wiesberg to the Rochus Grotto, the Styrian Eisenwurzen Nature and Geopark, a fly-fishing area and regional cuisine. For alpine skiing, you should consider cross-country skiing and the ski area separately: No statement about slopes or lifts can be derived from the local attractions described.

Cross-country skiing and trails around Altenmarkt

The Altenmarkt cross-country skiing loop is 6 km long and thus represents the area's specific connection to winter sports. For shorter outings, there is the 3 km-long unSINNE trail. This circular trail begins and ends in the center of Altenmarkt near Sankt Gallen. The Ennsfeldrunde is also 3 km long. A different elevation is described by the hiking trail to Wiesberg: It leads to an altitude of 802 m above sea level. The return route runs via Hasenreit to Altenmarkt. The options therefore differ significantly in terms of trail character and purpose: The cross-country skiing loop is described as a dedicated winter sports route, while the other trails are intended for hiking and exploring the village or landscape. Beyond Altenmarkt, the Sieben Elemente trail extends farther afield. It was ceremonially opened on September 27, 2025, and connects Altenmarkt with Wildalpen via 7 stages, 126 km and 6,100 meters of elevation gain. Altenmarkt is also one of the municipalities through which the Styrian Eisenwurzen Nature and Geopark extends.

Rochus Grotto and pilgrimage

The Rochus Grotto pilgrimage site lies between Altenmarkt and Großreifling (Krippau). The trail to the Rochus Grotto is suitable for experienced hikers and takes about one hour from Kendl-Reith. The approximate time is therefore tied to the starting point at Kendl-Reith and should not be understood as a general walking time from Altenmarkt. The religious tradition includes the Rochus Mass, which takes place every year in August. In addition to its location between Altenmarkt and Großreifling, the Rochus Grotto is also associated with a recurring pilgrimage event. If you choose accommodation based on cultural or spiritual excursion destinations, you should therefore distinguish between the location of the grotto, the described starting point of the trail and the event date.

Water, fishing and regional cuisine

For an activity away from cross-country skiing and hiking, a 3 km-long fly-fishing area is documented. It begins in Weißenbach near Sankt Gallen at the entrance to Wolfsbachau and ends in Altenmarkt near Sankt Gallen at Kesselbrücke on the border between Styria and Upper Austria. The precise route description therefore names both the beginning and the end and assigns the endpoint to the village of Altenmarkt near Sankt Gallen. There is also a specific culinary point of reference: Gasthof Post serves, among other things, creamy fish soup, char sausage and Xeis Alpine salmon from Oberlaussa. Altenmarkt swimming pool also has a 33 m-long water slide for young children. These attractions complement the trails and natural destinations with an option for children and a selection of regional dishes.

Assess accommodation and location separately

The trails and destinations present Altenmarkt as a place to stay with several different themes. However, they do not automatically say anything about the location of a particular accommodation. The unSINNE trail begins and ends in the village center; this does not mean that every accommodation is located in the center. Likewise, the location of the Rochus Grotto between Altenmarkt and Großreifling says nothing about the distance from an individual property to the pilgrimage site. For comparing other destinations, you can also include [Irdning](Irdning), [Ruperting](Ruperting), [Stainach](Stainach), [Fleiss](Fleiss), [Weißenbach An Der Enns](Weißenbach An Der Enns), [Schladming](Schladming), [Bad Mitterndorf](Bad Mitterndorf) and [Gröbming](Gröbming) in your comparison.

For the overarching travel overview: Liezen.