Prossautal — A Glacial Box Valley in HoheTauern
14KM
0.2kM
1d
Deep within the Hohe Tauern National Park, the Prossautal is a valley that branches off the Kötschachtal near Bad Gastein. This long but mostly flat trail follows the Kötschach Ache river into a classic glacial box valley. The rock walls on either side rise significantly, with multiple thin waterfalls cascading down the granite faces. The trail ends at the Alpengasthof Prossau, a traditional alpine inn positioned near the base of the Tischler glacier.
Mission Directive / X-Factor
“The Box Valley Scale. The 'X-Factor' is the sense of enclosure as the valley walls rise around you. The Prossau Waterfall, dropping from the glacier above, creates a constant soundtrack for the final kilometers. It is a scenic valley walk that requires very little technical skill, only the endurance for the distance.”
Hazard Assessment
The 14km round trip is longer than it appears on a map, especially for families with small children.
MITIGATION: Start early; wear proper walking shoes (not flip-flops); consider renting an e-bike from Bad Gastein for the approach if distance is a concern.
Critical Loadout
Water Logistics
HIKING
PATHWAY
Gastein Valley, Salzburg // hiking
Grüner Baum
Begin at the trailhead at the end of the Kötschachtal road.
The Forest Walk
Walking through ancient forest and wide meadows with grazing cows.
The Prossau Reveal
The valley narrows and the vertical walls appear. Arrival at the Alpengasthof.
Return
Tracing the river back to the starting point.
| Step | Sector / Waypoint | Dist. | Gain (↑m) | Duration | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grüner Baum Begin at the trailhead at the end of the... | 15 min | --- | 15 min | Standard Segment |
| 2 | The Forest Walk Walking through ancient forest and wide ... | 1.5 hours | --- | 1.5 hours | Standard Segment |
| 3 | The Prossau Reveal The valley narrows and the vertical wall... | 1 hour | --- | 1 hour | Standard Segment |
| 4 | Return Tracing the river back to the starting p... | 2 hours | --- | 2 hours | Standard Segment |
Technical Specifications
DOC_REF: GOLDEN_HIKING_AT_008Refuge Capacity
Strategic hotels in Bad Gastein or the mountain guesthouse at Prossau.
Regulatory
- Permit NONE
- Authority n/a
No permit required.
Climatology
- OptimalMay, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Beautiful in May/June when the waterfalls are at full volume from the melt. October brings spectacular golden larch trees.
Emergency / Comms
- Rescue (EU) 112 ACTIVE
- Signal Partial
Compare With Other Hikes
Side-by-side metric analysis. Compare Prossautal — A Glacial Box Valley in Hohe Tauern directly against similar routes ÔÇö distance, elevation gain, HikeMetrics Hazard Score, and more.
Highway Lakes — Blindsee & Weißensee
Fernpass, Tyrol // Approximately 5.5 km around Blindsee with optional detour to Weißensee
“The trail provides a high-altitude lake circuit with clear water, limestone cliffs, and forested sur...”
Graukogel — Pine Forests & strenuous Ridges
Gastein Valley, Salzburg // 12km
“Zirben-Aroma and Granite Grandeur. The 'X-Factor' is the scent. Stone pine (Zirbe) forests are tradi...”