Bad Vigaun combines nature experiences along the Taugl with hiking trails, religious traditions and the offerings of the thermal spa. For planning, it helps to note the specific differences: an easy circular walk is estimated to take about 1.25 hours, while a moderately difficult hike takes around three hours. There is also a shady themed trail in the forest and a challenging e-bike tour. This lets you choose the focus of your stay instead of packing every activity into a single itinerary.
Tauglgries and natural monuments
The Tauglgries is a protected landscape area. The Taugl winds its way through its gravel bed, which is up to 100 metres wide. The Taugl is also a habitat for animals, plants and people, as well as a nature reserve and recreational area. The “Lifeline of the Taugl” themed trail takes in this natural setting: the circular route passes information boards about the animals and plants of the Tauglgries. It combines exercise with insights into the landscape, without requiring you to plan a long day of hiking.
The Schlenken Durchgangshöhle cave is also part of the area’s natural heritage. It is designated as a natural monument and is one of around 25 caves in the area. If you are interested in geological features, it offers a different way to experience the landscape than the themed trails. The approximate number of caves also gives an idea of how the Schlenken Durchgangshöhle is part of a larger cave area.
Choose hikes by time and difficulty
The “Lifeline of the Taugl” is described as an easy walking route, 4.8 kilometres long, with 49 metres of elevation gain and an estimated walking time of about 1.25 hours. This makes it easy to distinguish the route’s duration from the moderately difficult hike up the Schlenken: this hike starts at the Wurzer parking area, covers 6.3 kilometres and 612 metres of elevation gain, and is estimated to take around three hours. These figures make the difference in time and elevation clear; check the conditions before setting out, as route conditions can change seasonally.
Another themed trail is called “Lifeline of the Taugl Forest.” It follows a forest path that provides plenty of shade in summer and can be walked with a stroller. Its description clearly distinguishes it from the Taugl circuit with information boards: here, the forest path and summer shade are the main features. The explicit statement that it is suitable for strollers is also a useful guide when planning a trip with one. The Schlenken hike, in turn, involves a different investment of time and energy, with its moderate difficulty, 612 metres of elevation gain and longer estimated duration.
If you are planning a longer bike ride, consider the challenging e-bike tour up the Trattberg. It starts at the village square in Bad Vigaun, passes through Kuchl and St. Koloman, and covers about 44 kilometres and 1,300 metres of elevation gain. This information comes from a route description dated 27 May 2024; check current route conditions before setting off. Compared with the hikes, this involves not only a different mode of transport, but also a considerably longer distance and more elevation gain.
Churches, thermal spa and getting there
Religious traditions are also part of local life: processions of supplication still take place to the branch church of St. Margarethen. A parish service is regularly held at 10:00 a.m. on Sundays at Bad Vigaun parish church. An evening service is regularly scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Saturdays at the branch church of St. Margarethen. In even-numbered calendar weeks, a Holy Mass is celebrated there; in odd-numbered weeks, a Liturgy of the Word is held. As service times can change, it is advisable to check them before your visit.
The thermal spa offers a spa complex, a sauna world and beauty treatments. Its thermal water comes from the St. Barbara spring, 1,354 metres underground. Nature trails and the thermal spa offer different ways to shape your stay: one takes you outdoors, while the other brings together warmth, saunas and treatments. If you are travelling by train, you can reach Bad Vigaun on the S3 suburban railway, changing at Salzburg Central Station. Travel times are not listed here, so check the connection for your travel date.
Discover more destinations: Rußbach Am Paß Gschütt, Sankt Margarethen, Gseng, Golling An Der Salzach, Annaberg-Lungötz, Scheffau am Tennengebirge, Schattau, Rußbachsaag.
Go to the overview of the wider area: Hallein.
