Carinthia · Hochrindl holiday region
Rent an alpine hut on the Hochrindl – and find your days out
An alpine hamlet at 1,600 metres in the middle of the Nockberge: rounded summits, the scent of stone pine and pastures to the horizon – every walk starts right outside the door. Our Pietschacher Almhütte sits at 1,700 metres, with a private sauna, four bedrooms and ski-in/ski-out in winter. What you can do from there is right below.
Visited in personVisited
in person
in person
1
WHERE1,700 metres in the NockbergeIn the Biosphere Reserve above Sirnitz and Albeck, with the bus stop 500 metres away.
2
SPACEEight people, two bathroomsFour bedrooms across 100 square metres, plus a private sauna – Finnish, steam or infrared.
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WINTERSki-in / ski-outThe family ski area Hochrindl starts at the hut, the Turracher Höhe lies around 30 kilometres away.
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SUMMERPasture trails from the doorRounded grassy summits instead of rock: walking above the treeline, no climbing needed.
Our alpine hut on the Hochrindl
The Pietschacher Almhütte stands at 1,700 metres in the Nockberge Biosphere Reserve – for eight people, with a private sauna, a wood stove and a view across the alpine ridges. Bookable all year, dogs welcome.
What to do
What would you like to do today?
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EverythingHikingSummitsCyclingWaterWith kidsRainy dayCultureWinterStop for a biteBuy local
Alm hiking right from the hut
The circular hikes start in the middle of the Alm village: across Speik meadows and through stone pine forests, from hut to hut – without any climbing, with wide views.
Nockalmstraße and the biosphere park
34 kilometres of panoramic road through the UNESCO biosphere park Nockberge – with adventure stations, Alms for stopping in and starting points for high-altitude hikes.
Sirnitz and the Albeck castle ruin
Down in the valley lies the Slow Food village of Sirnitz with the Albeck castle ruin – a leisurely half-day with history and good food.
Stone pines, Speik and quiet Nocken
The Nockberge are known for stone pine forests and fragrant Speik – if you walk slowly, you can smell the difference. Ideal for days at your own pace.
Heidi-Alm am Falkert
The children’s adventure park at 1,875 metres: Heidi figures along the way, play stations and real Alm animals – the day the children will talk about for a long time.
Burg Hochosterwitz
Kärnten’s most famous castle winds around the rock with 14 gates – an excursion like into the Middle Ages, a good hour from the Hochrindl.
Disc golf and Alm experience
On the Hochrindl itself await disc golf courses, playgrounds and short adventure loops – a programme without any driving, right outside the hut.
Day trip to the Wörthersee
Klagenfurt, Minimundus and the turquoise water of the Wörthersee – Kärnten’s famous lake lies just under an hour from the Alm.
Across the Nocken around the Hochrindl
The summits here are rounded and grassy – you reach them on foot without any climbing and still stand at the top with views over half of Kärnten.
Eisenhut and the high Nocken
If you like more altitude metres, climb from the Turracher Höhe to the Eisenhut, the highest Nock – a long tour, great views, take the weather forecast seriously.
Alm loops by e-bike
Alm roads and forest tracks connect the huts of the plateau – uphill with views, stopping in at the Alm, rolling back down to your own hut.
The Nockalmstraße by road bike
Hairpin after hairpin through the biosphere park – the Nockalmstraße is a classic for road bike and e-bike, with Alms as the reward.
MTB around the Turracher Höhe
Trails and Alm paths around the lake and the Nocken – and, to finish, a jump into the clear water at 1,750 metres.
Turracher See
The dark mountain lake at 1,750 metres: a shore path, bathing spots and stone pines right down to the water – refreshing in the best sense.
Day trip to the Kärntenn lakes
The Wörthersee, Ossiacher See and Millstätter See all lie within excursion range – warm water and long summer evenings included.
Family ski area Hochrindl
The lifts start in the middle of the Alm village – manageable, sunny and without waiting times. Ideal for families and children’s first turns.
Skiing at the Turracher Höhe
The most snow-sure ski area in the region at 1,800 metres – wide slopes between stone pines and the lake, half an hour from the Hochrindl.
Cross-country skiing, tobogganing and snowshoeing
Cross-country trails across the Alm plateau, natural toboggan runs and snowshoe loops through the stone pines – winter works here even without skis.
Huts and Alm cuisine
Eight huts and inns on and around the Hochrindl cook with regional ingredients – and over the hut counter there are cheese and Speck for home.
Slow Food Village Sirnitz
Sirnitz is an award-winning Slow Food village: bakers, innkeepers and producers who focus on regional products – the shopping for your hut weekend.
Shopping in the Gurktal
For the big shop you drive to Sirnitz or Feldkirchen – on the Alm itself, the huts supply you with the essentials.
Nothing here for that yet – ask your hosts, they know the area.
Good to know
Four things worth knowing about the Hochrindl
What helps when you plan – short and honest.
Today we simply stay on the alp
That is a good day on the Hochrindl too: wood stove lit, sauna warm, and from the balcony the view over the stone pines to the horizon.
Gentle grassy summits
The Nockberge are round and green, with pastures reaching into the summit regions – good for families and for anyone who wants height without climbing.
A hamlet with barely any traffic
On the Hochrindl the distances are short; ski lift, cross-country loop and hiking trail all begin around the house.
Lake in the valley, sun up here
The Carinthian bathing lakes and the Turracher See make fine day trips – and up here it stays pleasantly cool.
All huts on the Hochrindl
The Pietschacher Almhütte in the Nockberge Biosphere Reserve – with the number of guests, the rooms and what makes it special. Visited in person.
Getting there
How to reach the Hochrindl
Feldkirchen or St. Veit
From there a bus or transfer takes you up; Feldkirchen station lies around 26 kilometres away.
Up through Sirnitz
About 45 minutes from Villach, around two hours from Salzburg. The road is open all year.
Short distances in the hamlet
Bus stop 500 metres, lift and loop at the house – on the Hochrindl you rarely need the car.
Frequently asked
Frequently asked questions about the Hochrindl
Which hut can I rent on the Hochrindl?
The Pietschacher Almhütte at 1,700 metres – four bedrooms for eight people, a private sauna, two bathrooms and a wood stove. Bookable all year, dogs welcome.
Is the Hochrindl good for families?
Yes – the hamlet is small and has barely any traffic, with easy walks, disc golf, the Heidi-Alm on the Falkert nearby and a family ski area right at the hut.
What makes the Nockberge special?
They are gentle, rounded mountains – a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve with pastures reaching into the summit regions. You walk above the treeline without any climbing.
Which day trips are worth it?
The Nockalmstraße through the Biosphere Reserve, the Turracher Höhe with its lake, Hochosterwitz Castle and a swimming day at the Wörthersee.
Can I get there without a car?
Yes – by train to Feldkirchen or St. Veit and on by bus or transfer. Up here the distances are short.
Where can I buy regional food?
In the Slow Food Village Sirnitz, at the huts serving alpine fare and in the shops of the Gurktal – all listed above under „Buy local".
Search by type of accommodation
On the Hochrindl there is one alpine hut with a sauna. Mountain cabins, chalets, holiday houses, apartments and farms are waiting in our other regions – all side by side in the hut finder.
Is the Pietschacher Almhütte right for you?
Tell us how many of you are coming, whether a dog is joining and whether you want to hike or ski. We know the hut personally.
Keep exploring
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