Hohe Tauern National Park is Austria's largest national park, a wide stretch of alpine wilderness in the Tyrol region, with its gateway town of Mittersill close by. It is a place for walkers, wildlife watchers and anyone who wants the mountains in their most natural form.
What to expect
The park is defined by its scale. It takes in more than 300 peaks above 3,000 metres and extensive glacier fields, so the landscape changes sharply as you climb. Valley floors give way to meadows, forest and rocky slopes, and then to high alpine terrain where the ice and bare stone dominate.
Wildlife and nature
Because the park spans so many different habitats, it supports a varied range of animals. Visitors often look out for:
- Golden eagles, circling over the higher ridges
- Alpine ibex, sure-footed on steep rock faces
- Marmots, whistling warnings from the meadows and boulder fields
Patience and quiet movement improve the chances of a sighting, and binoculars are useful.
Planning your visit
Mittersill makes a practical base, offering a route into the park and a town setting for the end of the day. Choose routes that suit your fitness and the season, and remember that high-altitude terrain and glacier areas call for proper preparation and suitable equipment. Check conditions locally before setting out on longer hikes.
For visitors who value open landscapes, clear mountain air and a chance to see wild alpine animals in their surroundings, Hohe Tauern offers a substantial and rewarding day or many days among the peaks.