Guided gold panning, a valley museum in a miners’ building dating from 1563, and a small forest museum give a stay in Rauris a range of different focuses. There is also a route of around 22 kilometres through the Hüttwinkltal, cycling opportunities in the Rauris Valley, and seasonal bus and cable car connections. For your planning, it is therefore helpful to distinguish between culture, activities and forest-related themes: each offering has its own location, format and seasonal conditions. This lets you decide which themes you want to shape your stay, without trying to fit every activity into the same day’s schedule.

Gold History and the Valley Museum

The Rauris Valley Museum is housed in an old miners’ building constructed in 1563. Its exhibits cover former gold mining, the mining and association activities of Ignaz Rojacher, and the Sonnblick Observatory. Local traditions and the agricultural working life of the Rauris Valley round out the themes. The museum’s scope therefore extends beyond gold mining: it connects mining and the observatory with association activities and everyday life in the valley. If you are interested in the history of gold, the museum offers a historical focus, while gold panning at Heimalm is a hands-on activity.

At Heimalm in Rauris, families can pan for gold and minerals at the mid-station under professional guidance. The guided format and location at the mid-station make this a clearly defined activity; it differs from the exhibits at the valley museum. Opening is seasonal and may change. So check in advance whether gold and mineral panning is available on your travel dates.

Route, Cable Car and Cycling

Route 16a + 16b leads from Rauris through the Hüttwinkltal to Kolm Saigurn. It is about 22 kilometres long, has around 650 metres of elevation gain, and is rated easy to moderate. Its length, elevation gain and difficulty rating provide different points of reference for the tour and should all factor into your planning. The 6-seat gondola lift operated by Rauriser Hochalmbahnen offers a different way to get around: it takes visitors to the Heimalm mid-station or the Hochalm mountain station in just a few minutes. For planning your time, you therefore have different options: a longer route and a short cable car ride to one of the stations mentioned. The lift’s operating times are seasonal and may change; check the timetable before your trip.

Cyclists can ride one stage of the Hohe Tauern Bike Trail in the Rauris Valley. The routes are varied, well signposted and suitable for different fitness and ability levels. You can choose a route to match your fitness and the level of challenge you want. As trail conditions may change, check the latest information before setting off.

Bus Connections and the Rauris Primeval Forest

During the summer months, the Tälerbus runs from Rauris to the Seidlwinkltal; public transport there only goes as far as the Fleckweide car park. If you plan to use this connection, take the endpoint at the car park into account and check the seasonal timetable. The Rauris primeval forest is accessible by Postbus No. 640 during the summer months. Here, too, it is a good idea to check the current departure times before travelling.

A small forest museum in the Rauris primeval forest explains the area’s geological formation and its animal and plant life. This gives it a different focus from the valley museum: here, the landscape’s formation and nature take centre stage, while the valley museum features exhibits on former gold mining, the mining and association activities of Ignaz Rojacher, the Sonnblick Observatory and life in the Rauris Valley. If you want to plan your trip around particular themes, you can take these different perspectives into account when choosing your excursions.

Discover more destinations: Thumersbach, Mittersill, Uttendorf, Viehhofen, Sankt Georgen, Jochbergthurn, Fusch An Der Grossglocknerstrasse, Zell am See

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