WINTER ACTION BEYOND THE SLOPES

Even without tackling steep slopes, visitors can enjoy an activity-filled winter holiday in Saalfelden Leogang. The region, with its 130 kilometres of cross-country trails and the Nordic Park Saalfelden by lake Ritzensee, is a paradise for cross-country skiing enthusiasts. There’s also a wide variety of ski tours, snowshoe and winter hikes, kilometres of toboggan runs and the chance to go ice skating on the frozen lake Ritzensee. And for those who prefer a more leisurely pace, a horse-drawn sleigh ride through the snowy landscape is the perfect choice.

Nordic Park Saalfelden: On skis around lake Ritzensee – first Biathlon experiences
The Nordic Park Saalfelden by lake Ritzensee is home to cross-country skiers and the starting point for the region's 130-kilometre network of cross-country skiing trails. All degrees of difficulty are catered for here. Best of all, beginners and experts will feel equally at home. Those who want to try their hand at biathlon can book a taster course, which is available for both children and adults. The Nordic Park represents true variety: in addition to cross-country skiing, guests can also enjoy winter hiking, ice skating, horse-drawn sleigh rides and tobogganing.
Mark Hauser, teacher at the Saalfelden Nordic Ski Middle School and cross-country and biathlon coach, explains the park’s appeal: “As a father of two daughters, it’s important to me that my kids enjoy cross-country skiing. In the Nordic Park Saalfelden, with its waves, small jumps and banked turns, they do just that. They learn cross-country skiing playfully and improve their coordination in the beautiful winter landscape of Saalfelden Leogang.”
A special highlight is an evening tour on the 1.4-kilometre trail around lake Ritzensee and on the floodlit trail in Leogang/Rosental, open until 9:00 p.m. The 5.3-kilometre Kollingwald trail offers a medium level of difficulty, while experienced skiers can test their skills on the World Cup trail, where several World Cups and two Junior World Championships have already been held.

Family fun with Quiz Rally and Fun & Snow Park
Families will find two especially popular attractions at the Nordic Park Saalfelden. In the Fun & Snow Park, children and adults alike can try their hand at cross-country skiing. More experienced skiers can take on banked turns, small jumps and a slalom course. A true family adventure awaits with the Nordic quiz rally: starting from the Nordic Park, participants ski around lake Ritzensee and solve seven riddles at seven stations. The answers are entered on a card, and those who find the correct solution word receive a small gift at the Saalfelden Tourist Office. Both the Fun & Snow Park course and the Nordic quiz rally are unique in all of Austria. The idea for the rally came from Mark Hauser: “Most children don’t want to just ski from A to B, but many do want to go all the way around lake Ritzensee. With the quiz rally, this route becomes child’s play – it keeps them entertained and motivated along the way.”

Nordic Park Experience – A Green Event in a white winter landscape
Nordic by Nature: on two winter days – 11 January and 15 February 2026 – the Nordic Park Experience returns to Saalfelden. Everything revolves around the Nordic lifestyle. Highlights include the Kids Winter Games, the Nordic quiz rally, a chill-out lounge, and DJ music to enjoy. Ice skating on lake Ritzensee adds to the fun – two days filled with variety and excitement. The Nordic Park Experience is organised as a Green Event Salzburg, meaning it is run as sustainably and environmentally friendly as possible. Food and beverages are sourced regionally, and waste is reduced to an absolute minimum.

Fun beyond the slopes – winter hiking, ski touring, ice skating
Whether on ice skates, toboggans or hiking boots – Saalfelden Leogang offers winter fun in every form. When lake Ritzensee is frozen, it transforms into a natural ice rink where skaters can glide freely – illuminated until 9 p.m. Those seeking unique experiences can join a moonlight ski tour on the Asitz (every Tuesday and Friday evening) or enjoy a horse-drawn sleigh ride through idyllic snowy landscapes. Winter hikers will find plenty of options: a short loop around lake Ritzensee offers beautiful views of the Steinernes Meer plateau and the Leoganger Steinberge mountain range, while the 11.8-kilometre Haidrunde trail leads along the lake and through the nearby Kollingwald forest. The forest swing along the route provides the perfect place to pause, relax, and enjoy the tranquillity of nature.

Kilometres of tobogganing fun
A thrilling toboggan ride is an absolute must during a winter holiday in Saalfelden Leogang. Take the Asitzbahn cable car (or hike) up to the day and night toboggan run on the Asitz. The track stretches for an impressive four kilometres, and every Tuesday and Friday from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m., it’s open for floodlit tobogganing under a starry sky. The smaller but charming Sinnlehenalm run, located near the centre of Leogang, delights visitors with its breathtaking views of the Leoganger Steinberge mountain range. At the Sinnlehenalm, guests can also enjoy a variety of regional specialities.

Talents make it big in Saalfelden Leogang
Saalfelden Leogang is one of only five top cross-country skiing destinations in Austria and has a special talent for spotting future champions. Many elite athletes began their careers here, including Lisa Hauser (biathlon world champion), Simon Eder (world and Olympic medallist), Sara Marita Kramer (team world champion in ski jumping), Mario Seidl (Olympic and world championship medallist in Nordic combined) and Dominik Landertinger (biathlon world champion in the mass start and multiple Olympic medallist) – to name just a few. The ski jumping stadium in Uttenhofen (Saalfelden) has been extensively modernised and now serves as a state-of-the-art training facility for all age groups. The focus of the renovation was the construction of the new K85 ski jump, which now meets international FIS standards, allowing both national and international competitions to be held. At the Saalfelden Nordic Ski Middle School, students can combine their academic education with basic training in alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, ski jumping or biathlon. Additionally, at the Ski Gymnasium Saalfelden, young sports enthusiasts can choose between six disciplines in the fields of Alpine, Nordic and Freestyle skiing.

365 Days “Active & Creative” Programme – From Summer to Winter
Beyond the slopes, the winter landscape of Saalfelden Leogang can be explored individually or as part of a guided group experience. The weekly programme offers a wide variety of activities, including guided snowshoeing, introductory ski touring courses, year-round torchlight hikes, incense workshops, and much more. Important to know: with the Saalfelden Leogang Card, many of these offers are discounted or even included throughout the entire year. The Saalfelden Leogang Card is now also integrated into the Home of Lässig App and can be conveniently stored in the digital wallet.