01 - Overview
The Gail Valley Cycle Path (R3) follows the river Gail for some 85 kilometres from Kötschach-Mauthen at the foot of the Carnic Alps downstream to Villach, where it meets the Drau Cycle Path. Largely level and gently falling, past the warm Pressegger See - a relaxed, family-friendly valley route in Carinthia.
From Kötschach-Mauthen, the main town of the upper Gail valley below the Plöcken pass, the route rolls gently down the valley. Between the Carnic Alps to the south and the Gailtal Alps to the north it runs via Dellach and Kirchbach to Hermagor, the regional centre at the foot of the Nassfeld. Soon comes the Pressegger See, a shallow lake with a broad reed belt that turns almost bath-warm in summer. The wide valley continues via Vorderberg and St. Stefan to Nötsch, known for the “Nötsch Circle“ of painters, and finally past Arnoldstein and the Dobratsch/Schütt nature park to Villach. There the Gail joins the Drau and the Gail Valley path joins the Drau Cycle Path. The surface is largely paved and the gradient evenly gentle - ideal for families, with the Gailtaler Speck (cured bacon) culture as a culinary companion.
- Regions
- Carinthia
- Start
- Kötschach-Mauthen
- Finish
- Villach
- Surface
- Paved · Compacted · Gravel
- Network
- Regional
- Best season
- May - October
- Signposting
- fully signposted
- Families
- well suited
- Road-bike friendly
- Partly · Mixed surfacewell documented
90 % comfortably ridable, but a 3.9 km gravel stretch - nicer on a gravel or touring bike.
02 - Stages
3 stages · 85 km
01Kötschach-Mauthen - HermagorDellach · Kirchbach · Tröpolach32 km
The quietest, most rural section: from the upper Gail valley below the Carnic Alps via Dellach and Kirchbach to Hermagor at the foot of the Nassfeld. Gently falling, with wide valley views and little traffic.
- Ascent
- 60 m
- Descent
- 158 m
- Duration
- 2-3 h
- Surface
- Paved
Surface (measured): paved 92 % · fine gravel 8 %
02Hermagor - Nötsch im GailtalPressegger See · Vorderberg · St. Stefan25 km
Past the warm Pressegger See with its reed belt and adventure park, then through the open valley via Vorderberg to Nötsch. Flat and family-friendly - the most popular section.
- Ascent
- 30 m
- Descent
- 97 m
- Duration
- 1.5-2 h
- Surface
- Paved
Surface (measured): paved 60 % · gravel 24 % · fine gravel 16 %
03Nötsch im Gailtal - VillachSaak · Arnoldstein · Maria Gail28 km
The run-out to the Drau: via Saak and Arnoldstein along the Dobratsch/Schütt nature park to Villach. Here the Gail Valley path ends at the Drau Cycle Path - flat, with a thermal-spa option at Warmbad Villach.
- Ascent
- 38 m
- Descent
- 79 m
- Duration
- 1.5-2.5 h
- Surface
- Paved
Surface (measured): paved 77 % · fine gravel 23 %
03 - Elevation
Elevation across the full distance - move the cursor to read altitude and kilometre.
Elevation profile over 85 km. Ascent 128 m, descent 334 m. Lowest point 488 m, highest point 698 m.
Elevation from OSM geometry + Digital Terrain Model (DGM) Austria (10 m).
Hover the profile to see the point on the map - and vice versa.
04 - POIs & Services
- Pressegger See (warm swimming lake)
- Garnitzenklamm gorge
- Gailtal Folk Museum, Schloss Möderndorf
- Museum of the Nötsch Circle
- Nassfeld & Gartnerkofel (excursion)
- Gailtaler Speck PDO cured bacon
- Vorderberg natural lido
- Dobratsch & Schütt Nature Park
- Warmbad Villach & Maria Gail church
Services along the route
- Bett+BikeCyclist-friendly hosts in the Nassfeld-Pressegger See - Lesachtal - Weissensee region
- One-way rentalBike and e-bike rental with drop-off at another station (e.g. Hermagor-Villach)
- E-bikeCharging at rental stations and inns along the valley
- Bike serviceWorkshops in Hermagor and Villach
- Refreshment stopsCarinthian inns serving Gailtaler Speck and regional specialities
Service points along the route
- Drinking water44
- Repair station6
- Bike shop5
- Charging station38
Service points from OpenStreetMap. Coverage may be incomplete, some fountains are seasonal - verify before you rely on them.
05 - Impressions
The Gail Valley Cycle Path in the valley near TröpolachPhoto: Gailtal-Radweg bei Tröpolach · Codas · CC BY-SA 4.0 The R3 Gail Valley Cycle Path at its western start near Kötschach-MauthenPhoto: R3-Radweg bei Kötschach-Mauthen · Codas · CC BY-SA 4.0 The Gail Valley Cycle Path along the route near Kötschach-MauthenPhoto: Gailtal-Radweg bei Kötschach-Mauthen · Codas · CC BY-SA 4.0
06 - Public transit
- Villach rail hubÖBB junction (Vienna, Salzburg, Klagenfurt, Italy); bikes carried, connecting at the valley end to the Drau Cycle Path
- S-Bahn S4 (Gailtalbahn)Villach-Arnoldstein-Hermagor, electrified; a handy rail link for the eastern half of the valley
- GailtalsprinterSummer cycle bus Villach-Arnoldstein-Hermagor along the R3
- Gailtal draisineOn the disused line Hermagor-Kötschach-Mauthen (May-October) - an experience, not scheduled service
The natural plan is to ride down Kötschach-Mauthen → Villach and return by rail - but the S4 runs only as far as Hermagor; the western end of the valley no longer has a scheduled train (connect by bus or use one-way rental). As of 2026 ÖBB construction on the Gailtalbahn is possible; check the current timetable before your trip.
07 - GPX & TCX download
Download for GPS devices & apps
Clean track with elevation - imports as a single tour, compatible with Komoot, Garmin, Wahoo, Strava, RideWithGPS, OsmAnd.
Download stages individually (3)
Route derived from OpenStreetMap geometry - may differ slightly from on-the-ground signage. © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0) · Elevation © DGM Austria (CC BY 3.0 AT). Redistribute with attribution.