Trip Duration: Full Day ⛰️ Difficulty Level: Moderate with our young children 🚸 Trip Date: August 2026
The sunniest day of the week seemed like the logical time to visit the furthest mountain destination on our list. With no rain in the forecast, we felt confident that—unlike some of our previous mountain adventures—we would make it back down completely dry.
Now there was only one question: would the Children’s Mile at Golzentipp be worth driving an hour and a half in each direction?
Quick Overview
- Location: Obertilliach, Osttirol, Austria
- Parking: Free parking at the Golzentippbahn valley station, Dorf 135, 9942 Obertilliach
- Getting there: The Golzentipp cable car travels to its mountain station at 2,070 m
- Trail: The Children’s Mile is a 3.7 km circular route with 13 interactive stations and approximately 140 m of ascent
- Highest point: 2,220 m
- Pushchair: Suitable for an all-terrain pushchair. Even our folded double Thule bicycle trailer fitted through the 80 cm cabin door, and the seats inside the cabin could be folded
- Facilities: Toilets and refreshments are available around the cable-car stations and mountain restaurant, but not throughout the trail
- Extension: From Jochsee, families can continue to the Golzentipp summit at 2,317 m
- Official Website: Golzentipp Children’s Mile.
Our Adventure
Another day, another gondola journey towards another panoramic trail in the Alps.
I genuinely recommend investigating the regional mountain cards available during the summer. Our Osttirol Card encouraged us to explore destinations we might otherwise have overlooked—and our children began begging for cable-car rides whenever we planned another day out.
For them, travelling up the mountain was already an adventure. They had no idea what might be waiting when the gondola doors opened at the top.
Was It Worth the Drive?
Obertilliach was the furthest Osttirol destination we planned to visit from our hotel. We drove more than 80 kilometres to get there, passing through Lienz and continuing in the direction of Sillian before zigzagging back towards Obertilliach.
The journey took approximately an hour and a half in each direction. It was a considerable distance to travel for one family trail, but the weather was on our side and the Children’s Mile sounded as though it had been designed specifically for families like ours.
We decided to give it a chance.
Taking the Double Trailer Up the Mountain
The cable-car operator had no objection to us bringing our double bicycle trailer, so we folded it and took it with us.
Even though the gondola door was only around 80 cm wide, the folded trailer fitted through. The seats inside the cabin could also be folded, creating enough room for the bulky buggy.
Dividing ourselves between two cabins, the seven of us—including the two grannies and our double trailer—reached the mountain station at 2,070 metres in less than fifteen minutes.
The valley below appeared sunny and emerald green. From a distance, the vivid green fields could almost have been mistaken for the surface of a lake.
Starting in the Wrong Direction
I am not sure whether it was the thinner mountain air or simply the distraction of the beautiful views, but as soon as we arrived, I temporarily forgot how to read the signs.
Instead of following the Children’s Mile, I led everyone directly towards the Conny Alm.
Perhaps my subconscious was trying to tell me to sit down and collect myself before setting off on another family hike.
Luckily, we noticed our mistake quickly. After a short detour, we turned around and found the beginning of the correct trail.
The Wooden Ball That Would Not Move
Our first stop was a wooden ball run.
This time, we had come prepared—or so we thought. We had brought a small collection of wooden balls from previous family attractions. Our family name was engraved into them, hopefully preventing the misunderstandings that can occur when several identical wooden balls are racing around the same track.
One of the children dropped the first ball into the starting hole.
Nothing happened.
The ball had been small enough to fit through the entrance, but it was too large to emerge from the other side. Our carefully prepared wooden ball was now firmly stuck inside the very first play station.
Fortunately, we had brought several sizes. Once we managed to remove the trapped ball, we tried again with a smaller one.
This time, it worked.
The ball raced through the different wooden and musical elements, mostly travelling independently but occasionally requiring a little encouragement. Eventually, it completed the entire course and crossed the finish line.
We had successfully completed the first of the 13 stations—but it was not exactly the effortless start we had imagined.
Thirteen Reasons to Keep Walking
The Children’s Mile followed a wide mountain path between 13 interactive stations. We balanced across wooden planks, experimented with water channels, dams and plugs, and made ourselves dizzy turning black-and-white spinning boards.
There were mazes, swings, climbing challenges, picnic areas and carefully positioned viewpoints. The distance between the stations was manageable for young children, and whenever their legs began to tire, another activity appeared ahead.
However, the first part of the trail was challenging for our two youngest children.
Our daughter initially wanted to return to a lower altitude, while our youngest also seemed unsettled by the elevation. The mountain station already stood at 2,070 metres, and the trail continued climbing towards approximately 2,220 metres.
The difference may not have seemed particularly significant to us adults, but something was clearly affecting them. We had no reason to hurry, so we slowed down.
At the end of the day, our family can travel only as fast as its smallest feet. We were not there to make our children hate hiking. We wanted to give them reasons to enjoy it.
The Reservoir That Grounded Us
We continued slowly until we reached the reservoir.
Rotating wooden loungers invited us to stop, rest and take in the vast landscape surrounding us. This was more than another play station; it was a place where the whole family could pause.
Perhaps it was the break, or perhaps it was the enormous open space making us all feel tiny in the universe, but the reservoir grounded us again.
It became the turning point of our walk.
Our daughter, who had initially wanted to return to the valley, suddenly found a new burst of energy and began leading the way. Meanwhile, our youngest settled comfortably into the buggy for his afternoon nap.
After a hesitant beginning, our family had finally found its rhythm.
The Treasure Hunt We Nearly Missed
What we had not realised was that a treasure hunt had been incorporated into the Children’s Mile.
Because we had purchased our Osttirol Cards online, we had not needed to visit the ticket office. The online instructions had been clear, so we simply boarded the gondola without stopping to ask any questions.
I am sure the staff would have happily told us about the treasure hunt if we had spoken to them.
We only noticed at the second station that other children were stamping postcard-sized sheets. By then, we had missed the beginning of the official activity.
Fortunately, our eldest had brought his journal with him.
Instead of abandoning the treasure hunt, he decided to collect the stamps directly in his notebook. From that moment, every station offered more than another activity—it also meant another stamp to discover.
Should We Keep Going?
After leaving the reservoir, the trail continued climbing, with no obvious sign that it would soon turn back towards the cable-car station.
Near what appeared to be the highest part of the route, our group split up. The grannies decided to take a shortcut, while the five of us continued along the main trail.
Before long, we began to question our decision.
The path seemed to be taking us farther up the mountain rather than turning back. The final cable car would not wait for a family who had spent too long playing with water dams and collecting stamps.
For a moment, we wondered whether we should have followed the grannies.
Thankfully, our doubts did not last long.
An Adventure for Another Day
Reaching Jochsee revealed another possibility. From there, a trail continued towards the 2,317-metre summit of Golzentipp. We saw several families returning from that direction, suggesting that the Children’s Mile did not have to be the end of the day’s adventure.
According to the official route information, the summit is approximately twenty minutes beyond Jochsee. On particularly clear days, it is even possible to see the Großglockner from there.
At that point in our holiday, our own rather dramatic Großglockner adventure was still ahead of us. We could not have known that, only a few days later, a thunderstorm would chase us down its slopes and leave us stranded on the wrong side of the mountain.
The opportunity to see the Großglockner peacefully from the summit of Golzentipp was tempting, but we had started too late. With the final cable car already on our minds, we turned back.
That would have to be an adventure for another day.
Zigzagging Back Down
Leaving Jochsee behind, the trail finally began to lead us back towards the cable-car station. From this point, the path mainly zigzagged downhill, with more play stations appearing along the way.
We all took off our shoes to complete the barefoot sensory path before continuing along the mountainside towards the remaining activities. By now, our youngest had woken from his brief afternoon nap. Refreshed, he climbed out of the buggy and rejoined the rest of the family on foot.
The children continued moving from one station to the next, while the descending path gradually brought us back towards the beginning of the Children’s Mile.
Eventually, the circular route rejoined the opening section of the trail—and gave our eldest the opportunity to collect the two treasure-hunt stamps he had missed.
Completing the Improvised Treasure Hunt
Our eldest had collected almost every stamp along the trail, but because we had discovered the treasure hunt late, the first two were still missing.
Luckily, the circular route brought us back close to the opening stations. He hurried over and pressed the missing stamps into his journal, completing his improvised version of the treasure hunt.
When we showed the collection to the cable-car operator at the mountain station, he added three extra-large stamps as a final flourish. He then invited each of our children to choose a sweet as their reward.
Only our eldest had done the stamping, but his younger siblings happily piggybacked their way to the prize. Apparently, treasure-hunt rewards are a shared family benefit.
Fifteen Minutes to Spare
We returned to the mountain station with fifteen minutes remaining before the final cable-car descent.
After driving more than 80 kilometres, starting in the wrong direction, getting our wooden ball stuck, struggling with the altitude and briefly wondering whether the trail would ever turn back, we had made it.
Our eldest had completed his improvised treasure hunt, all three children had received a sweet, and we had discovered another mountain path waiting for a future visit.
And yes—the Children’s Mile had been worth the journey.
What the Kids Loved
What Our Youngest Loved
- Following the wooden ball as it raced through the different elements of the ball run
- Experimenting with the water channels, dams and removable plugs
- Making himself dizzy with the black-and-white spinning boards
What Our Daughter Loved
- Taking off her shoes and exploring the barefoot sensory path
- Playing at the different water stations
- Spinning and relaxing on the wooden loungers beside the reservoir
What Our Eldest Loved
- Collecting treasure-hunt stamps in his journal after we accidentally discovered the activity
- Finding his way through the stone maze
- Searching for and exploring all 13 play stations
All three children enjoyed choosing a sweet from the cable-car operator after our eldest completed his improvised treasure hunt—even if the two youngest had rather cleverly piggybacked their way to the reward.
Practical Tips for Parents
Collect the Treasure-Hunt Sheet First
Even if you have already purchased your cable-car tickets or Osttirol Card online, it is worth speaking to the staff before boarding. Ask whether a treasure hunt or another children’s activity is available. We only discovered the stamping challenge after starting the trail, although our eldest solved the problem by collecting the stamps in his journal.
Bring the Smallest Wooden Ball
If you already own wooden balls from other mountain attractions, bring a few different sizes and begin with the smallest one.
A ball may fit through the entrance but still become stuck farther inside the track—as we discovered at the very first station. Wooden balls may also be available to purchase on-site, sometimes with the attraction’s name or logo already engraved on them.
Allow Plenty of Time
The official walking time may not reflect how long a family will spend completing the Children’s Mile.
The children will want to stop and explore the play stations, while the reservoir and Jochsee invite families to pause and enjoy the surroundings. If your children are collecting stamps, racing wooden balls or building water dams, the stops may take considerably longer than the walking itself.
Starting early also leaves open the possibility of extending the hike to the Golzentipp summit.
Follow the Pace of the Smallest Feet
The Children’s Mile is described as an easy, pushchair-friendly family walk, but altitude can affect children differently.
Both of our youngest children struggled during the first part of the trail. Slowing down and resting beside the reservoir transformed the rest of our day. Our daughter regained her confidence, while our youngest slept briefly before completing more of the route on foot.
Take an All-Terrain Pushchair
The wide trail is pushchair-friendly, but an all-terrain model is still the most practical option for the mountain surface.
Our double Thule trailer was particularly valuable when our youngest needed an afternoon nap. Folded, it also fitted through the approximately 80 cm gondola doorway.
Keep Track of the Final Gondola
Check the operating hours before starting the trail and allow extra time for the play stations.
We returned with fifteen minutes to spare, but we would have needed an earlier start if we had wanted to continue from Jochsee to the Golzentipp summit.
Would We Visit Again?
Absolutely.
Despite the three-hour round trip, the Children’s Mile was worth the journey. Its 13 play stations gave the children manageable goals throughout the walk, while the reservoir, Jochsee and panoramic viewpoints offered just as much for the adults and grandparents to enjoy.
The trail also reminded us that a successful family hike is not measured by how quickly we complete it. Our daughter needed time to adjust, our youngest needed a nap, and the rest of us needed to accept their pace. Once we did, the children found their rhythm and wanted to continue exploring.
Next time, however, we would set off earlier.
From Jochsee, the walk can be extended to the 2,317-metre summit of Golzentipp. On a particularly clear day, we might even see the Großglockner—a mountain that would later become the setting of one of our most chaotic family adventures—from an entirely different and hopefully much calmer perspective.
That unfinished path is reason enough to return.
And next time, we will collect the official treasure-hunt sheet before boarding the gondola—although our eldest’s stamped journal, three oversized finishing stamps and a sweet for every child made a wonderful alternative.
A Moment to Remember
Standing beside the reservoir, surrounded by a landscape so vast that it made us feel tiny, something changed.
Our daughter, who had wanted to return to the valley, suddenly found her confidence and began leading us forward. Our youngest settled peacefully into the buggy before waking to walk beside the family again.
That quiet pause did not mark the end of our adventure.
It was the moment our adventure truly began.
