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Luge/sled chute in Alps?

We are looking at a few options for a winter trip to the Austrian Alps and have a very specific question that makes me laugh but is also important to my family :)

We had heard about (and I think saw on a Rick Steves episode long ago) about a luge/chute kind of thing you can ride down the mountain on. I've seen a lot of sledding/tobogganing mentions, but I think these are just hopping in a sled and riding down a hill or long run. Am I imagining the chute aspect?

Where does one go for the most fun, luge or sled, in the area? Or is it just everywhere and you have to drive around to find it?

Thanks all!

Posted by
1742 posts

Sliding on snow is fun.

Are you looking for a luge track like in the Olympics? Or a tubing run, on a big inner tube? Something different than those?

Posted by
8377 posts

No you're not imagining. It's a metal chute that the cart follows down the hill. You can brake to control speed. We did it somewhere near the Wolfgangsee in September (still warm), but I cant get more specific than that. I understand there are several places like this around.

(added) OK a little bit of googling and see there is one in Strobl Austria, (on the lake) you can watch video here: youtube link strobl luge

Posted by
144 posts

Yes, thinking of the chute thing! Any idea what it is called locally so I can do a better search?

Also, tubing would be fabulous if there are recommended spots for that :)

Posted by
6784 posts

Those luges on metal rails tend to be summer operations. There might be a few in the winter too, but the standard practice in the winter is to sled directly on the snow, on prepared tracks that can reach several miles on length! Most ski resorts in Austria have one or two of those, for example there are plenty in Stubaital near Innsbruck (I shortlisted that area for a tobogganing-focused trip, but went to Graubünden, Switzerland instead).

Posted by
144 posts

@balso "a tobogganing focused trip" my kind of travel planning!!

Ok so we'll narrow in on the long sledding runs. Do they do inner tubes anywhere?

What makes for a fun toboggan/sled run other than length?

Posted by
32523 posts

there used to be inner tubes at Jungfraujoch in the Swiss Berner Oberland.

How about a horse drawn sleigh? There are those in Austria too.

The "chute" as you call it is round metal rails which are followed by the sled on a fixed course. All over the mountains of all the Alpine countries - called Sommerrodelbahn in German, summer toboggan run in English.