Gainfeld is a high valley tucked away west above Bischofshofen, home to a special alpine flora and a quiet, off-the-beaten-path character. It's the kind of place that rewards those seeking solitude and untouched nature over crowded trails.

Sitting at an average elevation of about 865 m, the valley stretches between Bischofshofen and the eastern foothills of the Hochkönig massif, known as the Mandlwände. Its northern slopes are dominated by beech forests growing on limestone, still relatively natural in character, while the southern side is covered by spruce forests on greywacke bedrock. The rear part of the valley near Kematenalm feels remote and is rarely visited, and higher up near Grünmaißalm lies a raised bog almost untouched by human activity. Toward the head of the valley, the landscape opens into colorful alpine meadows, scree slopes and rocky terrain leading up toward the Hochkönig.

• Bischofshofen - approach from town, moderate difficulty
• Further hiking possible toward Kematenalm or Grünmaißalm for more experienced hikers

At the eastern end of the valley stands the famous Paul-Außerleitner-Schanze ski jump, and history runs deep here too — the Egg im Gainfeld farmstead was already recorded as a knight's fief back in 1180.