The 15 Most Beautiful Hikes to Mountain Lakes in Tirol

There are mountain lakes throughout Tyrol that can be reached via hiking trails. Some of them, such as the Plansee near Reutte, the Seebensee or the Drachensee in the Zugspitz Arena are perhaps better known, but others such as the Oberseitsee in East Tirol you may never have heard of. With us you will find high altitude glacial lakes at the foot of the Sulzenauferner in the Stubai Valley or low-lying lakes on the Four Lakes Hike around Kufstein.

Hikes to mountain lakes are perfect for hot summer days, as the crystal-clear water is wonderful for cooling off. But even if you don't swim in a mountain lake, it's still worth climbing up to one, as they are usually beautifully situated in a basin in the middle of the mountains, making them particularly scenic. You can even spend the night at some mountain lakes and admire the sunrise and sunset. For a list of the most beautiful mountain lake huts check out the link.

Of course, it all depends on your preferences. However, there are hikes to mountain lakes in Tirol for every fitness level, for example an easy walk for families or a mountain lake hike with a summit ascent.

Yes! It is generally permitted to swim in mountain lakes, unless they are a special protected area or otherwise signposted. However, please note that mountain lakes are located in a sensitive natural environment and – as everywhere else – do not leave any rubbish behind.

Mountain lake temperatures range from pleasantly warm to freezing cold, even in mid-summer. The water temperature depends on the size of the lake, of course, but also on its altitude. As a rule you can generally say that mountain lakes at higher altitudes remain cold even in summer and often only have a water temperature of between 10 and 12 degrees.