Silent Waters - Hike to Untersee Lake

Accessible by public transport

Hiking bus (within 15 minutes walking distance from starting point)

Characteristics

Skill

Fitness

The tour in numbers

Level of difficulty easy

Route 3,1 km

Time 1:10 h

Uphill 150 hm

Downhill 150 hm

Highest point 1764 m

Short hike through forest with Larch and Swiss Pine trees to Untersee Lake at Reiteralm. Wooden benches invite to stay for a while and to enjoy the scenery.

The trail to Untersee Lake is a beautiful easy hike for families. Starting at Reiteralmsee Lake the hike leads through a clear forest to Untersee Lake. On the way to the Lake you pass by two tarns, where wooden benches invite you to sit down and to enjoy the scenery for a bit. At Untersee Lake you can cross the lake on a wooden float and enjoy the scenery from a viewing platform. Around the lake, several wooden benches invite for a break at the lake. A couple of opportunites to play with the water are waiting for the kids as well.

Best season

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

More information

Take Reiteralmstraße toll road to Gasselhöh'-Hütte on top of Reiteralm.

Parking lots are available at:

Eiskarhütte Inn, Reiteralm
Reiteralmhütte chalet, Reiteralm
Gasselhöh'-Hütte chalet, Reiteralm
valley terminal of Preunegg-Jet cable-car

The starting point for this easy hike is at the mountain station of the Preunegg-Jet at Reiteralmsee. From there, trail no. 66 leads past the lake and then briefly across the alpine meadow. The trail then enters a sparse forest where, after a few minutes, trail no. 66a branches off to the left towards Untersee.

Follow the path downhill over a few hairpin bends until you reach a small lake after a short hike - affectionately called ‘Glackerch’ by the locals. Continue through the sparse forest to another small lake - the Waldsee. Here, an idyllic bench invites you to linger.

After a few minutes' hike, you will finally reach Untersee. The way back is via the same route. However, if you prefer, you can also take the Reiteralm circular route. To do this, simply walk along the shore of the Untersee and ascend the hiking trail to the Reiteralm circular trail on the western shore.

Changes in weather patterns, quick falls in temperature, thunderstorms, wind, fog and snow are some of the dangers that can be encountered on a hiking tour. Hosts of alpine huts and mountain refuges have a lot of experience in the mountains and can give good advice about weather and the trails. Poor equipment, overestimation of one's own capabilities, carelessness, poor personal constitution and/or wrong judgement can lead to critical situations. In case of thunderstorms: avoid summits, ridges and steel ropes.

GPS data and orienteering

Available GPS data - just like hiking maps - is only a guidance for orientation and can never depict a trail exactly with all its details. Especially at dangerous spots it is essential to judge on site how to proceed.

In an emergency please call:

140 - for Alpine emergencies (all over Austria)
112 - European GSM emergency number

A well-packed backpack is helpful and especially when touring Alpine terrain a tuque, gloves, a windproof jacket and pants are standard equipment. Good, waterproof shoes, sun glasses, sun cream and sufficient beverages are essential too. Torch light, a map of the area, knie and a small first-aid kit should also be in the backpack.

The combination of the hike to Untersee lake with the Reiteralm circular trail or the hike to Spiegelsee lake is particularly beautiful.

Take the bus of Ramsauer Verkehrsbetriebe (Tuesday, Friday and Sunday) from Ramsau and Pichl-Vorberg to the valley terminal of Preunegg-Jet cable-car. From here continue by cable-car to Reiteralm (operating times at www.reiteralm.at).

Bus schedule of Ramsauer Verkehrsbetriebe: www.rvb.at

Tourismusinformation: www.schladming.com

Infos über Busverbindungen: www.rvb.at

Infos zu Gondelbetriebszeiten: www.reiteralm.at

Hiking map ‘Hiking WEST’ available at the information offices in the region.
Schladming hiking map, 1:25,000, available at the Schladming information office.
Hiking map Schladming-Dachstein, 1:50,000, available at the information offices in the region.
Hiking guide Schladming-Dachstein by Herbert Raffalt, available at the information offices in the region.