Riesachsee: A mountain trip to the lake around Riesachfall waterfall

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Riesachsee: A trip to the lake around Riesachfall waterfalls

The trip to the mountain lake Riesachsee around the Riesachfall waterfalls is among the most beautiful ones you can take in the Schladming Dachstein region. If you’re looking for a moderately challenging hike that will take you through varied terrain and lead you to a peaceful mountain lake, then this tip in the Untertal valley near Schladming is just right for you.

>> TOP 5 ACCOMMODATION IN SCHLADMING <<

Riesachsee

The Riesachfälle waterfalls are among the highest in all of Styria and are part of the famous Wilde Wasser thematic circuit. From the inn at the lower part of the waterfall, you’ll climb up a well-secured mountain path to Lake Riesachsee, which lies in a valley surrounded by the peaks of the Schladminger Tauern.

Accommodation in Schladming

For the trip to the mountain lake Riesachsee around the Riesachfall waterfall, we’re staying in Schladming or in the nearby area.

Eliashof – farm & apartments, Schladming-Rohrmoos

A family farm with apartments (2-3 bedrooms) in quiet Rohrmoos, about 1000 m above sea level – an ideal starting point for hiking and skiing.
Price: from about €42 / person / night (depending on apartment type and occupancy) – definitely “budget-friendly” for Schladming
Fully equipped kitchens, balconies, beautiful views, organic farm atmosphere, and an organic pool in summer. It’s a Sommercard Partner, so you get cable cars and attractions included in the accommodation price in summer.

> MORE INFO AND CHECK AVAILABLE DATES HERE

Stadtvilla Schladming Boutiquehotel, Schladming center

A stylish Boutique hotel Garni in the very center of Schladming, just a few minutes’ walk to restaurants, bars, and roughly walking distance to the Planai cable car and other excursion destinations. (or a short bus ride).
It offers modern rooms, highly rated breakfast, cozy design, a smaller family atmosphere, and an excellent location for city walks and après-ski in winter.

> MORE INFO AND CHECK AVAILABLE DATES HERE

Hotel Schütterhof, Rohrmoos – ski-in / ski-out & top wellness

A four-star hotel in Rohrmoos above Schladming, with a beautiful view of the city and Dachstein, right by the ski slope (practically ski-in / ski-out in winter). In summer, it’s right by hiking trails.
Why do we recommend it? It has a new large wellness complex with indoor and heated outdoor pool overlooking Schladming, a sauna world, and relaxation zones.
Perfect wellness, which is usually open until the evening.

> MORE INFO AND CHECK AVAILABLE DATES HERE

Hotel Schütterhof

Where does the trip to Riesachsee start?

Area: Schladming–Dachstein, Untertal valley
Starting point: Seeleiten / Riesachfall parking lot at the Almgasthaus Riesachfall inn

From Schladming, we drive on the road towards Rohrmoos – Untertal and continue through the valley to its end at the large Seeleiten parking lot. It’s located right at the starting point for trails to the waterfalls and lake.

In the summer season, there’s also a tourist bus (Hikingbus Riesachfall) and if you have the Schladming-Dachstein Sommercard, the transport is usually included in the card.

Where to park – Riesachsee?

Expect a paid parking lot at the end of the valley. We personally paid 9 EUR. However, prices may be adjusted periodically, so consider this price as an approximate figure.

Basic overview of the route to Riesachsee

Riesachsee and Riesachfall waterfalls

Trip type: The trail is in the form of a circuit
Length: The route is about 5-6 km
Elevation gain: expect about 300 m

Time:
- the ascent from the parking lot to the lake takes 45-60 minutes
- the entire circuit including a walk by the lake and breaks: 2.5-4 hours
Difficulty: it’s a moderately challenging hiking trail, in some places you’ll face more difficult climbs with a large number of stairs

Who is the trip to Riesachsee suitable for?

Active families with older children – children should be able to handle longer staircases and not have problems with heights (you’ll encounter a suspension bridge along the way).
Average hikers with good fitness – if you’re used to marked mountain trails and can handle several hundred meters of elevation gain, this will be a pleasant hike for you.
People with fear of heights – it’s better for you to skip the ascent around the waterfall and only take the paved path to the lake (see below).

It’s not a via ferrata or extreme climbing, but the Alpinsteig trail leads in places high above Riesachbach and might be unpleasantly varied for some.

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Trip to Riesachsee around Riesachfall waterfalls

1. From the parking lot to the lower part of Riesachfall waterfalls

From the parking lot, cross the bridge over the river to the Almgasthaus Riesachfall inn. Here, two main variants of today’s trip begin:

Small circuit to the lower waterfall
Main ascent to Lake Riesachsee via the alpine path (Alpinsteig Höll)
For the classic trip to the lake, take the path marked towards Riesachfälle / Alpinsteig.

2. Alpinsteig Höll – up around the waterfall

Mountain steps, footbridges, and stairs guide you through the Höllschlucht gorge along the Small and Large Riesachfall.

Riesachfall waterfalls on the way to Riesachsee

What to expect:

Massive staircase next to the waterfall
Metal footbridges and steps attached to the rock
A suspension bridge about 50 m long high above the stream bed – in our opinion, one of the most beautiful viewpoints on the route, but unsuitable for those afraid of heights.

The trail is well-secured, equipped with railings and secured sections, but you still need to watch where you step and wear sturdy footwear. The ascent from the inn to the end of the gorge takes about an hour and you’ll overcome approximately 300 meters of elevation.

3. Gföller Alm and Lake Riesachsee

At the upper edge of the gorge, the view opens up to Gföller Alm, which is an ideal place for the first break. From here, it’s just a short distance to Lake Riesachsee itself, which lies in a wide basin surrounded by peaks such as Hochwildstelle or Greifenberg.

At Lake Riesachsee, you can reward yourself after the climb by walking along a comfortable path, sitting by the water and just observing the calm surface, or dipping your feet in for refreshment on warm days. On the opposite shore of the lake, another mountain hut Kaltenbachalm operates, which can be reached by an easy path along the shore.

Riesachsee

4. Descent via the paved road

Most tourists usually return to the parking lot via a wider forest and paved road that leads through the valley along the stream and is significantly gentler than the ascent around the waterfalls.

This path has several advantages. It’s suitable for those who don’t feel up to the climb around the waterfall and can therefore go this way and at least enjoy the trip to Lake Riesachsee. It’s also suitable for dogs and outdoor strollers. It offers several pleasant spots for a short break and is also easier on the knees – you won’t face stairs going down, as you would if you were returning around the Riesachfall waterfall.

Traveling with small children, a dog, or a stroller?

Lower circuit to the Small Riesachfall

From the parking lot, you can take the forest path to the lower part of the first waterfall and to the wooden bridge, which offers a nice view of the flowing water, and return via the wide path. This part is also suitable for an outdoor stroller.

Path only to the lake

If the children can handle a longer walk, you can choose a compromise: go up to the lake via the aforementioned paved road, walk around the lake, and return the same way. This way you’ll skip the more challenging route over stairs and suspension bridge, but still enjoy the lake.

With a dog

Metal stairs with a grid platform are usually not pleasant for most dogs. Paws sink into the grid and some dogs refuse to walk on them. If you don’t want to risk it with your dog, choose the wide path through the valley to the lake and back instead. It can also be unpleasant for the dog to climb in some sections with the sound of a strong waterfall and to avoid other tourists on the stairs or on the suspension bridge.

When to go on the trail to Riesachsee around Riesachfall?

The ideal period for the trip is usually in good weather and depending on snow conditions from May to October. In early spring, the path around the waterfall may be temporarily closed due to snow or maintenance.