Three-lake trail
Today we have prepared a tip for a mountain hike that takes you to 3 fairytale mountain lakes: Bodensee, Hüttensee, and Obersee. We chose our accommodation again in the Schladming area and set off for the trip by car. You need to account for a mountain road toll that leads all the way to the parking lot.
If you have a local Sommercard, you can just enjoy nature. Without it, you’ll need to have some change ready for the toll. If you plan to go by bus, your vehicle can stay at Planai and the journey there and back will be included in the card.
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Three-lake trail – parking
- Parking at the end of the road near Seewigtal Stüberl is free – you only pay the fee for using the road, not for the parking space itself.
- A paid road, a so-called toll road, leads here. The price in summer 2025 is €3.80 per adult, €1.70 per child, and bus groups have a reduced price of €2.70
- During holidays and weekends, I recommend arriving early in the morning so you can park without a long wait for a free spot
- There are also free toilets near the parking lot
Parking at Steirischer Bodensee
Steirischer Bodensee / Austrian Lakes
Accommodation in Schladming – Dachstein
Luxury:
Der Burgfellnerhof 4* – Adults Only
Budget:
Alpine Club Resort 4*
Three-lake trail – Bodensee, Hüttensee, and Obersee
This picturesque trip starts at the parking lot near the Seewigtalstüberl inn, from where we set off along an easy alpine road towards Gasthof Forellenhof. The walk takes only a few minutes and leads through an idyllic landscape where postcard-perfect views open up at every step.
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Steirischer Bodensee / Austrian Lakes
The path leading to the first lake, Steirischer Bodensee, is easy and practically anyone can manage it. You can get here without much trouble even with a stroller or an outdoor wagon. However, it is assumed that you will pass through the gate by the restaurant (see photo above). Bicycles are prohibited here.
Read also our tip for a trip only to Steirischer Bodensee:
Trip to Steirischer Bodensee Lake
Soon we join the path leading along the western shore of Steirischer Bodensee. The first lake, where our three-lake trail begins, is not only a sight to behold but also home to many fish species. You can feed them with special food that can be purchased from a vending machine at the beginning of the lake.
Steirischer Bodensee / Austrian Lakes
The calm surface reflects the surrounding mountain peaks and forms a perfect backdrop for our journey. From a distance, we can also hear the roar of water, which is our next destination—the local waterfall, getting closer with every step.
Steirischer Bodensee / Austrian Lakes
Steirischer Bodensee / Austrian Lakes
At the cargo cable car, which serves to supply the mountain hut, the trail begins to climb more steeply. The closer we get to the stunning waterfall, the more intense its sound becomes. Don’t miss the short detour that brings us right under the falling masses of water. Since it’s beautifully sunny and hot, the waterfall has attracted several other hikers. After a short wait, however, we enjoy the views all to ourselves.
We recommend staying far enough away from the waterfall itself; wet rocks can be slippery and the waterfall’s current is really strong! Don’t take unnecessary risks for photos. The view of the waterfall is breathtaking anyway.
Behind the waterfall, a rocky section awaits us, where stairs have been carefully built from individual stone slabs. The climb is sometimes more demanding in today’s heat, some steps are quite high, but the views are like a reward and definitely worth every step.
After less than 2 hours of hiking with photo stops, this three-lake trail led us to open greenery, where the Hans-Wödl-Hütte mountain hut welcomes us at an altitude of 1,533 m. The hut is known for its friendly atmosphere and great facilities. It is also an ideal place for a short rest with a view of the mountain landscape. We arrived here right during lunch when all the seats were taken, so we head straight to the next lake.
Hans-Wödl-Hütte
Behind the hut, the trail slopes gently and leads along the western shore of Hüttensee, hidden among mountain pines and alder bushes. Then we continue through grassy terrain to the third lake, Obersee. Above us, from the right side, the Schleier waterfall seems to fall, its fine mist pleasantly refreshing us as we pass. And then it’s just a few more steps until you find yourself on the shore of the breathtaking Obersee, surrounded by majestic mountains.
Our three-lake trail leads back along the same route, but from a different angle. We notice details we missed during the ascent and that special peace that only mountain nature and Austrian lakes can offer. Since we saved our snack for the way back and the mountain hut was still full, we took out our favorite canned tuna right on a rock and enjoyed our lunch with a view of Hüttensee.
You might also be interested in:
- Strobl: trail around Bürglestein and back by boat from St. Wolfgang
- 5 tips for lakes in Upper Austria for a summer holiday
- Bled, Slovenia: 7 tips for trips
- 15 Trip Tips in the Dolomites
Three-lake trail: Bodensee, Hüttensee, and Obersee – trip summary
Starting point:
Parking lot at Seewigtalstüberl (near the town of Aich in the Schladming-Dachstein region)
Accommodation in Schladming and surroundings:
Access:
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Toll road (approx. €3.80 per adult)
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Parking is then free at the starting point
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If you have the Schladming-Dachstein Sommercard, the road is free
Route length (there and back):
approx. 9–10 km
Time required:
approx. 3.5–5 hours including breaks, photos, and rest at the hut
Elevation gain:
approx. 500 meters of altitude
Three-lake trail – difficulty:
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Moderately demanding hike
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Can be managed by fit children
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The section to the third lake (Obersee) is steeper and more demanding. If you don’t feel up to further climbing, you can take the trip as just a two-lake one.
Three-lake trail: what you will see:
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Steirischer Bodensee lake
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Waterfall below Hans-Wödl-Hütte
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Hans-Wödl-Hütte (1,533 m) with the option to have a meal
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Hüttensee (lake directly behind the hut) – above it is a nice rock where we personally had a picnic
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Schleier Waterfall
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Obersee – the highest lake, quiet and less visited, more demanding terrain (many tourists don’t continue here and return down from Hüttensee)
Refreshments:
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Forellenhof restaurant by the lake
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Hans-Wödl-Hütte – mountain hut with a terrace and food
Suitable for children?
Yes, physically fit children can manage the trail, but we recommend sturdy shoes and plenty of water. The route from Bodensee is not suitable for strollers. You need to watch every step.
Ideal period:
June to October (in June and October there may be snow at the higher lakes)
We recommend going on the trip in sunny and dry weather. Stone steps can be quite slippery in the wet.
If you are looking for a trip where you can experience the beauty of mountain nature to the fullest, today’s three-lake trail in the Schladming – Dachstein area is a great choice. Nowhere else around Schladming will you see so many water features and mountain scenery in one place as right here.
During this route, three mountain lakes await you, each at a different altitude, plus two waterfalls that are among the most beautiful in the entire Schladming-Dachstein region. Water plays the main role here. The calm surfaces of the lakes alternate with the roar of waterfalls, and there’s always something happening around you. Although swimming is prohibited in the lakes, we saw with our own eyes that refreshing yourself in the stream leading into Bodensee is tolerated.
The path follows an educational trail, so you’ll also learn something about the local nature, animals, and rocks that form the wild mountain landscape here. The views are truly breathtaking and the surroundings are made up of mountains, where you’ll probably be most impressed by the steep massif of Hoher Wildstelle, which is the highest peak in the area.
This three-lake trail is ideal if you are looking for a moderately demanding and varied trip. A camera and a fully charged mobile are a must here – the views, lakes, and waterfalls are worth it.
Enjoy your trip.
