Seebensee Hike & Drachensee – Ehrwald, Austria
We absolutely loved our amazing hike to Seebensee in Austria so we put together this complete guide
If you’re looking for the ULTIMATE mountain Lake hike in Austria, then look no further. Our Hike to Seebensee was the highlight of our 3-week road trip in Europe.
Located in Ehrwald, in Western Austria, this mountain lake really should be on your hiking bucket list.
We had seen pictures of the stunning Austrian mountain lake, Seebensee. So we decided to just turn up and see if we could find it. With very little planning and research we did end up having the most memorable hike we have done so far.
But we also ended up doing the most challenging route possible.
So we decided to put this guide together so that you can weigh up your options before you go.
Because despite doing the most adventurous route to the top. We did a circular route and came back down a much more family-friendly route. So we can now summarise all the options for you.
Where is Lake Seebensee
Lake Seebensee is Located just south of Ehrwald in the state of Tyrol in Eastern Austria. The Lake is set high up in the Mieming range of the Austrian Alps. 1657 meters high to be precise.
You can see the exact location in Google Maps here.
The closest Towns are Ehrwald and Innsbruck in Austria and the closest city is Munich in Germany.
Hike to Seebensee & Drachensee – The Challenging Route
This is also the route we did which was around 15km and took us about 5 hours.
Starting the car park for the cable car that we mentioned previously, if you follow the road up to the top of the car park, it will turn into a dirt road. This is where your options start.
We decided to head right, over a small stream and up into the woods, following signs that said ‘Hoher Gang’. Meaning High path. They weren’t lying.
Following the Hoher Gang route, almost straight away the path became very steep. It was then a constant climb for the next 2 hours until we reached the top. With around another 30 minutes after that, on a fairly flat path, to the lake.
As we climbed up through the woods, we passed another couple. They warned us that they had turned around and come back down because it got too steep for them.
Did that stop us… of course not.
If anything, now we were even more excited to see for ourselves, what was ahead of us.
The path was very clearly marked with yellow signs on trees the whole way up and then arrows painted onto the rocks. So you couldn’t go wrong.
Once you come out of the trees, you arrive at a large open space covered in loose stones. My advice is to stick to the edges, go slowly and just be careful here.
After you get past this stage the real fun begins and for the last half of the climb, it’s all rocks and ropes. They have drilled safety cables into the side of the mountain for you to hold and use to get to the top. If you’re scared of heights like I am, don’t look down.
Prepare yourself for some incredible views the higher up you go.
After all the hard work and climbing you will be rewarded with a 30-minute, relatively easy walk to the lake through some more forest. We were even lucky enough to spot a large Mountain Goat!
Then the long-anticipated Seebensee Lake will be there waiting to greet you.
Hike to Seebensee – The Easier Routes
As we mentioned, we took the hard way up. But we came down the ‘easier’ way. This is the way we would recommend if you have a family and children or are unable to do any climbing.
By Cable Car
When it is running, you can take the cable car both UP and DOWN the mountainside. If you want. From the top of the cable car, it’s about a 5km walk (each way) and the walk was fairly gentle with no crazy inclines.
The cable cars run nearly all year round with just a couple of months of downtime for maintenance. You can see the exact dates here. It is around €21.50 for a return ticket.
Easier Hike
If the cable car is not running, you can do what we did and walk the 5km From the lake down to the cable car station. From the station, there is a very visible dirt road that heads all the way back down to the car park. Following the route of the cable car.
It was VERY steep if you decide to head up that way but no climbing or ropes are involved this time. To go up this route just continue up the dirt track that leads up out of the car park following the cable car wires, all the way to the top.
Continue on to Drachensee
If you reach Seebensee and still have energy (good for you!) then a popular option for a longer hike is to carry on through to Drachensee Lake/ Coburger hut higher up into the mountains.
You can see the location of Drachensee here.
To get up to the hut you need to follow the wide path around to the left of Seebensee Lake. Once you get to the far side of the lake you will see some signs directing you up towards the hut. You may even be able to see it up on the mountainside in front of you.
From there it is about a 30-40 minute steep walk to get to the hut. Just make sure to take a minute to stop and look back at the stunning views of Seebensee Lake behind you.
Coburger Hut is right above Dracgensee Lake so as soon as you reach the hut you will be spoilt with some more fantastic alpine lake views.
The hut is a restaurant and has accommodation. This is an ideal place to stop and have some lunch with a view if you didn’t pack a picnic.
To walk from the top of the cable car to Seebensee and then on to Drachensee is a 7km hike, each way. from Seebensee Lake it is just another 2km or so to Drachensee.
Where to Stay in Ehrwald for the Seebensee Hike
To do the Seebensee Hike the best place to stay is in Ehrwald. Here are a couple of great suggestions on accommodation for different budgets;
📍Budget Option – Mellow Mountain Hostel – $43 per night for a bed in a 4-bed dorm
This Hostel is ideally located within walking distance from the train station and even has a sauna onsite. It is a beautiful chalet-style building with modern rooms and really great reviews.
📍Mid-Range Option – Haus Alpenblume – $122 per night for a double room with a terrace
📍High-End Option – Hotel Alpen Residence – $259 per night for a double room including breakfast
When is the best time to visit Seebensee
We visited Austria and did the Seebensee hike in May and I think we were lucky to be able to do this Hike so early in the year. There was still snow up the top and very few people (we only saw around 10 other people the entire day). So with that being said, always check before you head out if the routes are open.
May was ideal for a peaceful hike, but the summer months of June – September are likely to have more reliable weather conditions and the cable cars will be running.
Who can do the hike to Seebensee
If you can walk a flat 10km then you can get to Seebensee.
We took the challenging way up, which was 15km in total with climbing. The shortest hike is a relatively flat 10km from the top of the cable car along to the lake.
This makes this hike suitable for families and also hikers who like a challenge.
How to get to Seebensee
Regardless of which Hike you choose to do, you will want to start at the base of the Ehrwalder Almbahn cable car. There is a large car park suitable for any type of vehicle and relatively easy to access. As long as there is no snow on the roads. It is free to park here.
Here is the address, to navigate using Google Maps; Dr. Ludwig Ganghoferstr 66, 6632 Ehrwald, Austria.
Hiking to Seebensee FAQs
Here are some answers to a few more frequently asked questions about the hike to Seebensee;
Can you swim in Seebensee?
Yes, It is perfectly safe to swim in the lake but it is REALLY cold. So be prepared with lots of warm clothes to put on afterwards.
Can you get to the lake by car?
Technically it is possible to drive all the way to the lakeside. There is a dirt track that goes all the way from the car park to the lake that local farmers and maintenance vehicles use. However, this is not open to the public so for you and me the answer for this one is no.
Is Seebensee worth the hike?
Absolutely! This hike was challenging but 100% worth it. The views the whole way up are spectacular. Once you arrive at Seebensee Lake you are just spoiled with the most beautiful mountain lake you could wish for.
Austria Hiking Essentials
On a hike like this, you can be gone for most of the day so it is important to pack enough food and water to last and to have the right clothing with you for the changing temperatures along the way.
Also, having the correct equipment can make a hike like this so much easier and safer. We recommend wearing sturdy hiking boots to get to Seebensee Lake. If you take the dirt track all the way up then walking poles may also be helpful.
What should you pack in your backpack for this hike;
- A jacket because it’s a lot colder at the top than down at the bottom.
- Plenty of water. Although the water from the streams up the top is probably cleaner than you’ll find anywhere. Guido had a try and gave the seal of approval.
- A picnic and snacks for energy.
- Camera, trust me you are going to want to take photos once you reach Seebensee Lake
- Sunscreen
- Blister plasters
On a hike like this, the Water-to-Go filter bottle is ideal! You only have to carry one bottle and you can refill it in the streams and lake at the top.
Click here to get your Filter water bottle for your next hike.
Final Thoughts on Hiking to Seebensee
The Hike to Seebensee truly was an amazing adventure and we hope this was useful and that you will love it as much as we did.
If you’re a keen hiker and thinking of heading to Switzerland we also created a guide to our favourite Hike there too.
Just remember to always stick to the path and not leave anything behind.
ENJOY!
