If you like hikes with a lake view, you’ll love Carinthia. Austria’s southernmost province is home to around 60 mountain lakes. Here nature lovers and hiking fans will find wonderful hiking tours with lake views. On these 4 unique lake hikes, welcome cooling is right on the trail and a breathtaking mountain panorama awaits at the end.
Weissensee – North shore trail
Lake Weissensee is probably the most picturesque mountain lake in Carinthia. Green meadows, rolling hills, and fresh air invite you to hike, bike and swim. A popular hiking trail is the North Shore Trail, with magnificent views of the shimmering turquoise lake. The hike, which is about 8 kilometers long, starts at the valley station of the mountain railroad in Techendorf. From here you follow a steep trail (partly in serpentines) across green meadows. After 1.5 hours walking time you reach the destination,
the Naggler Alm (1.329 m) from where you can enjoy a unique view of the lake.
Three-Lakes-Tour Lake Wörthersee
Together with Fortsee and Saissersee, Carinthia’s largest lake invites you to join the 13-kilometer Three Lakes Tour. The hike starts in Velden and leads into the Gurktaler Alps. First, you pass the Franzosenkirche and then go directly through the Römerschlucht and after about 45 minutes you reach the second lake, the Forstsee, which invites you to take a short breather. After that, you continue through a forest to the third and final lake, the Saissersee, which is located in the
Jeserz nature reserve and is perfect for cooling off after the hike. Afterward, the trail goes through the Teufelsgraben via the Kranzelhof directly back to the starting point.
Alpe-Adria-Trail – Stage 12
Lake Millstättersee in Carinthia is the deepest lake in Carinthia and the one with the most water. This route is a bit more demanding and takes just under 8 hours. The tour is 20 kilometers long and starts in Seeboden and goes along the lake for a bit at the beginning before going up a dirt road. Before you reach the destination, the Alexanderhütte at 2,000 meters above sea level, you walk through forests, across meadows, and pass the “Stone Table”, an XXL table top made of marble, which invites you to take a short break. Via the Hochpalfennock you then reach your destination.
Malta High Alpine Road & Kölnbrein Dam
The somewhat different lake hike. The Malta Hochalmstraße leads to the highest dam in Austria, the 200-meter high Kölnbreinsperre. The journey takes you along the 14 kilometers long and winding Hochalmstraße, past numerous waterfalls. Once at the top, the Kölnbreinspeicher offers the perfect starting point for many hikes through the
high alpine landscape. Whether a leisurely half-day hike or a challenging tour to the Hochalmspitze, there is something here for every hiking fan. In conclusion, the spectacular “Airwalk” awaits with a particularly unique view of the breathtaking panorama.
A hike along a lake is always a particularly beautiful experience, especially if you can jump into the cool water after a successful hike. Not far from many beautiful lakes are the Aktivhotel Falkensteiner Hotel & Spa Carinzia and the Falkensteiner Schlosshotel Velden, which offer a perfect starting position for many adventures.
