Schladming

Sonntagskarseen Lakes

Data:

Tour description

A tour with medium difficulty to the Sonntagskarseen Lakes. From the valley head of Untertal at Almgasthaus Riesachfall you hike up the alpine trail Höll to Gfölleralm. Passing by Kaltenbachalm at Riesachsee Lake you continue along the Riesachtal valley and walk past Berallerhütte at Kotalm alp. Continuing past Waldhornalm and Preintalerhütte chalets you eventually reach the Sonntagskarseen Lakes.

Highlights of the tour:

Riesach waterfalls and alpine trail through "Höll" gorge
Mountain lakes Riesachsee and Sonntagskarseen Lakes

Please note: The Alpinsteig is NOT suitable for dogs - tip: bypassing on the forest road to Riesachsee

The tour

moderate

Starting and end point Seeleiten car park, Untertal valley head

Tour characteristics

Fitness (4/6)

Skills (3/6)

Information

Distance: 17.8 km

Duration: 6 h 57 min

Ascent: 1067 m

Descent: 1067 m

highest point: 2075 m

Best season

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Map, elevation profile & further information

From Seeleiten car park follow trail n° 777 up to Riesach waterfall. From there follow the alpine trail through "Höll" gorge to Gfölleralm chalet. From there walk past Riesachsee Lake and pass by Kaltenbachalm and Berallerhütte chalets on the way to Preintalerhütte and Waldhornalm chalets. From the Preintalerhütte the route leads along the flat valley floor to the steep steps, and then ascends to the lower Sonntagskarsee Lake. Along the lake follow route no. 784; then gently uphill to the upper Sonntagskarsee Lake. The mighty summits of Waldhorn and Kieseck of the Sonntagskar, with its high flanks make certain that even in mid-summer there is a layer of ice on the lakes, giving it an arctic character. Return on the same path.

From Schladming take provincial highway L722 (Rohrmoosstraße road) to Rohrmoos and at the roundabout continue on provincial highway L723 (Tälerstraße road) towards Untertal. Once you reach the village of Untertal keep on going towards Untertal valley and Seeleiten car park at its valley head.Seeleiten car park at the valley head of Untertal.

With the Planai buses from Schladming (Planet-Planai, Lendplatz) or Rohrmoos (Rohrmoos-Zentrum) to Untertal valley - bus stop "Riesachwasserfall" at Seeleiten car park.

Buses of Planai-Hochwurzen-Bahnen: www.planaibus.at

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 tour can be well combined with a multiple day hike along the Schladminger Tauern High Trail.

Information about bus schedules: www.planaibus.at

360° drone images

Get yourself an overview with our 360° drone images:

Ascent to Preintalerhütte: https://vonoben.schladming-dachstein.at/sommer/index.php?S=317
View over Riesachsee Lake: https://vonoben.schladming-dachstein.at/sommer/index.php?S=318

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.