The 5 most beautiful mountain lakes in Lungau – Day trips from Mariapfarr

Crystal-clear water, rustic alpine huts, and mountain peaks reflected in the lake: The Salzburg Lungau region is home to over 60 mountain lakes—and the most beautiful ones are right on your doorstep at your vacation home, the AlpenParks Hotel & Apartment Carpe Solem Mariapfarr. This guide introduces five mountain lakes: three of them can be reached in no time from Mariapfarr, while two others are worth the slightly longer trip. For each lake, you’ll find its location, walking time, elevation gain, and the best way to get there—plus all the benefits that come with the free LungauCard.

Why the Lungau region in Salzburg is a paradise for lake hikers

The Lungau is Austria’s largest UNESCO biosphere reserve and lies at an elevation of over 1,000 meters above sea level—surrounded by the Schladminger Tauern, the Radstädter Tauern, and the Ankogel Range. Hidden among lush green alpine pastures, dense Swiss stone pine forests, and rugged three-thousand-meter peaks are more than 60 crystal-clear mountain lakes. Many of them are accessible via well-marked hiking trails; some are even stroller-friendly or easily reached by mountain railway.

The starting point, Mariapfarr, is ideally located: The town is considered the sunniest municipality in Austria and is centrally situated in the Lungau region at 1,119 meters. From here, the side valleys with their lakes are just a few minutes’ drive away—in summer, you can even travel there in an eco-friendly way using the valley bus, which is accessible with the LungauCard.

The 3 mountain lakes in the immediate vicinity of Mariapfarr
 

• Wirpitschsee in the Weißpriachtal valley - a classic right on our doorstep
  The Wirpitschsee is located in the upper Weißpriachtal Valley, one of the most beautiful side valleys of the Lungau region, which became known as one of Austria’s most beautiful places thanks to an ORF television program. Nestled in open alpine pastures at an elevation of about 1,700 meters, the lake is a perfect destination for a leisurely half-day hike with a stop for refreshments.
  
   

  Facts Wirpitschsee
  Location	Hinteres Weißpriachtal, Gemeinde Weißpriach
  Elevation	ca. 1.700 m
  Starting point	Parking P5 Wirpitschsee, 5573
  Walking time	1,5–2 hours (ascent only)
  Elevation gain	440 Hm
  Places to stop for a break	Toni-Mörten-Hütte (Tonimörtlhütte)

The route: From the Znachtal parking lot, the trail begins with a leisurely walk along a gravel path (No. 770) that climbs gently past the Grangler Hut to the Ulnhütte—a stop on the Tälerbus route. Shortly past the hut, the trail leads past a roaring waterfall over the Longa. Afterward, you’ll ascend a bit more steeply along an old alpine trail through dense forest to the Toni-Mörten Hut, which is open to the public; the Wirpitschsee opens up directly behind it. If you’d like, you can extend the hike to the Tiefenbachsee (1,846 m) or the Schönalmseen (1,893 m).

Directions from Mariapfarr: By car, it takes about 25 minutes via the toll road into the upper Weißpriachtal valley to the Znachtal parking lot. In summer, take the valley bus to the Ulnhütte.

• Grünwaldsee in Obertauern – the lake you can easily reach by mountain railway
  If you’re looking to focus less on the climb and more on enjoying the scenery, Grünwaldsee above Obertauern is the perfect choice. It’s located just a few meters from the top station of the Grünwaldkopfbahn—ideal for families, for a relaxing afternoon, or as a starting point for further high-altitude hikes.
  
   

  Facts Grünwaldsee
  Location	Almgebiet Obertauern (Radstädter Tauern)
  Elevation	ca. 1.970 m (near the mountain station)
  Starting point	Bergstation Grünwaldkopfbahn
  Walking time	only 5 walking minutes
  Speciality	rowboats and pedal boats, marble run, water wheel, and balance garden
  Places to stop for a break	Hochalm

The route: The Grünwaldkopf 10-person gondola provides convenient access to the alpine pasture area. Just a few meters from the mountain station lies Lake Grünwald, where you can take a break or go for a spin in a free rowboat or pedal boat. If you’d like to go higher, take the Hochalm chairlift to Hochsee or explore the lake landscape around Seekarhaus, Hundsfeldsee, and Grünwaldkopf on foot.

Directions from Mariapfarr: It takes about 25 minutes by car to reach Obertauern and the valley station of the Grünwaldkopfbahn.

LungauCard Tip: With the LungauCard, you get one-time free daily admission to the Grünwaldkopfbahn, Hochalmbahn, and Kringsalmbahn—making a trip to Grünwaldsee especially affordable for the whole family.

• Prebersee near Tamsweg – the magical moorland lake for the whole family
  Lake Prebersee is arguably the most famous lake in the Lungau region—a dark, mysterious moorland lake at the foot of the Prebers, surrounded by moors, forests, and alpine pastures. Its water shimmers almost black through the peaty shoreline. The accessible moorland nature trail around the lake is suitable for strollers and wheelchairs, making it perfect for families.
  
   

  Facts Prebersee
  Location	Prebergebiet above Tamswegoberhalb von Tamsweg
  Elevation	ca. 1.514 m
  Starting point	Parking spaces right by the lake
  Walking time	About 45 min. (round trip, about 1.9 km)
  Difficulty	easy, family-friendly
  Places to stop for a break	Ludlalm with a large terrace and a children's playground

The route: This roughly 45-minute loop trail is designed as a bog nature trail—informational signs provide interesting facts about lowland and raised bogs, as well as the rare flora and fauna. In summer, the bog water warms to pleasant temperatures, making swimming possible (please observe nature conservation rules). Lake Preber is also the starting point for more challenging hikes, such as the ascent to Mount Preber (2,740 m).

Directions from Mariapfarr: By car via Tamsweg and the Preber Landstraße to the lake—about 20–25 minutes. In summer, take the Tälerbus from Tamsweg (stop “Tamsweg Ludlalm”).

2 must-see mountain lakes for a slightly longer trip
 

• Rotgüldensee in Muhr – An idyllic mountain lake in the Hohe Tauern National Park
  A bit further away, but worth every kilometer: The Lower Rotgüldensee is located in the upper Murtal valley in the National Park municipality of Muhr, framed by the mighty 3,000-meter peaks of the Ankogel Group—including the Großer Hafner (3,076 m), the easternmost 3,000-meter peak in the Alps.
  
   

  Facts Rotgüldensee
  Location	Hintermuhr, Murtal
  Elevation	ca. 1.735 m (Unterer Rotgüldensee)
  Starting point	Nationalpark Infostelle (Muhrsprung), Hintermuhr 10/24, 5583 Murau
  Walking time	About 1–1.5 hours to the Lower Lake
  Difficulty	About 400 Hm
  Places to stop for a break	Rotgüldenseehütte right on the lake

The route: From the Arsenhaus parking lot, follow a nature trail as it winds uphill in wide switchbacks. After about an hour, you’ll reach the Lower Rotgüldensee, home to the rustic Rotgüldensee Hut. Experienced hikers who are sure-footed and have a head for heights can continue on to the spectacular Upper Rotgüldensee (1,996 m)—via wooden ladders and rope-secured rock passages (difficulty level T3).

Directions from Mariapfarr: By car via St. Michael to Muhr and on to the Arsenhaus—about 45 minutes.

• Twengeralmsee – a high-alpine gem of a lake above Obertauern
  For ambitious hikers, the Twengeralmsee is a dream destination: a high-altitude mountain lake at over 2,100 meters that, according to a study, is one of the warmest lakes in the Schladminger Tauern. From here, sweeping views open up over the Radstädter and Schladminger Tauern—and the lake is also part of one of the region’s most beautiful multi-lake hikes.

The route: From Schaidberg, a pleasant old alpine trail (No. 762) leads via the Twenger Alm up to the beautifully situated Twengeralmsee. According to legend, it is connected to the Schönalmsee lake across the valley via an underground passage. If you’d like, you can extend the hike over the Seekarscharte to other lakes or descend into the Weißpriachtal valley—a magnificent but long panoramic loop.

Directions from Mariapfarr: Drive about 25 minutes to Obertauern to reach the starting point at Schaidberg.