Hike to the high mountain reservoirs in Kaprun
| Facts at a glance | |
|---|---|
| Starting point | Alpenhaus Kesselfall, Kesselfallstraße 98, 5710 Kaprun |
| Goal | Stausee Mooserboden, 2.040 m |
| Distance | 8,4 km (one-way) |
| Elevation gain | approx. 1.010 |
| Walking time uphill | 3 to 4 hours |
| Difficulty level | Sure-footedness and a head for heights; crossing a wire rope |
| Places to stop for a break | Fürthermoaralm, Bergrestaurant Mooserboden |
| Season | Mid-May through October (depending on snow conditions) |
| Parking | Parkhaus Kesselfall: first hour free, then €5 per day |
| Final descent | 4:45 p.m. |
The route in three sections
Kesselfall to Limbergsperre. Start at the Alpenhaus Kesselfall, right next to the paid parking garage. First, walk through a shady beech forest, pass the Lärchwand inclined elevator on the left, then follow the Schranbachweg. The trail runs along the road in places and through a tunnel. At the Limbergsperre, the view opens up to the turquoise waterfall basin.
Limbergsperre to Fürthermoaralm. Along the west side of the reservoir. This is where the most challenging section begins: a passage with a wire rope and metal rungs, right next to a small waterfall. The rock there is wet and slippery when it rains. Sure-footedness and a head for heights are essential here. It takes about 2.5 hours to reach the Fürthermoaralm from the Kesselfall parking garage.
From Fürthermoaralm to Mooserboden. From the alpine pasture, the trail widens and becomes much more pleasant. It’s designed as a herb trail, with information boards about local herbs. It’s about 45 minutes to Mooserboden at 2,040 meters. At the top stands the dam: 107 meters high, about 500 meters long, with the peaks of the Hohe Tauern behind it.
The short version: starting at Fürthermoaralm
If you don’t want to hike the 1,000 meters of elevation gain or are traveling with young children, you can turn the tour around. Take the bus and the inclined elevator to the Fürthermoaralm stop, walk up the herb trail for 45 minutes to Mooserboden, and board the bus again there.
Your ideal starting point: AlpenParks Hotel & Apartment Orgler Kaprun
From the hotel in the town center, it’s 8 kilometers to the Kesselfall parking garage—about a 15-minute drive. If you’re traveling without a car: You’ll receive the Guest Mobility Ticket in addition to the Summer Card; bus line 660 goes all the way to the Kesselfall terminal. Rooms and apartments for 2 to 8 people, an on-site restaurant, and—after a 1,000-meter climb—the sauna area with a Finnish sauna and herbal sauna.
Varied program
The Moserboden high-mountain reservoir is the ideal starting point for high-alpine hikes, such as to the Grießkogel, Hocheiser, or the Großes Wiesbachhorn. For those who want to get an especially early start and go especially high: From June through September, a mountaineering bus departs from the Kesselfall ticket office at 6:45 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, heading directly to Mooserboden. Registration is required by 12:00 p.m. the day before. This is the starting point for the Heinrich-Schwaiger-Haus, Hocheiser, or Großes Wiesbachhorn.
Climbing enthusiasts will also find plenty to enjoy here: there are three via ferrata routes built into the solid rock of the Höhenburg. Different difficulty levels offer climbing experiences for both pros and beginners (guided tours are also available). Tours of the dam’s interior and a zip line (every Friday from July through September) are also offered. So there’s plenty to discover!
To save yourself the long descent, you can take the bus and the Lärchwand inclined elevator. With the Zell am See-Kaprun Summer Card (included with your stay at AlpenParks Apartments & Hotels in Zell am See-Kaprun), the ride is free!
