Hike along the waterfall trail in Fusch an der Großglocknerstraße
Ferleiten waterfall trail in Fusch – Hiking behind the waterfall
On the waterfall trail in Ferleiten, you’ll walk right through a wall of water without getting wet—you’ll just catch a bit of the mist. The trail starts at the parking lot near the Ferleiten Wildlife and Adventure Park in Fusch on Großglocknerstraße, just before the toll booth. The round-trip hike takes 3 to 4 hours and requires a fitness level suitable for about 700 meters of elevation gain.
| The tour at a glance | |
|---|---|
| Starting point | Parking Wild- & Erlebnispark Ferleiten, 1.145 m, Fusch an der Großglocknerstraße |
| Highest point | Walcher Hochalm, 1.853 m |
| Elevation gain | approx. 710 on the ascent |
| Distance | 6.6 km (short loop) to 8.5 km (long loop) |
| Walking time | 3 to 4 hours, depending on the version |
| Difficulty | moderate to challenging—steep throughout; sure footing required |
| Parking | free of charge, right next to the Tauernhaus |
The route: Two options
From the parking lot, a bridge crosses the Fuscher Ache. Keep to the right toward Tauernhaus—that’s where the trail begins as the Almsteig and winds uphill along the Walcherbach. It gets steep right from the start.
After about an hour, the trail splits.
- Short loop (approx. 3 hours, 6.6 km): Follow the trail to the left, straight to the waterfall, through the waterfall, and back on the other side of the stream. This option is ideal for families with older children and for anyone who wants to spend the morning doing something else.
- Long loop (approx. 4 hours, 8.5 km): Turn right over the wooden footbridge to the Walcher Grundalm at 1,580 m, continue westward across open slopes to the Walcher Hochalm at 1,853 m, then down to the waterfall and back. At the top, a cirque opens up, framed by the Hoher Tenn and the Kleines Wiesbachhorn. If you’d like to stop for a break, take this route.
Getting to Ferleiten
- By car: From Zell am See, take the B311 to Bruck an der Großglocknerstraße, then head south through the Fuschertal valley to the Ferleiten Wildlife Park. It’s about 22 km from Zell am See and about 24 km from Kaprun—the drive takes about 25 to 30 minutes in either case.
- By bus: Postbus Line 650 runs from Zell am See to the Ferleiten Wildpark terminal; the trip takes about 35 minutes. So if you’re staying in Zell am See or Kaprun, you don’t need a car for this trip.
Where to stay in the region
Zell am See and Kaprun are ideal starting points for the tour—it’s about a 25-minute drive from either location.
- AlpenParks Hotel & Apartment Orgler Kaprun—in the center of Kaprun, a 3-minute walk to the Maiskogelbahn, with an on-site restaurant and sauna, and apartments for 2 to 8 people.
- AlpenParks Hotel & Apartment Central Zell am See – in the town center, just a few minutes from Lake Zell and the cityXpress valley station, with an underground parking garage featuring electric vehicle charging stations.
- AlpenParks Chalet & Apartment AreitXpress Zell am See – on the outskirts of Zell am See, in a quieter location.
At all three properties, the Zell am See-Kaprun Summer Card is included with your stay from May 15 through October 31. Among other things, it covers public transportation in the Pinzgau region, the summer mountain railways in Zell am See and Kaprun, boat tours on Lake Zell, and the ride up to the Kaprun high-altitude reservoirs.
