Felbertal

Mittersill

Peaks and crossings
  • Zwölferkogel (2.446 m)
  • Landeggkopf (2.900 m)
  • Teufelspitze (2.848 m )
  • Hörndl (2.852 m)
  • Hochgasser (2.922 m)
  • Tauernkogel (2.988 m)
  • Hoher Herd (2.824 m)
  • Pihapper (2.513 m)
  • via the Alten Tauern (2.493 m) to East Tyrol
  • via the Felbertauern (2.481 m) - St. Pöltner Hütte to the Matreier Tauernhaus
Mountain lakes and alpine streams
Felbertal Hintersee Waterfall | © Holiday Region National Park Hohe Tauern
Mountain lakes and alpine streams

The Hohe Tauern National Park is home to more than 550 lakes. Many of them are located in the Felbertal area. Hintersee is a relatively young lake and was only formed in 1495 after a large landslide from the Hoher Herd. It has been a Salzburg natural monument since 1933. Lake Plattachsee, Lake Langsee and Lake Tauern-(Ober)See are located in a glacially deformed high trough to the northwest in the Felbertal. The Amertaler See, outside the national park, with its abraded round humps on the northern shore is over-dammed and used for the power plants in the Stubach valley. In addition, we find many natural streams with shallow stretches and waterfalls. They carry different amounts of water depending on the time of day and season.

In the rear Felbertal, numerous streams tumble over the rocks of the Geißkopf during snowmelt and after rainfall. From the Geißstein, the Schleierfall falls over 80 metres into the high valley at Hintersee. The Felberbach and also the Ammerbach are mostly meltwater streams that come from snow cirques, partly also from spring areas. They are clearly distinguishable in their clarity from the western Tauern streams, which have a milky-cloudy colour typical of glacial streams.

Living alpine pastures

Transhumance is of great importance in Felbertal valley. Mid-June / beginning of July, grazing animals are herded up, first sheep and goats, then young cattle and cows. Sheep graze freely in the elevated regions. The "Pinzgau nanny" is native species of domestic animal. It is gaining in importance, as goat milk is getting more and more sought after. Rams can reach a weight of up to 100 kg. Other native livestock include the Pinzgau cow, Noriker and Haflinger horse.

Where the water rushes - Schösswendklamm gorge

The Pembach waterfall is located at the entrance to the inner Felbertal, just after the first turn-off. It is 25 metres high and carries a lot of water, especially after heavy rainfall. Since it flows over hard green shale, the water cannot sink in. Nearby, however, the Felberbach stream has forced its way through the hard rock. Here in the Schösswendklamm gorge we find erosion forms, scours and small waterfalls that are well worth seeing. The gorge is well accessible, especially interesting in autumn when there is little water, because then you can see the formations in the rock very well.

Walking time: 2-3 minutes from the road.

On easy paths - Hintersee educational trail

This impressive nature trail leads past the north side of the lake and up to knoll with views of the lake and cliffs. Lectern displays provide details and open visitors' eyes to the nature of the lake and its surroundings. A wildlife watchtower beckons to observe the alpine fauna. On the western cliffs, ibex are frequently spotted but also alpine wallcreepers. Deer, water pipits, ring thrush, grey and white wagtails can be observed nearby with some luck. Marmots, golden eagles and other typical highland animals are often spotted during treks in the area. The birdlife of the mountain forest is described on a board along the Hintersee nature trail as is the biocoenosis in Hintersee lake.

On ancient paths - mule tracks across the Felbertauern

Pilgrims and mountaineers today use the old trails of the freight haulers to get from Hintersee to St. Pöltner Hut (2,481 m). From here you can descend in 2 – 3 hours, depending on the route, to the Matreier Tauernhaus. The trail at first leads along Felberbach stream, winding its way up to the Nassfeld – a cirque with a winding stream and swampy spots, continuing to Plattachsee lake and across alpine meadows with alpine sedge and fairy primrose, through rubble and rock vegetation (red saxifrage) and finally to the hut. Alpinists can go on great tours starting at the hut (incl. Hochgasser, Messelingkogel, Tauernkogel).

Walking time: to St. Pöltner Hut approx. 3 ½ hours