Hintersteinersee Lake Scheffau

A natural gem in Scheffau at the Wilder Kaiser

The Hintersteiner See is a magical mountain lake, 56 hectares in size and up to 36 metres deep, located at 883 metres above sea level high above Scheffau in the middle of the Wilder Kaiser nature reserve. A hike around the lake offers marvellous views of the turquoise-blue shimmering water of the crystal-clear mountain lake.

Thanks to the tarmac path, the northern shore is suitable for pushchairs and easily accessible for everyone. There are several places to stop for refreshments along this section.

The southern shore offers a varied route through the forest, with gentle climbs and descents along the way. Some sections include steps, making this part of the path unsuitable for wheelchair users.
There’s also a lido here, prized for its natural setting. Widely regarded as the most beautiful and cleanest natural bathing lake in Tyrol, Hintersteinersee Lake in Scheffau more than lives up to its reputation..

Luftaufnahme eines grünen Waldes an einem klaren, türkisfarbenen Gewässer. Die Farben kontrastieren stark und vermitteln ein Gefühl von Ruhe und Naturverbundenheit.

Zwei Personen stehen auf Paddleboards auf einem ruhigen See, umgeben von grünen Wäldern und Bergen im Hintergrund, bei sonnigem Wetter.

Panorama eines Bergsees umgeben von grünen Wäldern und majestätischen Bergen unter blauem Himmel.

Zwei Personen in einem Ruderboot auf einem stillen See, umgeben von Bergen im Sonnenuntergang. Die Spiegelung im Wasser verstärkt die friedliche Stimmung.

Access & Parking

Hiking bus with people stepping out in front of the majestic Wilder Kaiser mountains, surrounded by lush greenery and rugged peaks under a clear blue sky.

Hiking bus to Lake Hinterstein

We recommend using the free hiking bus from Scheffau to Hintersteiner See. During the summer months, it runs several times a day between the park-and-ride car park, Scheffau village and Hintersteiner See.

bus schedule

Getting there by car

Access by car to the eastern shore of Hintersteiner See is possible all year round.
A limited number of paid parking spaces for cars and motorcycles is available there.
Motorhomes and coaches are not permitted to park.
If the lakeside car parks reach capacity, access to the lake may be temporarily closed from Scheffau onwards (local residents exempt).
Tip: Use the Park & Ride car park in Scheffau and continue to the lake on the free hiking bus. Parking is subject to a fee and payment is only possible by card at the ticket machine.

Driving restriction for motor vehicles (May–October)
To reduce traffic along the lakeshore, a driving restriction applies daily from 1 May to 31 October, between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., for all motor vehicles on the road between the eastern and western shores of Hintersteiner See, on the section between Seestüberl and Pension Maier.

The restriction does not apply to local residents or authorised persons. Outside these hours, the lakeside road is open to all traffic without restrictions.

Zwei Radfahrer fahren auf einer Straße entlang eines klaren, türkisfarbenen Sees, umgeben von dicht bewaldeten Hügeln bei sonnigem Wetter.

Getting there on foot or by bike

There are several signposted hiking trails and cycling routes leading to Hintersteiner See.

Coaches, motorhomes & camping

There is no parking available for coaches or motorhomes at Hintersteiner See.
Camping is also not permitted. Due to the narrow, winding road, coaches longer than 10 metres are not permitted to access Hintersteiner See.

Swimming at Lake Hinterstein

With its refreshing temperatures and clean water, the Hintersteinersee natural lake is also particularly popular for swimming. The outdoor pool is located on the northern shore of the lake and offers a large sunbathing lawn as well as a kiosk and hire of sun loungers, parasols and stand-up paddles.

Prices for the lido can be found at www.strandbad-hintersteinersee.at.