Krimmler Wasserfälle

Snapshot

Austria’s highest waterfall drops 380 metres through three glacier-fed tiers in the far west of Pinzgau, and the trail beside it is one of the great natural walks in the Eastern Alps.

The Story

The Krimmler Wasserfälle cascades in three stages: 140 metres at the lower tier, 100 metres at the middle, and another 140 metres at the upper. The total drop of 380 metres makes it the highest waterfall in Austria. No single plunge, no gimmick. Just three consecutive falls stacked through a forested gorge, each one audible before it comes into view.

The Wasserfallweg, a paved 4 km trail with 431 metres of elevation gain, climbs through eleven viewpoints from the valley floor to the upper platform at Bergerblick (1,390 m). The spray hits you at the lower cascade and doesn’t let up. By the middle tier, near the Schönangerl hut, the sound becomes physical. The upper cascade, a clean 140-metre drop viewed from the Schettkanzel platform, is the one that stays with people. The full ascent takes around 90 minutes at a comfortable pace. The round trip, with stops, runs three to four hours.

The ecological story adds another layer. The spray from the falls generates a concentrated field of negative ions, an effect documented in Austrian therapeutic tourism research. The microclimate around the lower cascade is noticeably different from the surrounding valley, cooler and denser, and the air quality has been described in connection with respiratory benefit. The falls have been under nature protection since 1958, were incorporated into Hohe Tauern National Park in 1984, and hold the Council of Europe’s European Diploma for Protected Areas, awarded in 1967. The glacier-fed Krimmler Ache, which supplies the falls, flows at around 5.6 m³/s through June and July, dropping to near zero in midwinter. The falls are part of the national park’s broader alpine ecosystem, which includes glacier basins, moss-rich gorges, and the high plateau above Krimml village.

Visiting

Entry to the Wasserfallweg costs €9.00 for adults, €4.50 for children aged 6-15, children under 6 free. A combo ticket covering both the trail and the WasserWelten interactive water exhibition costs €15.50 adults / €7.70 children. The WasserWelten exhibition runs mid-April through end of October. The trail opens mid-April and closes end of October.

The falls are at their most powerful in June and July. September is worth considering: the crowds thin, the light softens in the afternoon, and the flow is still strong. Avoid peak mid-morning on summer weekends if you want the lower cascade platforms to yourself. Arrive early.

Bring a waterproof jacket or a packable shell. The spray at the lower and middle tiers will soak any exposed layer. The trail is well-maintained and paved throughout; sturdy shoes are enough, waterproof ones are better.

From Salzburg city: approximately 150 km by car via the B311 and Gerlos Alpine Road (toll, around €12 per car). Allow around two hours each way, making it a full day trip. By public transport: Pinzgauer Lokalbahn from Zell am See to Krimml station (53 km, around €11), then a short walk to the falls entrance. Combine with a stop in Krimml village itself, or continue toward the Gerlos Pass if driving.