Top 6 Mountain Lakes in Upper Austria

Hiking in Austria is a great way to experience the country and its culture, as well as admire its natural beauty. With its stunning mountain ranges, lush green forests, and crystal clear lakes, Austria offers some of the most spectacular hiking in Europe. Whether it's a leisurely trek through the countryside, a challenging climb up a mountain, or a peaceful walk along a mountain lake, Austria has something for everyone and we have a list of the top 6 mountain lakes hikes in Upper Austria.

From the glistening green waters of Langbathseen to the iconic mirror lakes of Gosauseen and Schiederweiher, Upper Austria is home to some of the most beautiful lakes in the whole country. And thanks to the well-developed paths around these lakes, they are accessible to everyone all year round.

There are 33 lakes in Upper Austria and here are the TOP SIX you should visit –

Gosauseen
Langbathseen
Almsee
Offensee
Laudachsee
Schiederweiher

Gosauseen

Gosauseen is a series of 3 picturesque lakes, Vorderer, Gosaulacke, and Hinterer. These lakes are overshadowed by Dachstein and are located a few twists and turns from Hallstatt. The lake is known for its crystal-clear waters, stunning views of the surrounding mountains, and alpine pastures, and it is one of Austria's most beloved natural attractions.

Parking Lot: Parking Lake Gosau 1 Gosauseestrasse 152, 4825 Gosau
Price to Park: Free
Starting point: Vorderer Gosausee
Destination: Hinterer Gosausee
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes one way // 3.5 hours round trip with stops for photos and snacks along the way
Distance: 5.6 kilometers
Lowest point: 940 meters
Highest point: 1,150 meters
Elevation Gain: 200 meters
When to Hike: All Year Round (Winter and Spring are our favorite)
Weeks we visited: Week 57 Week 78 Week 105 Week 106

Mountain Lake Hikes In Upper Austria — *Gosauseen in April*

Langbathseen

Tucked away in the lush forest of Ebensee in Upper Austria, Langbathseen is another local favorite. Also made up of two crystal clear alpine mountain lakes Vorderer Langbathsee and Hinterer Langbathsee, you are surrounded by breathtaking mountain scenery. A popular diving site in the summer and the prettiest leaf-peeping photography spot in the fall.

Parking Lot: Parkplatz Langbathsee
Price to Park: Free
Starting point: Vorderer Langbathsee
Destination: Hinterer Langbathsee
Duration: 2 hours round-trip
Distance: 7 kilometers
Lowest point: 668 meters
Highest point: 768 meters
Elevation gain: 100 meters
When to Hike: All Year Round (Fall is our favorite)
Weeks we visited: Week 3 Week 78 Week 103

Almsee

Almsee is a lake in Upper Austria’s Almtal Valley. Whether the Almsee is blanketed in snow or the trees have turned bright orange, Almsee offers hikers enjoyment all year round with its crystal clear waters and stunning scenery.

Parking Lot: Almsee Parkplatz
Price to Park: Free
Starting point: Gasthof Seehaus Geishüttner
Destination: Gasthof Seehaus Geishüttner
Duration: 1 hour 40 minutes round-trip
Distance: 6 kilometers
Lowest point: 575 meters
Highest point: 656 meters
Elevation Gain: 81 meters
When to Hike: All Year Round (Fall and Winter are our favorite)
Weeks we visited: Week 53 Week 59

Offensee

Offensee might be one of the most underrated lakes in Austria, but one of my favorites in the winter. As it freezes over, you have a unique opportunity to walk on the frozen lake. You may even see people diving in to take a cold plunge in the middle of winter.

Parking Lot: Offensee car park
Price to Park: Free
Starting point: Offensee car park
Destination: Offensee car park
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes round-trip
Distance: 4.8 kilometers
Lowest point: 649 meters
Highest point: 677 meters
Elevation Gain: 28 meters
When to Hike: All Year Round (Winter is our favorite)
Weeks we visited: Week 5 Week 121

Laudachsee

Sandwiched between the Traunstein and Grünberg, it is the most popular destination for hikers and mountaineers on the Grünberg. When Eric and I moved to Austria, it was in the middle of the Covid Pandemic. So while lockdowns were in full force, nature was our escape and Laudachsee was the first mountain lake Eric and I hiked to upon our arrival in 2020. It is also the lake we feature in our 48 hours in Gmunden itinerary. There are several ways to reach Laudachsee. Either from the Grunberg Cable Car in the summer, or to save a little money, start at Franzl im Holz. After 90 minutes of walking along a forest road and through tall alpine trees, you will arrive at Laudachsee.

Parking Lot: Franzl im Holz
Price to Park: Free
Starting point: Franzl im Holz
Destination: Ramsaualm
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
When to Hike: All Year Round (Winter and Summer are our favorite)
Weeks we visited: Week 2 Week 58

Schiederweiher

The Schiederweiher is an artificial lake in Hinterstoder at the foot of the Großer Priel and was voted the most beautiful site in Austria in 2018. This hike takes you over a wooden bridge, through the beautiful Johannishof estate, around the Schiederweiher and into the Polsterlucke for a refreshing drink and slice of strudel.

Parking Lot: Schiederweiher Parking lot
Price to Park: €4 for 6 hours
Starting point: Schiederweiher Parking lot
Destination: Polsterstüberl
Duration: 1 hour to the Polsterstüberl // 2 hours round trip
Distance: 5.2 kilometers
Lowest point: 609 meters
Highest point: 727 meters
Elevation Gain: 118 meters
When to Hike: All Year Round (Winter and Spring are our favorite)
Weeks we visited: Week 25 Week 121

I hope you enjoy hiking around Austria, one lake at a time. Let us know how your hike goes in the comments below or message me on Instagram.

If you loved this list of Upper Austrian hikes, check out our 48 hours in Gmunden itinerary. When you base yourself in Gmunden, you can easily explore all 6 lakes during your stay.

Save this pin for later!

Top six Mountain Lakes in Upper Austria