Drachensee and Seebensee Hike in Tyrol
Austria is the best place to fall in love with hiking. The hiking trails are well maintained, properly marked, and divided into easy and difficult levels. Two of Austria’s most stunning alpine lakes, Seebensee and Drachensee, are found in the magnificent Zugspitze Region.
The popularity is understandable, given the stunning Zugspitze in the background and the beautiful waters surrounding it.
The Drachensee and Seebensee Hike in Tyrol is the main attraction. While the Sebensee lake hike can be tackled with a stroller, the Drachensee requires a little more stamina. However, both hikes need a perfect guide to help you get there.
Hiking in Tyrol
You can find all the practical information you need to organize the hike in this travel guide, including directions, advice on what to pack, descriptions of the trail, and more.
Not every mountain lake should be reached by a strenuous hike, and Seebensee is one of them. The mountain lake is tucked between the Ehrwalder Sonnenspitze to the west, the Vorderer Drachenkopf to the south, and the Vorderer Tajakopf peak to the east at the height of 1.657 meters.
Vorderer Tajakopf peak
Families and those seeking a leisurely stroll over a breathtaking alpine landscape will find the 8 km hike to Seebensee ideal.
You can reach a mountain cabin and another picture-perfect alpine lake from the Seebensee by ascending a strenuous 250 vertical meter. You will be rewarded with unobstructed views of the Drachensee, which stands in a rugged bowl on its foot for breathtaking views.
Drachensee
Also Read: Austria Itinerary for Beginners
Seebensee hike starts at Bergstation Ehrwalder Alm. You could hike here from Ehrwald, but it would take more than an hour and involve a difficult hike. Therefore, we strongly advise that you take a cable car to save time and effort. So, your hike will technically start and end at the summit cable car station.
Ehrwalder Cable Car
You can take a car to the cable car station, which has a parking space that costs 5 € per day.
The cable car operates from 8:30 a.m to 4:30 p.m every day in the summer season and from 8:00 a.m to 5:30 p.m in the winter months. The round trip will cost you $21.50, and one-way trip will be around $14 for adults.
The hike to Seebensee is really simple. You can pretty much follow the mountain road to get to the lake. It is possible to hike to Seebnesee lake with a stroller because the gravel route is broad and used by mountain bikes as well.
The Seebensee hike is clearly marked from the beginning. You will pass a café and a playground for children on your left as you leave the cable car. Simply continue on the wide gravel road beyond the restaurant. Since so many people go on this hike, you usually just have to follow them.
Hiking Trail
However, the path separates after traveling along the road for around 30 minutes. Instead of taking the road, you can choose to go into the forest on an alpine trail. Then make a left turn. It’s a surprisingly pleasant hike that isn’t at all challenging, and it is considerably quieter because there are no mountain bikers in this area.
You’ll be greeted by the most breathtaking alpine views as soon as you exit from the forest! The scenery is just stunning, and it only gets better from here.
Hiking through alpine trail
Also Read: Hiking in the Alps
You will arrive at Seebenalm, a mountain restaurant, in another half hour or so. The lake is another 15 to 20 minutes stroll from here. Since the Seebensee lake itself lacks a restaurant and restrooms, this is your final opportunity for a while to use the facilities.
You can hear the waterfall when you enjoy your meal at Seebenalm, making it a wonderful experience. You could choose to take a brief detour from the Seebensee route in order to see the waterfall. The views from the waterfall’s peak are just spectacular!
Walking from Seebenalm to Seebensee, you’ll notice that there are various paths that go to the lake. One way goes over a small wooden bridge, crossing the river and continuing along the broad gravel road. The other way splits off to the left, just before the bridge.
Although both of these pathways are beautiful, the left one passes a little waterfall. If you are hiking both ways, take one path to Seebensee lake and the other from there back to the back car.
Sebensee Lake
It is less than 30 minutes hiking from the Seebenalm restaurant to your intended destination. As the crowds increase and cowbells get more frequent, you know you are almost there. Suddenly, you will be standing in front of the stunning Sebensee lake. The mountains are massive, the river is crystal pure, and the ginger cows are lovely. The picture sounds straight out of an Austrian magazine; doesn’t it?
Seebensee is one of Tyrol’s most scenic and popular mountain lakes. If you come here on a warm summer day, there will always be a large crowd of people around you. But don’t worry because there is plenty of space and breathtaking views for everyone to enjoy.
Sometimes, on a hot summer day, people go swimming in the lake. But keep in mind that the lake is amidst a mountain range, and the water is really chilly. The ideal scenario is that you jump in after your hike to cool off and then quickly out again! In that case, you might wish to bring some swimwear and a travel towel that dries quickly.
Sebensee Mirror Lake
It’s really amazing to see the turquoise water of this mountain lake. If you took food with you, you could take a walk around the entire lake and choose the perfect spot for a lunch break. As an alternative, a Seebenalm mountain hut is nearby where you can sample some traditional Austrian cuisine. Take a well-earned break before beginning the final leg of your adventure.
If you are up for a little more hiking, we strongly recommend further exploring this area. The hike to Drachensee is particularly lovely and offers a different view of Seebensee lake. Definitely worthwhile!
Simply follow the wide walkway that runs along Lake Seebensee’s left side to reach Drachensee lake. You can follow the signs to Coburger Hutte at the end of the path. You’ll soon find yourself at the base of a trail that appears to be very steep.
You must ascend a steep, serpentine trail to reach Coburger Hutte (which you can see from the bottom). Despite being high, the trail wasn’t as challenging as we had anticipated, and we finished it in 40 minutes.
Drachensee Hiking
Tip: This part of the route is an alpine hike that is uneven, full of large and small stones, and uneven. So, good hiking shoes are a must.
After an 8-kilometer, intense climb, arriving in Coburger Hutte seems like a true accomplishment. Stunning views of the surrounding mountain peaks and the deep blue Drachensee lake below welcome you right away. Take a moment to relax and take in the scenery. You could also go for a swim in the Drachensee lake.
Deep blue Drachensee lake
The Coburger Hutte accepts reservations for overnight stays and offers a restaurant and clean restrooms. We highly recommend spending the night here to experience the most breathtaking view in the morning. Don’t forget to try the apple strudel as a reward for completing your strenuous Seebensee & Drachensee hike in Tyrol.
We followed the same route home, passing through Seebensee and Seebenalm before returning to Ehrwalder Almbahn. Just this time, we chose the wide gravel road rather than the alternate hiking track we took before. After all the climbing at Coburger Hut, it is quite a relief that this is an easy trail.
Along the route, you can see the Zugspitze mountain in stunning detail. The descent of this climb is almost as stunning as the ascent!
Ehrwalder Almbahn Cable Car
You can take a 50 meter detour to visit the viewpoint over the Seeben Valley to enjoy the beautiful meadows with cute little cows.
It was much simpler and quicker to hike down from Drachensee & Seebensee than to hike up. The trail was nearly empty early in the morning, and our bags were lighter. Before walking the final 6 kilometers back to our car, we even stopped at the Seebenalm mountain hut for a second breakfast.
In the end, it took us 3 hours and 40 minutes to ascend and just 1 hour and 20 minutes to descend to the parking lot.
You can hike even higher up to Tajatörl if you’re very fit and up for another adventure. From Coburger Hut, the ascending trail is very clearly marked and steep. You should be able to see both Seebensee and Drachensee lakes down as you travel. I believe it would be worthwhile to hike for it alone.
After reaching the summit, you can follow a trail that passes a tiny mountain lake called Brendlisee as it heads toward Ehrwalder Almbahn. This trip would require you to ascend another 340 meters, which is a pretty difficult ascent. Even the shortest loop will take around 5 to 6 hours.
Don’t cut your trip short after your rewarding experience of the Drachensee and Seebensee hike in Tyrol. Continue your vacation to explore Ehrwalder Almbahn.
The unique pedestrian bridge in Austria is a favorite among outdoor enthusiasts and hikers. The route 179 freeway, which is situated in the valley below, gave it its name. It is particularly lovely to walk on the bridge in the morning and towards sunset.
This 1,2 meter-wide footbridge is open every day from 8 am to 10 pm. Walking across the steel bridge is a beautiful experience. This bridge trembles quite a bit, which is an experience in and of itself. Just take a look at the huge hole below your feet for an adrenaline rush.
Highline 179
The bridge connects Fort Claudia with the ruins of Ehrenberg, two significant forts in history. The two castles are accessible when you cross the bridge. Highline 179 can be reached more quickly and conveniently from the side facing Castle Ehrenberg. The steep, well-maintained trail takes 20–25 minutes to reach the bridge’s entrance gate.
Price:
Eibsee lake lies in the German state of Bayern (Bavaria) and it is not just any lake. Eibsee is actually one of Germany’s most magnificent lakes. The lake is nestled amid the Alps and is roughly an hour’s drive from Munich. The waters of this picturesque lake, which have an incredible shore length of almost 8 km (4.9 miles), brilliantly mirror the clear sky and the high mountains surrounding it.
Eibsee Lake
A journey to Lake Eibsee will be one of the highlights of your trip to Bayern in Germany, whether you stroll around the lake, swim in its crystal-clear waters, or visit the adjacent Zugspitze.
You can take a car to the lake to enjoy the beautiful views on the drive. Just a few yards from the lake and the Eibsee Hotel, Eibsee has a spacious parking area, which is open from five in the morning until ten at night. It’s important to remember that you’ll have to carry cash on hand to pay for parking because the parking meter does not currently accept cards.
Parking Price:
Naturally, summer is the perfect time to visit Eibsee in Germany because you can see bright greens and blues everywhere. Additionally, when wandering around the lake, you can cool down in the lake’s refreshing waters to escape the summer heat.
As an alternative, you should visit during the cooler months, which are April, May, September, October, when the area will be much less crowded and the weather will be pleasant enough for you to enjoy your trip.
Hiking
There are two main hiking routes at Lake Eibsee. First off, it takes slightly over an hour to climb from the Grainau train station to Eibsee. This hike is picturesque even though there may not be views of the lake itself.
Eibsee Lake
The second option is to go on a hike around Lake Eibsee. f you want to walk the entire perimeter of Eibsee it’ll take around 2 hours. Walking along Eibsee’s 8 kilometer shore takes about 2 hours. Not to mention that you will be strolling through the wilderness, taking in the breathtaking views of Eibsee and the adjacent mountains reflected in the lake.
Boating
You can rent rowing boats, pedal boats, stand-up paddleboards, or even a motorboat near the Eibsee parking lot. Additionally, if you are a guest at the Eibsee hotel, you will even receive a discount on the motor boat ride.
Explore the Lake Eibsee Instagram Locations
Owing to Lake Eibsee’s popularity, you can find a ton of images of it on Instagram that were taken at just a few specific spots around the lake. You must arrive early in the morning if you want to capture these instagrammable images of Eibsee to get the perfect reflection in your photos and to avoid the crowds.
Some of the Instagrammable spots include:
Famous Instagram Rock
The 2962-meter-high Zugspitze, which is situated in southern Germany near the Austrian border, is the highest point in the country. Visiting Zugspite will be a terrific half-day excursion.
There are three cable cars and five hiking trails that lead to Zugspitze’s peak spot. Eibsee-Seilbahn cable car is a 10-minute ride to the top from lake Eibsee.
The ascent is breathtaking, offering views of the Alps that are dispersed throughout Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. When you reach the top of Zugspitze, you are standing on the boundary between Germany and Austria. Every country has a terrace with restaurants and museums that is connected by a narrow path. Whether you visit the summit from Germany or Austria, you can reach every part of it easily, once you arrive.
Zugspitze
The official peak of Zugspitze is a short climb for those seeking a little more adventure. Chains and ladders help climbers reach the summit.
Enjoy German cuisine and beer while taking in the spectacular views of the Alps and the Zugspitzplatt Glacier.
Note: Make sure you pack at least a jacket because it may get very chilly atop Zugspitze even in the middle of summer.
When your hiking trail takes you to the lake, you don’t forget the swimwear! Even if the water is going to cold for your Seebensee & Drachensee hike in Tyrol, you shouldn’t miss out on the opportunity to float between the crystal blue water and the stunning mountains. After all, it is not every day that you get to take a swim amidst the mountains.
Swimming in mountain lake
However, if you forget to bring your swimming clothes to your trip, you can use a nylon t-shirt that is moisture-wicking and dries quickly.
One of the first things you should double check when you’re going into the wilderness is that you have a first aid kit. First-aid kits that have been pre-assembled eliminate the guesswork involved in creating your own, while many people customize these kits to meet their unique needs. Additionally, pre-assembled kits are suitable for backpackers because they are light in weight.
Any first aid kit should include anti-blister remedies, various-sized adhesive bandages, multiple gauze pads, adhesive tape, antiseptic cream, over-the-counter painkillers, a pen, and paper. You should also include nitrile gloves in your kit.
The contents of your kit will depend on how long your journey will be and how many people will be traveling with you. Additionally, it’s a good idea to have a small manual on how to handle medical crises with you at all times.
You’ll be able to customise your first aid kit as you get more hiking expertise to suit your specific needs. As soon as you get home from your excursion, make sure to replace whatever you used.
When you are hiking in the wilderness, you have so many picturesque views that you get overwhelmed. But with a camera on hand, you can live all the moments that you spent while hiking again. There will be endless photography opportunities on your Seebensee & Drachensee lake hikes from mountains, rivers, open sky, and coastal views, to the local animals, birds, and colorful butterflies.
Make sure you are using a wide-angle zoom lens as your all-purpose trekking camera. They will be the most flexible and enable you to take whatever picture you want while hiking!
The Seebensee Lake Hike is a fantastic hiking experience for anyone looking to see some of Tyrol’s most breathtaking views without putting in a lot of effort. It’s a short, enjoyable hike that takes 3–4 hours in total.
Sebensee Wide Angle Shot
For those seeking a little more challenging climb and even more breathtaking views, Coburger Hutte/Drachensee is a fantastic choice. It will take you roughly 4-5 hours to complete this moderate but extremely worthwhile climb.
The Seebensee & Drachensee hike in Tyrol will be a wonderful and worthwhile experience, no matter whether you go with your friends, family, or solo.
Join our mailing list to receive all of our travel journeys and recommendations :-)
Visiter Paris en seulement 24 heures peut représenter un véritable défi pour beaucoup de monde.…
Both countries run on systems - transport systems, etiquette systems, food-ordering systems - and the…
No matter where you live in the world, Brazil is likely to be a…
Paris is world-renowned for being the “city of love”, so there’s no better place to…
As someone deeply passionate about art, history, and science, my exploration of Europe proved to…
Finding the right places to visit can be overwhelming. We know firsthand how stressful it…