In this article, you will find information about activities around the lake in summer and winter.
- Lake Achensee – General Information
- Summer Activities at the Lake: Hiking Trails, Cable Cars, and Boating
- Skiing Around the Lake
- Other Essential Information for Your Visit
Lake Achensee – General Information
The lake is located at an altitude of 950 meters above sea level and is surrounded by the impressive peaks of the Karwendel and Rofan mountain ranges. The highest mountain in this area is called Sonnjoch, and it rises to a height of 2457 meters above sea level. The clear, bluish-green waters of the lake, combined with the view of the high mountains in the background, make the place a picturesque area straight out of a postcard.
The lake’s water is so clear that you can see about 10 meters deep, but don’t rush to get in the water because it’s most likely freezing (below 20 degrees Celsius even on summer days). The water in the southern part of the lake may be slightly warmer, so it’s worth focusing on this area if you want to try to get in the water. There are bathing beaches and a public swimming pool around the lake.
Additionally, there are several villages around the lake: Achenkirch to the north, Pertisau to the west, and Maurach to the south.
The large lake is an ideal place for windsurfing and sailing. What’s more, there are many hiking trails around it on the various peaks that surround it.
Lake Achensee in Summer – Hiking Trails, Cable Cars, and Boating
Hiking Trails in the Lake Achensee Area
The area surrounding the lake is full of marked and well-maintained hiking trails. There are no less than 500 kilometers of trails in this area alone. The trails are of varying difficulty levels; you can do short and easy family trails or challenging trails to the peaks near the lake. Of course, you don’t have to climb to the high peaks to enjoy the view; you can use the cable cars scattered around the lake: a cable car in the village of Maurach to the Rofan peaks or a cable car from the village of Pertisau to the Karwendel peaks.
If you are not interested in going up to the peaks by cable car or climbing the various trails, you can take a leisurely walk along the well-maintained path along the lake. The path is mostly flat and does not require special effort. You can, of course, also sail along the lake, which is also a popular option.
You can find a long list of recommended hiking trails in the entire lake area here (in English) by different difficulty levels. The English part starts on page 36.
Ascending to the Mountain Peaks by Cable Car
In the villages near the lake, you have the option to take a cable car up to the mountain peaks, look out over the lake, and go on enjoyable hikes. The popular cable cars are:
1. Rofan Seilbahn (Rofan Cable Car)
The enclosed cable car connects the village of Maurach to the Rofan mountain south of Lake Achensee. At the top of the mountain, there are about 150 kilometers of various hiking trails at an altitude of 2299 meters. The most impressive trail on this peak is the one that leads to the Dalfazalm hut and the Dalfazer Wasserfall waterfalls. This is a short hike that takes about an hour.
If you are interested in a bit of adrenaline, you can try the AirRofan flying attraction or try paragliding over the lake (more information on paragliding is available on the paragliding company’s website or directly by phone at 00436602226072).
Cable Car Operating Times:
The cable car operates every day.
- Off-season (April – mid-June, September – early November): from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.
- Summer months (mid-June to the first week of September): from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM.
Costs:
- Adult (round trip): €29
- Child (round trip): €17
- There are also family tickets, starting from €61.50.
Official website with detailed prices (German)
Map:
2. Karwendel Bergbahn (Cable car to the Zwölferkopf peak)
The cable car from the village of Pertisau reaches the Zwölferkopf peak at an altitude of 1500 meters, from where you can enjoy magnificent views of the lake or try paragliding. From the summit, you can go on an enjoyable and simple walk towards the Bärenbadalm hikers’ hut, which offers Tyrolean-style meals, and on the way, enjoy the wonderful nature and the animals roaming the area. In addition, you don’t have to take the cable car back down; you can walk for about an hour along the beautiful Tunnelweg path until you get back to the valley.
Cable Car Operating Times:
The cable car operates from the beginning of May to the end of October in summer mode. It departs every 15 minutes from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. There is no break in the middle.
Costs:
- Adult (round trip): €23.50
- Child (round trip): €15.50
Map:
Boating on Lake Achensee (Achensee-Schifffahrt)
An experiential boat trip on the lake has been available since 1887! This is undoubtedly an enjoyable and relaxing way to view the scenery surrounding the lake from a different perspective. The boats make a circular cruise and stop at various stations around the entire lake. Through the cruise, you can see the entire lake from the northernmost point to the southernmost point. You can get on and off at several stations around the lake, thus visiting all parts of the area easily. There is an option to join a special cruise that includes a hot meal (for an additional cost, of course).
Cruise Operating Times:
End of April to the end of October. The cruise departs every hour.
Cruise Cost:
- A circular cruise that passes all the stations and lasts about two hours costs €30.
- There is a family ticket for 2 parents and a child that costs €60.
- You can sail for just a few stops, or even just one stop, and pay accordingly. A cruise from one stop to another costs €3. The more stops you sail, the higher the price. You can see a detailed price list here (the file is in German and English).
Lake Achensee in Winter – Skiing
The Lake Achensee ski resort is not comparable to the large ski resorts of Austria, but it is still an experience and is particularly suitable for families. In the winter months, many cable cars operate in all parts of the lake. Additionally to the cable cars to Mount Rofan or Mount Zwölferkopf, there are also the Christlum cable car in the village of Achenkirch and a cable car in Steinberg and Wiesing. In the entire lake area, there are about 53 kilometers of ski slopes of various skill levels.
In addition, there are six ski schools offering private lessons for children and adults throughout the week. Here is the list of ski schools.
Considering skiing in the Lake Achensee area? Watch the video and decide if it’s worth it!
Other Essential Information for Your Visit:
- Address: Achensee (if coming from Innsbruck, it is best to start from the village of Maurach. A drive of about 35 minutes).
- Map:
