Let's go

Spring awakening around Lake Heiterwanger See

View from the south shore to the northeast. The Plansee lake is located between the two mountain flanks.(Bild: Peter Freiberger)

It is still quiet around the magnificent body of water on the other side of the Fernpass. You can recharge your batteries on a relaxing circular hike around the lake with no difference in altitude.

With a bit of luck, you can set off from the parking lot through a sea of crocuses in the surrounding meadows. They were just about to bloom recently.

In any case, we follow the asphalt road that leads to the lake to the right of the parking lot. From there, the path - now no longer asphalted - is practically flat along the southern shore. Of course, we don't see any bathers yet, and the excursion boats don't sail until mid-May. The 1.4 square kilometer lake is therefore relatively calm at the moment. The path leads slightly above the natural lake, whose water level is currently lower than in summer. The water is used to generate electricity.

The surrounding mountains are reflected in the lake.(Bild: Peter Freiberger)

The route then runs along the eastern end of the lake to the canal bridge. This was only rebuilt in 2022 and crosses the canal that connects Lake Heiterwanger See with Lake Plansee. From the bridge, there is a - brief - view of the Plansee.

Fakten

• Valley town: Heiterwang (994 m)
• Starting point: free parking lot P 2 (985 m) on the access road from Heiterwang to Heiterwanger See (coming from the Fernpass, turn off the Fernpass road towards the lake before Heiterwang); larger parking lot in front of the Hotel Fischer am See (for a fee)
• Route: (asphalted) road, path
• Equipment: sturdy shoes
• Requirements: no special requirements necessary
• Children: from baby age
• Mountain buggy: no
• Refreshments: Hotel Fischer am See on the western shore, www.fischeramsee.at
• Public transport: bus from Imst or Reutte to Heiterwang
• Height difference: practically non-existent
• Length: around 7.5 kilometers (entire circular hike)
• Walking time: around 1 3/4 hours (entire circular hike)

Cross the bridge and on the other side follow a path in the forest on the north bank back towards Heiterwang. With no significant difference in altitude, the route now ascends and descends a little. The mountain scenery around the lake is impressive, with the Thaneller rising above Heiterwang to the west.

The Thaneller towers above Heiterwang.(Bild: Peter Freiberger)

The trail turns into an asphalt path shortly before the Hotel Fischer am See. Now we cross the tributary stream, then walk to the hotel in the area of the campsite and back to the parking lot on the access road.