Hiking with a view of the water: 3 tour tips to lakes & waterfalls around Flachau

Small, quiet and in a really beautiful location: The Neukarsee is the kind of place you don't discover by chance. It lies on a plateau below the Faulkogel and the Gruberkar - nestled in mountain meadows, with clear, emerald-green water and a view that makes every metre in altitude worthwhile.
The hike starts in the Flachauwinkl area and first leads through the Marbachtal valley. And that is an experience in itself: a crystal-clear mountain stream, larch forest, alpine meadows and that tranquil atmosphere that you simply feel immediately in a beautiful alpine valley. The trail is not too steep at the beginning and leads through a charming mixture of forest, stream and open alpine pastures.
Particularly beautiful: before you really start to climb, you pass rustic mountain pastures. The Prechtlhütte and the Ennslehenalm are exactly the kind of refreshment stops you want: authentic, down-to-earth and cosy. Perfect for a break before the more challenging part begins or, of course, as a reward afterwards.

As beautiful as this tour is, it is not a hike for absolute beginners. After the alpine pastures, the route takes a path on the left up into the mountains. The path becomes narrower, steeper and more challenging in places. You need to be sure-footed, have a head for heights and sturdy hiking boots.
If you hike regularly and feel comfortable on narrow mountain paths, you will love this tour. If you are rarely out and about in the mountains or are unsure of yourself on climbs, it is better to start with an easier hike.
After around 750 metres in altitude, the moment at the top is all the more beautiful: the terrain opens up, the plateau becomes visible and after another 10 to 15 minutes you reach the Neukarsee lake. Then it suddenly lies before you - small, clear and surrounded by mountain meadows. A real insider tip for hiking with a lake around Flachau.

The most beautiful photo spot is not directly on the first stretch of shore, but a few steps further along the plateau. From there, you can capture the lake, the meadows and the surrounding mountain flanks together. The light is particularly good in the morning or later in the afternoon when the sun is a little softer.

The Jägersee in Kleinarl is one of those places that always works. Around 30 minutes from Flachau, it lies quietly between the forest and mountains. The water is clear, the atmosphere is relaxed and the walk around the lake is ideal if you want to enjoy nature without too much effort.
The Jägersee is a good starting point for a group of friends if they don't all want to cover the same number of metres in altitude. If you want to take it easy, simply walk around the lake, take photos on the shore and enjoy the view. If you have more in mind, take the path from here towards Tappenkarsee.

The Tappenkarsee is one of the most famous mountain lakes in the region and lies at 1,762 metres above sea level. The route to the lake can either be started directly from the Jägersee lake or from the Schwabalm car park. From the Jägersee to the Schwabalm it takes about another hour to walk; alternatively, a toll road leads along the left bank of the lake to the Schwabalm. From there, the actual ascent towards Tappenkarsee begins.
The hiking trail is well signposted and initially leads through the forest, later winding uphill. A waterfall rushes in between and the higher you get, the wider the view becomes. At the top, a completely different picture awaits than down at Jägersee: further, more alpine, quieter. The Tappenkarsee lies large and quiet between the mountains - a real mountain lake that makes you realise why this tour is so popular.
As a day tour, the hike is ideal for active groups of friends with a good level of fitness. It is not an extreme tour, but you should not underestimate the length and the metres in altitude. If you start early, you will have more peace and quiet along the way and can take a relaxing break at the top.

There are refreshment stops around the Tappenkarsee, such as the Tappenkarseealm and the Tappenkarseehütte. Here you can reward yourself after the ascent with a simple stop at a hut while the view sweeps over the lake and the peaks.

For those who want to turn the hike into a little mountain adventure, the tour is also an exciting two-day option. A nice option leads to the Tappenkarsee lake and onwards with an overnight stay in the Franz-Fischer-Hütte before heading back towards the Flachautal valley via the inn plateau. This is the right choice if you don't just want to visit a mountain lake, but really want to immerse yourself in the landscape.

The Johannes Waterfall near Obertauern, between Felseralm and Gnadenalm, is a real natural spectacle. The water plunges around 60 metres over the rock face into the depths - loud, fresh and impressive. Just the thing if you are looking for a tour in early summer where you can not only see the power of the water, but really feel it.
The special thing about it: You can get really close to the Johannes Waterfall. Depending on the route, you can even walk behind the waterfall and take photos through the curtain of water. A light jacket is not a bad idea, as the spray quickly cools you down.
Access is possible via the Gnadenalm or the Felseralm. There is a well-signposted circular route from the Gnadenalm, which is also suitable for those who are not planning a long mountain tour but are still looking for an impressive nature experience.

Especially nice: As part of the Flachau Summer Card, there is the guided adventure hike "Waterfall meets Alpine pleasure". The hiking bus takes you to the starting point in the direction of Obertauern. After just a few minutes, the Johannes Waterfall awaits, then you continue along the Hirschwandsteig to the Oberpleißlingalm, where a well-earned break is planned. The tour then leads downhill to Flachauwinkl, from where the hiking bus takes you back to Flachau.
The Flachau Summer Card activity programme runs from 24 May to 2 October 2026 and the card is available directly from your host. It includes many free services and discounts in and around Flachau.
This guided option is particularly practical for a group of friends: nobody has to plan for a long time, you get exciting information along the way and can concentrate fully on looking, walking and enjoying.

If you are looking for a relaxed start, the Jägersee is perfect. A leisurely loop, beautiful photo opportunities and plenty of water views without too much effort.
If you want a classic mountain lake hike with a great panorama, then the Tappenkarsee is the right choice. Plan enough time and ideally start early.
If you are looking for a real insider tip and are sure-footed, then head for the Neukarsee. This hike is more challenging, but is a real scenic highlight.
And if you really want to feel the water, with spray in your face and a stop at a mountain hut afterwards, then the Johannes Waterfall is exactly your destination.

Whether it's a small mountain lake, a big classic or a thundering wall of water: there are some really beautiful hikes with water around Flachau. It is precisely this mixture that makes them so attractive - first through the forest, then across alpine meadows, with a stream in between and a lake or waterfall at the top that drowns everything out.
These tours are ideal for active groups of friends: not extreme, but with plenty of exercise, views and little adventures. And the best thing about it? After every hike, there's somewhere to sit, look and take a deep breath.
Stop by, pack your favourite people and discover your favourite hike with a lake or waterfall around Flachau. And if you find your personal favourite spot along the way: Tag us on Instagram and share your snapshots from Flachau with us! We look forward to it.