SUMMER BY THE WATER
A place to swim at the Wilder Kaiser, whatever the day.
On hot summer days the loveliest spot is often close at hand. From the Gafalhof you can reach three quite different places to swim within minutes: the Badesee Going, voted Tyrol’s loveliest natural bathing lake, with water at 24 °C from the Kaiser springs and a 100-metre open-air slide, the longest of its kind in Tyrol. Then the crystal-clear Hintersteiner See at 883 m in the Wilder Kaiser nature reserve (56 hectares, up to 36 m deep), and the year-round KaiserBad in Ellmau.
If you like it alpine, swim in the noticeably cooler mountain water of the Hintersteiner See and then walk the shoreline circuit, about an hour, with several places to stop on the north shore. Families with children usually head for the Badesee Going: a separate bay for children and non-swimmers, an adventure playground with a pirate ship, 50,000 m² of lawn and, in summer, the four beach volleyball courts of the JoeRassics Beacharena. For rainy days, or that first summer weekend when the natural lakes are still cold, the KaiserBad in Ellmau is the better choice.
100 M OPEN-AIR SLIDE
Tyrol’s longest open-air water slide at a natural bathing lake
883 M HINTERSTEINER SEE
A mountain lake in the nature reserve, 56 ha, up to 36 m deep
SHORELINE CIRCUIT
About 1.5 hours around the Hintersteiner See, with places to stop
SWIMMING ALL YEAR
At the KaiserBad in Ellmau, rain or shine
SWIMMING FROM THE GAFALHOF
Three places to swim on a hot day.
A spot to suit every summer day: from the Gafalhof, the Badesee Going is a few minutes by car, the KaiserBad in Ellmau around 10 minutes, and the Hintersteiner See in Scheffau roughly a quarter of an hour.
Current opening times and prices are on the official websites — they change with the season. We will tell you at the breakfast table which spot suits the day best.
Three pools, three characters
Water slide and lawn in Going.
A crystal-clear mountain lake in Scheffau.
The KaiserBad in Ellmau — all year round.
Swimming at the Wilder Kaiser
Frequently asked questions
It was voted Tyrol’s loveliest natural bathing lake by an international jury. It is fed continuously by springs from the Wilder Kaiser, and in summer the water sits at a comfortable 24 °C. The highlights: a 100-metre open-air slide, the longest in Tyrol, separate bays for children and non-swimmers, an adventure playground with a pirate ship and 50,000 m² of lawn. For the sporty there is the JoeRassics Beacharena with four beach volleyball courts.
Noticeably colder than the Badesee Going. The Hintersteiner See is a mountain lake at 883 metres, 56 hectares in size and up to 36 metres deep. It lies in the Wilder Kaiser nature reserve and is fed by mountain springs — the water stays bracing even in high summer. Ideal if you love clear mountain water. If you prefer it warmer, the Badesee Going is the better choice.
From 1 May to 31 October, motor vehicles are banned on the road to the Hintersteiner See every day between 10 am and 5 pm. Take the free hikers’ bus from the Park & Ride in Scheffau — the simplest and least stressful way to get there during those hours. Outside them there is limited paid parking on the eastern shore. Motorhomes and coaches may not park there.
The Badesee Going is usually open from late May to September — in fine weather daily, with supervised bathing from 8.30 am to 7 pm; the grounds themselves stay open outside those hours. At the Hintersteiner See the public lido is likewise open through the summer months. Current prices: badesee-going.at and strandbad-hintersteinersee.at.
Yes — the lido on the north shore hires out stand-up paddleboards, deckchairs and parasols. The lake is excellent for paddleboarding: calm, clear, with a view of the Kaiser peaks. Details and current hire prices: strandbad-hintersteinersee.at.
For both natural lakes: towels, sun protection (at 883 m the UV at the Hintersteiner See is stronger than down in the valley), a water bottle. Water shoes are worth taking to the Hintersteiner See, as parts of the shore are stony. And always a change of clothes for the children — after the 100 m slide at the Badesee Going, everything is wet.
