Krimml Waterfalls

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Features River/Creek · Views · Waterfall

The new family/kid attraction "Krimml Worlds of Water" is on your way to the falls. But this is NOT where you get tickets if you only want hike to see the waterfalls. Bring rain jacket and a dry set of clothes if you plan to get close to the spray.

Krimml waterfall is Austria's highest mountain-side waterfall - it's 380 m high and divided in three tiers. The flow varies greatly depending on the season with June and July typically having the highest flows. Time of day matters too - with highest flows after warm temps when more meltwater is flowing.

From one of the many parking areas, run towards the entrance station to buy tickets. You'll pass some free toilets, a gift shop and a few restarants. After the entrance station, you run downhill and get the first glimpse of the lower falls. The first true viewpoint (Kürsinger Platz) is a short out-and-back and well worth visiting. There are several good vantage points here to be awed by the huge amounts of water crashing down and flowing past.

Re-join the trail and start the ascent. The run is steep and feels long if the crowds are making things even more hectic. Stop at the numerous amazing viewpoints for a break and sit on benches you need to rest. Some of the viewpoints are wet and you'll get covered by the spray. Switchback up, up and up.

There is a restarant and snack bar about half way to the top. After reaching the top and watching the water pour over the lip, retrace your steps and cross the bridge on a road heading right and to the east. This alternate way down is steep and wooded, but is more peaceful and avoids the crowds. Switchback downhill on a singletrack trail, passing a few small homes and fields. The trail approaches the falls and parallels it closely before crossing the torrent near the bottom of the hill. There is a small enclosed field here for special classes and ceremonies. Rejoin the main trail and end at the Gerlos Strasse road.

Some people believe in the special healing powers of the Krimml Waterfalls' properties for allergic respiratory tract inflammations. Because the water is atomized, the droplets particles are supposedly many times smaller than an asthma inhaler's droplets and can penetrate the airways more deeply.