Ferlach Reservoir

Level of difficulty 3 |  Gastronomy 1 |  Length 14 km |  Time 3.5 - 4 hours

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Anyone looking for a relaxed paddling tour through nature is in good hands at the Ferlach Reservoir. Here you can comfortably clock in a decent amount of kilometers, enjoy the solitude by the water and watch grazing cows as well as schools of fish under the board.

General information

• Carinthia Card 
• Ferlacher Stausee Wikipedia 
• Rosental Valley Wikipedia 
• Rosental Valley tourist information
• Tour Video
• Climate
• Wind, waves, weather

Navigation rules

Rare swimmers and the fishermen should be bypassed in advance! Although there are no nature reserves around the reservoir, the banks should be kept clean and noise should be avoided.

Dangers and risks

Increased caution is required in the area of the dam walls and bridges. This means keeping a sufficient distance from pillars and weir systems. 

Don't get too close to the cows in the pasture, and it's best to stay in the water near them.

Due to its height, the railway bridge at Unterschloßberg can only be passed lying down.

If you start and end the tour below the Feistritz-Ludmannsdorf power plant, expect a relatively steep and rocky bank.

Directions

It is best to take the car to get to the reservoir. Coming from Klagenfurt, drive south on Rosentaler Straße B 91. At the roundabout after crossing the reservoir, take the first right onto the B 85. After about 8 km, before the Billa supermarket, take the Ludmannsdorf/Köttmannsdorf turn-off to the right and drive to the turn-off before the bridge (1.4 km). Follow the forest path parallel to the reservoir for 2.5 km to the St. Johann boat harbor.

If you take the bus, get off at the stop St.Johann im Rosental and then walk about two kilometers along the narrow paths to the reservoir.

Parking

At the boat harbor St. Johann there is enough parking space for cars. However, according to the street sign by the access road coming from Feistritz this road is only accessible to residents. Everyone has to decide for themselves whether they want to park here.

You will find an equally good parking option by the bridge near the Feistritz-Ludmannsdorf power plant. From there you can also walk up to the Feistritz Reservoir.

Parking lot alternatives to the east are at the Unterschloßberg rest area and at the Ferlach-Maria Rain power plant.

Swimming

The Ferlach Bathing Lake (also called Ressnig Teich) is located south of the Ferlach Reservoir and can be reached by car or bike via the Drava cycle path. Even during the hot summer months there is enough space for swimming.

In the reservoir you can cool off anywhere you can find access or jump straight into the water from the SUP. Besides, there are many more bathing possibilities in the surroundings.

Tour

From the boat harbor St. Johann first paddle left to the Feistritz-Ludmannsdorf power plant. Then in the opposite direction to the Rosental railway bridge at Unterschloßberg and back to the start.

Length

14 km

Time

3.5 - 4 hours

Start and landing

At the St. Johann boat harbor on the south bank of the reservoir.

SUP rental

Drau Paddelweg
Dahlienweg 14, 9161 Maria Rain
Phone +43 (0)463 2032 30100

SUP & Smile
Gregorweg 15, 9536 St Egyden
Phone +43 (0)650 6733945

Fels & Wasser
Flurweg 20, 9524 Villach
Phone +43 650 6161327

Through the valley of the reservoirs

The Drava River is not only the fourth longest tributary of the Danube, but also the cool lifeline of the southernmost province of Austria. With the exception of its upper reaches in East Tyrol and in Upper Carinthia, the leisurely river is comfortably navigable and dammed up through the entire Rosental Valley. The Ferlach Reservoir has no current from weir to weir and is also an easy destination for SUP beginners.

There are good water accesses at both ends of the reservoir and at the two small ports. Since we are approaching the lake from the west, we opt for the sympathetic boat harbor of St. Johann, about 2.5 km east of the Feistritz-Ludmannsdorf weir. The gravel road there is a bit bumpy and can only be driven on at walking pace, but the access to the water is beautiful. The emerald green water on the shore is highly inviting, and around us the first fishing boats are already cavorting in the distance.

You step flat into the water and first let your gaze wander over the reservoir. From here we have a smooth circuit ahead of us, and we decide to paddle left to the weir first, because we expect to find an increasing river speed on the way there. We would rather get this over with now than at the end of the tour. This expectation is not fulfilled, and the whole way towards the wier feels like standing water. 

We start along the north bank and enjoy the wonderful autumn colors in cloudless weather. Although it is now a bit cooler in October mornings, this day then develops to be like spring, so that we will be glad to wear airy clothing. 

We paddle past cow pastures, while Mt. Hochstuhl rises half-left in front of us with its 2237 m high peak. A little behind the highest peak of the so-called Karawanken Mountains you can also see the already snow-covered peak of the Mittagskogel. You should have climbed both at least once in your life. 

Since there shouldn't be many paddlers around here, the cows also seem to be interested in us and come down to the bank to drink and to watch us. As peaceful as they may be, better keep your distance and stay by the water. Surprisingly, the weir is quickly in sight, and we paddle up to where the Feistritz Stream leads into the Drava, 250 m to the left below the weir. If you need a short break, you could comfortably moor here on the gravel bank and stretch your legs in the cold water.

From here we head back to the harbor and then on to the bridge of the Loiblpass Road, about 6.5 km east of here. Of course, the water runs a little faster directly under the weir than in the large basin of the reservoir, but the difference is hardly noticeable. We cover the 2.5 km back down to the harbor only a few minutes faster than it took us coming here. Paddling past the boat harbor, we are already in the main basin of the reservoir and the field of vision widens. 

We can't see as far as the two bridges near Unterschloßberg yet, because we still have to paddle around a slight right-hand bend. What we can clearly see is the completely undeveloped north bank of the reservoir with its striking rocks in the middle. Nevertheless, the hills are crisscrossed by forest roads and we discover a few domiciles at the top. Especially along the southern shore, one can paddle over enchanting shoals with endless carpets of underwater plants.

The water goes crazy with colors, smoothly changing between different shades of green and blue, while some plants give the impression that they are covering rocks with moss. But unlike, for example, some river sections in the Maribor area (Slovenia), you can confidently paddle deep here without ever hitting rocks with your paddle blade. Looking at the water plants one might think that the Drava cultivates its own underwater forests here.

In the distance we can see the border mountains with Slovenia, with Mt. Singerberg (1589 m) and the Mt. Sechter (1449 m) being among the highest visible peaks. Now the railway bridge is visible for the first time exactly three kilometers in front of us. We cover the distance in exactly 45 minutes, which means we are paddling the classic 4 km/h, on which most of the times given here in the SUP Atlas are based.

No matter if you stand here in the area of the railway bridge on land or on your SUP, you now have a good view up to Hollenburg Castle, which was probably built around the year 1100. In addition, the Loiblpass Road with its curve sloping down to the water is a brilliant photo motif.

After a few photos and a few sips of water we head home and set ourselves a little challenge: we want to get back to the port of entry, which is now four kilometers away, as fast as possible. So there is no more time for taking pictures and strolling, because we still want to feel a nice workout.

We make it back in well under an hour and reward ourselves with a quick dip in the fresh water. The emerald-green shore does not make it easy to leave this beautiful place without a dip, and the flat water access with its fine sediment is also tempting - what a treat for your feet. 

Find similar SUP tours on Carinthian waters in the SUP Guide Carinthia (available in German only).