Address
Pack Reservoir
GPS
46.977123639811, 15.007612399928
Level of difficulty 2 paddles | Gastronomy 1 pitcher | Length 5 km | Time 60 - 80 minutes
Hidden in a depression between the western Styrian villages of Pack and Modriach, one can also explore waterways in between the forests. As an excursion destination and local recreation area the Packer reservoir is a nice SUP spot you should not miss.
General information
Navigation rules
Please paddle around bathers and fishermen, the reservoir belongs to everyone.
Dangers and risks
If you come here too early in the year you may encounter either an icy or a severely depleted reservoir (water level reduced to 50%).
Directions
Coming from the east or west, take the Modriach exit on the A2 southern highway (Südautobahn) and turn left at the intersection with Modriacher Landesstraße Street, then go in the direction of Hirschegg. Follow the winding road until the dam appears on the left. Turn left here and drive over the dam wall. Straight ahead along the north bank to the campsite and sunbathing area at the west end of the reservoir.
Parking
On hot and sunny summer days the road along the north bank is full of parked cars relatively early in the morning. There is plenty of parking space along the narrow street, but on such days it can take longer to find a good parking lot. We always come here early in the morning or in the evening and park near the north-west bank by the bathing lawn and the campsite.
Swimming
Due to its altitude (867 m), the reservoir is slightly cooler than the bathing lakes on the plain. In July, the warmest water here is around 22°C with average temperatures around 17°C. However, you can still go swimming until September at pleasant temperatures. The only official sunbathing lawn on the north-western shore between the campsite and the Seetreff cafe is best suited for this. If you circumnavigate the lake on foot or by car, you will also find a few other entry points. Basically, the majority of the lake shore is privately owned and there are only a few free and easily accessible entrances between the properties.
Worth seeing
In the village of Edelschrott, at an altitude of 1,200 meters above sea level, there is a private observatory, that is open to visitors. For current special events, additional special tours are offered.
The Hahnenschloss Palace in Edelschrott is actually a hunting lodge from the 19th century. Today it is used for the administration of the Herzogberg forest estate and can be reached via a number of hiking trails.
In the midst of the so-called Lipizzaner homeland you should also visit the Lipizzaner Stud Piber. Visitors can enjoy cattle drive, stud tours and foal experience days. Selected animals come from here to be trained at the world famous Spanish Riding School in Vienna.
Extra Tips
An 8 km long Nature and Culture Trail leads from the village of Pack past the Pack Reservoir and on to the village of Edelschrott. With 280 exhibits along the way you can learn a lot about the region and work on your stamina at the same time.
If you prefer to travel by bike, just ride around the reservoir. The Pack bike path is 7.4 km long and with an altitude difference of 20 meters it is ideal for a leisurely bike ride.
Motorbike fans can put the pedal to the metal at the Salzstiegl trial park. According to many bikers this is the best spot of this kind in Austria. The park also offers other action-packed activities like rock climbing, archery, bungee trampoline jumping and giant scooter downhill riding.
The 42 km long Teigitsch is a tributary of the better-known river Kainach in the Voitsberg district. It feeds the Hirzmann and Langmann reservoirs and leads through a great hiking area. Especially the Teigischklamm Gorge is worth a trip.
The 3-reservoir-experience is a day's hike that connects the three reservoirs in the region and demands a lot of endurance over its 27.7 km and almost 970 meters in altitude.
Tour
From the public bathing area on the northwest bank, turn left going along the north bank of the reservoir towards the east and back over the south bank.
Length
5 km
Time
60 - 80 minutes
Start and landing
On the bathing beach in front of the campsite on the northwestern shore.
SUP rental
None
Overnight Stay
Pension Maurer
Pack 352, 8583 Pack
Phone +43 (0)650 6729440
Gasthof Klug zum Ehrensepp
Oberer Herzogberg 329, 8583 Modriach
Phone +43 (0)664 5027141
Chalet Hebalm
Pack 247, 9451 Pack
Phone +43 (0)681 20492696
Gastronomy
Gasthaus zum Seewirt
Packer Stausee 104, 8583 Pack
Phone +43 (0)3146 8123
Maria und Joschi See-Treff
Stauseewinkel Weg 205, 8583 Pack
Tree root transport on the cargo SUP
Western Styria is better known for its mountains and forests, but in addition to hiking boots, you can also use your SUP for active locomotion.
The Pack Reservoir lies beneath the village of Pack, was completed in 1931 and holds a water volume of around 5 million cubic meters, which is spread over around 60 hectares. However, the lake is not only used to generate electricity, but is also a popular swimming and water sports area. The SUP season starts around May. If you want to SUP here too early in the year, you will either find thick ice floes or a greatly reduced water level, which, in addition to the visual drawbacks, also means significantly less paddable area.
In early summer and then again from the end of August, you will find ideal conditions for paddling on the camping meadow, especially since you will quickly find a parking space and the meadow is almost deserted.
The ducks also seem so used to humans that they hardly pay any attention to us and do not allow themselves to be distracted from their search for food between the blades of grass. We put the boards in the shallow water and set course for the east bank of the slightly curved reservoir - always facing the midday sun.
Between the trees you can see countless small plots of land on both sides of the bank - many with bathing jetties, although the north bank is much more developed. The main access road to the lake also runs along it, which is why there are also a number of holiday homes here.
The water is calm, but you can feel a slight current in the direction of travel – i.e. towards the east bank. Since our goal is a leisurely ride among friends our paddle shafts are set relatively long. We comfortably pass the Seewirt Inn at the dam wall and let ourselves drift gently to the east bank. Here the Modriachbach Stream drains the reservoir through a reed landscape and you find yourself in a small, secluded basin. Also in front of us is a large sawed-off, barkless tree root in the shallow water. A beautiful sight in itself, and we immediately have an idea:
A mutual friend is a myrmecologist, i.e. an ant researcher, and is always looking for habitats for his ant colonies. A souvenir of this kind would certainly make him happy. So we pack the root piece and ship it on one of our SUPs. The root probably weighs around 25 - 30 kg and since there is enough space on the board, careful and comfortable paddling is still possible.
So it is that we return with what is probably the world's first cargo SUP while we think about how many beautiful pieces of driftwood we may have already left behind in our SUP careers instead of bringing them home with us. After all, with a little creativity and craftsmanship, beautiful art and souvenirs can be formed from it. Of course, we get smiling looks from the water sports enthusiasts who meet us along the way. This is understandable since people are already used to seeing SUPs with a dogs these days. But SUPs with tree roots are unique.
Only on the way back, looking west, we detect the small town of Pack, which rises 1.5 km behind the reservoir. It is also the last village before the border to the federal state of Carinthia.
Even if there is of course more going on in summer, the reservoir impresses with its seclusion and tranquility. Especially in the evening and in the morning you have the lake to yourself and can indulge in the play of sunbeams over and through the treetops. Also, the people here are helpful and open-minded. After landing, a permanent camper provided us with a wheelbarrow to transport the wooden root colossus to the car. We are happy, without a doubt our myrmecologist friend will also be happy soon, and we round off this entertaining trip at the Seetreff Inn right next door.
