Pack Reservoir
Address
Pack Reservoir
GPS
46.977123639811, 15.007612399928
Level of difficulty 2 | Gastronomy 1 | 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
Swimmers and 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
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 café Seetreff is best suited for this. If you circumnavigate the lake on foot or by car, you will also find a few other ways to the water. Basically, the majority of the lake shore is privately owned and there are only a few free and easily accessible public bathing spots 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
A 10 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.
Motorcycle fans can put the pedal on the matal at the Salzstiegl Trial Park. For many, this is the best spot of its kind in Austria. But other action-packed activities are also possible: climbing, archery, bungee trampoline and giant scooter downhill.
The 42 km long Teigitsch is a tributary of the better-known river Kainach in the district of Voitsberg. 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 a significantly smaller paddleable surface.
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 place 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 we 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 land 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 make our way back on what is probably the world's first cargo SUP and think about how many beautiful pieces of driftwood we have already left behind in our SUP career instead of bringing them home with us.
After all, with a little creativity and craftsmanship, you can create beautiful works of art and souvenirs. Naturally, we earn smirking looks from the water sports enthusiasts coming towards us. Understandable, because SUPs with dogs are something people are used to see these days anyway. But SUPs with tree roots are rare to find.
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.
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 soon our myrmecologist friend will also be happy, and we round off this entertaining trip at the Seetreff Inn right next door.
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