Level of difficulty 1 |  Gastronomy 1 |  Length 1.6 km |  Time 30 – 40 minutes

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Half of Lake Pillersee is a nature reserve and although only half of the lake can be paddled, a full-bodied impression remains. The mix of lake and mountain pasture exudes Tyrolean charm.

General information

• Pillerseetal tourist information
• Pillerseetal Card
• Kitzbühel Alps Summer Card
• Wikipedia Pillersee
• Climate
• Wind, waves, weather

Navigation rules

Please leave the cows alone and avoid petting and feeding them! The reed zones as well as the nature reserve may not be paddled on, so turn back at the latest at the wooden barrier in the middle of the lake! Any rubbish should also be taken with you and watch out for other water sports enthusiasts!

The lake is known for its abundance of trout and is therefore also interesting for many fishermen. In this regard, it is important to paddle with foresight and avoid the fishing lines.

Dangers and risks

The cows that occasionally graze on the northeastern shore of the lake are cute and beautiful to look at, but caution is advised. Stroking or feeding is unnecessary, because if the cow is annoyed by well-intentioned people and they don't recognize their warning signals, unsightly scenes are inevitable. Particular caution is required when calves are present, which of course are protected and defended to the death by the older cows. Although new calves run around the lake every year and are used to people, dogs and cars from birth, that is no reason to treat them like pets.

North winds can often come up and push paddlers in the direction of St. Ulrich, then paddling back to the SUP rental company can be difficult. However, the lake is so narrow that you can quickly reach the shore and, if necessary, walk back along the path along the shore.

The lake is small, but on some days it's more for the hardened, because the water cools down extremely quickly even in summer after cooler periods. After a week of rain, for example, the water temperature easily drops well below 20° C.

Directions

Coming from Kitzbühel, it is best to take the B 178 in a northerly direction, passing the small towns of St. Johann and Kirchdorf. At the village Waidring, take the turn-off to Waidring (road signage) and drive onto Dorfstraße street, which you leave after about 1.2 km and turn right again onto Pillerseestraße street. Follow the road straight ahead for 4.2 km, then turn left at the inn called Forellenranch (Trout Ranch) and into Niedersee Straße. Wthin a minute you are at the SUP rental and the entry point to the water. However, the access to the lake is a toll road and blocked off by barriers. You can get in here for free with the Pillerseetal Card, otherwise you throw in three euros (as of 2023) directly at the barrier to be able to drive to the car park.

Parking

In the area of SUP 'N' FUN there is a parking lot with alpine character on the north-east bank. On nice days it makes sense to be here early, because the lake is popular mainly because of its unique position in the valley. The rental company sometimes rents out all SUPs at the same time - about 20 boards, so there can be a lot going on here. The parking lot can only be reached via the short toll road behind the inn Forellenranch.

Swimming

Lake Pillersee is the only larger lake in the region and therefore very popular as a bathing and excursion destination. In summer, it scores with an average water temperature of 19° C, although after a few warm days, 20° C can be exceeded a little. On the other hand, it can also quickly develop autumnal water temperatures for a few days after periods of rain or cold in summer.

Entry points and berths can be found mainly along the eastern shore, although only the northern half of the lake can be used due to the nature reserve. A clearly visible demarcation consisting of wooden boards bound together serves to mark the beginning of the nature reserve which opens into a moor landscape in the south.

In addition to Lake Lauchsee and the Waidring Bathing Lake, there are other bathing opportunities in and around the Pillerseetal valley:

Energiebrunnen Tirol Camp
Lindau 20, 6391 Fieberbrunn
Phone +43 (0)5354 5666

Panorama Badewelt St. Johann
Pass-Thurn-Straße 3, 6380 St. Johann in Tirol
Phone +43 (0)5352 62625

Aubad Fieberbrunn
Schulweg 1, 6391 Fieberbrunn
Phone +43 (0)5354 56293

Tour

From the northeast bank to the west bank and around the lake.

Length

1,6 km

Time

30 – 40 minutes

Start and landing

In the area of SUP 'N' FUN on the northeast shore.

SUP rental

SUP `N´ FUN
Niedersee 4, 6393 St Ulrich am Pillersee
Phone +43 (0)650 35 496 33

Apine pasture feeling in the valley

Already the approach through the gorges north of the lake is promising, because the rocks towering up next to the road are just as imposing as the wildly babbling Grieselbach stream, which drains Lake Pillersee to the north. You can't paddle this stream, but the lake offers a pleasant SUP excursion between Mt. Schafelberg (1597 m) and Mt. Heimkehrerkreuz (2030 m).

In principle, you can enter the elongated lake, which was probably created 15,000 years ago by a rockfall, in an infinite number of places. But since I want to make it easy for myself after a hiking tour to the nearby Schießlingalm, I comfortably get on the water directly at the SUP rental company SUP `N´ FUN and let the boss personally hand me a great hardboard.

Danny has been running this location since 2015 and also offers other great leisure activities for young and old. In addition to SUP rental, SUP yoga and SUP beginner courses, you can also indulge in archery or have a lot of fun on the water in the Funball. At peak times, all of his boards are on the lake at the same time, but today the weather – like the last few weeks, by the way – is changeable and gives me an almost empty lake, which I can therefore enjoy even more on my little round trip.

Even though today's hours of sunshine are behind me, the beautiful green color of the water is clearly visible. The water is also clear, so I can see a number of aquatic plants under the surface even in the middle of the lake. By the north bay, cows like to come down to the lawn and the lake shore. Of course you don't see something like this every day and so I start my tour right behind the small stage, where the Seeleuchten - a small party - takes place every Wednesday. The small weekly evening festival combines music and a flame show and is something of a summer event highlight in the valley.

Although the cows look peaceful and graze peacefully, it is best not to pet them. So I paddle up to the outlet and let my mental cinema work a bit: what would it be like to paddle down the crystal-clear stream with momentum? Unfortunately, the water level does not match and there is a threshold in the way - it is also forbidden.

That's why I enjoy a relaxed paddling session past the reeds and along the west bank towards the south. Only the circular path and small reed belts run between the lake and the country road. There is regular waterside seating and apart from a few passing cars the atmosphere here is very relaxed.

The view to the opposite east bank and beyond reveals the rocky summit of Mt. Heimkehrerkreuz, it rises pyramidally to the sky. If the whole thing is also reflected in the water, you can understand why Tyrol is often referred to as the holy land. The views of nature's scenery are majestic everywhere in Austria's most mountainous state. Since the lake is only about one and a half kilometers long, I can already see the parish church of St. Ulrich, the small village on the southern shore, far in front of me. Unfortunately, I cannot paddle all the way there because the southern half of the body of water is a nature reserve and is not allowed to be navigated.

At the Restaurant Blattl a barrier has been installed in the water to prevent pedal boats and other water sports enthusiasts from going further into the nature reserve. Typically Tyrolean, a very simple, natural and gentle solution has been found here: wooden slats were simply tied together from bank to bank and thus unmistakably mark the border between the two halves of the lake.

So I start early on the way back via the east bank, where the forest reaches down to the water and there are green meadows and idyllic sunbathing areas everywhere between the reed zones. Of course, the circular route also leads past the nature reserve, making it a popular destination at any time of the year.

In front of me, Mt. Steinplatte seals the entire Pillerseetal valley towards the north, while I float over deep green water plants near the shore. Today, pure idyll is the order of the day, but there is definitely more going on on sunnier days, which is why the emerging trend sport e-foiling has not been allowed on the lake so far. After all, it would simply be too small as a foiling area once there are a lot of vessels on the water. The risk of collision would be disproportionately high.

After almost forty minutes I hand my board back to Danny with a satisfied smile on my face and find out about his weekly program. He also offers Good Morning and Sundowner SUP tours at the lake, for example. I will be happy to take advantage of the offer next time when I come on holiday to this region again. But before that I cool off in the water, which is about 14° C today,. After all, I want to watch the weekly open-air concert of the local brass band later, fully refreshed.