Overview
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Plansee Viewpoint hike overview
2,45 km to the summit
4,9 km in total
490 m
490 m
2 to 3 hours
Out & Back
Easy - Moderate - Difficult - Expert
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About Plansee
Plansee is a beautiful blue mountain lake in the Reutte Nature Park region at an altitude of 976 meters. It is located in the Austrian region of Tyrol, close to the German border. It covers an area of 2,87 km² and has a maximum length of 5 kilometers and a maximum width of 1,7 kilometers, making it the second largest lake of Tyrol. At its deepest point, the lake is 78 meters deep.
Plansee is considered one of the cleanest lakes in Tyrol and is therefore perfect for different activities in the water. Especially during summer, when the clear water reaches an average temperature of 17 to 21° C.
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Hike to Plansee Viewpoint
You start hiking to the Plansee Viewpoint from the parking lot at Camping Sennalpe. From here, you start walking along the lake clock-wise. After around 620 meter or 10 minutes walking, you will see a small hiking path on your left side, starting to go up hill. This is where you start the ascent to the viewpoint.
The first part of the trail starts between the bushes. After a while the bushes end and the path starts zigzagging up the mountainside. It is a very small and quite steep path. After this first tough section, it becomes a bit flatter and you go a long way to the right.
Be sure to look to your right here as well, because from here you already have a nice view of the Plansee.
You then start to ascend back via a forest path. After around 1,3km, you can make a small detour to a lower viewpoint. It is the perfect place to have a rest along the way.
You then continue climbing through the forest until the path bends to the left again. Here it becomes a bit flatter again and you continue to walk to the left until the path turns towards the lake again at the highest point. From here you have to descend a short distance along the mountainside until you reach the viewpoint.
Here you can enjoy the beautiful Plansee viewpoint before you can descend the same way again.
When to hike
Hiking to the Plansee viewpoint is best done in spring, summer, or autumn. In winter the path is likely to be covered in snow, making it impassable and too slippery.
It is also best to walk on a day with good weather. Keep in mind that you walk the first steep part of the hike without any shelter. That’s why it’s best not to hike on days that are too hot.
We also advise against hiking on rainy days. The path is steep and can get really slippery when it rains. Even if it has not rained it can be slippery because of the many loose stones on the trail.
Fortunately, it is not yet a very well-known hike and it will therefore never get busy on the path or at the viewpoint. You can therefore do this hike whenever you want during the day. For the best light for pictures we’d recommend hiking early in the morning.
How to get there
The best way to reach Plansee and do this hike is by car. You can park your car at the parking lot at the Müsteralpe from where you can start hiking. Plansee Viewpoint itself is also pinned on Google Maps.
Practical
€5 per day between 07:00 to 20:00
Overnight stays are not allowed.
Where to stay
Camping at Plansee
However idyllic it may sound, wild camping at Plansee is unfortunately not allowed and will not be tolerated. There are frequent checks by the mountain guard and fines can amount to around €220.
Fortunately, you will find two official campsites at Plansee if you would like to stay here for a night with your camper or tent, namely Camping Sennalpe, next to the parking lot for this Plansee hike, and Camping Seespitz.
Hotels at Plansee
If you are looking for a hotel to stay in, you have two options at Plansee: Hotel Forelle, or Hotel Seespitze. The closest village to Plansee is Reutte where you have even more choice of accommodation.
Hotels
Discover the best places to stay in Reutte and enjoy a comfortable trip.
Reutte
Reutte
Reutte
via Booking.com
Other hikes at Plansee
Besides the hike to this Plansee viewpoint, there are many other hikes in the area of Plansee. For example, you can walk around Plansee and/or Heiterwanger See, or hike to the Stuiben Falls.
There is also another ‘secret’ Plansee viewpoint, called the Grätle viewpoint, located on the opposite side of the lake from this viewpoint. We hiked here in 2021. However, we can no longer find the pin of this viewpoint on Google Maps.
Are you curious yourself? To get there you have to cross the bridge at the Seespitze hotel. This used to be a wooden bridge but this has now been demolished and we do not know where exactly a new bridge has been built. Turn left after (hopefully) the new bridge there is now, follow the lake, and look for the start of the hike on your right side. It should be somewhere here, right after a dried-up river bed (don’t go up this river bed, it’s not the right way!). From this point, it was just straight up the mountain following the trail.
Be sure to let us know if you have been and if you can still do the hike!
Tips & Safety
Important hiking tips!
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Win-Win for everyone
Did you know that, if you buy or book something through our links, we receive a small commission?
However, you still pay the same and therefore have no extra costs! So a win-win for everyone. This way, we can continue to add even more travel inspiration and tips to this blog for your next adventure. Thanks a lot!
