Hiking to Krimml Waterfall: Austria’s Highest Waterfall

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Krimml Waterfall as seen from a distance. You could still hear the roar of the water from so far away! Hiking to Krimml Waterfall: Austria’s Highest Waterfall monkeysandmountains.com /krimml-waterf all Krimml Waterfall is the highest waterfall in Austria. It’s no wonder the 380 meter (1246 ft) waterfalls are one of Austria’s most visited attractions. I normally avoid touristy places, but I couldn’t resist the lure of seeing what sounded like an impressive waterfall. I had been awed by Marmore Falls in Umbria, Italy, the world’s tallest man made waterfall built in Roman times. But underwhelmed by the Rhine Falls, in Schaffhausen, Switzerland. It’s the largest waterfall in Europe by volume. Being from Canada I had Niagara Falls expectations which felt sort as I observed the waterfall which was nice but resembled a really big rapid. How would Krimml measure up? As we drove the winding road up to Hohe Tauern National Park, where Krimml Waterfall is located, I admired the glaciers and craggy peaks. I was in mountain heaven at 1600 meters (5250 ft)! We stopped at a viewpoint of Krimml Waterfall. It didn’t look overly impressive from the distance but it still sounded impressive. We were 6km away, but could still hear the unmistakable roar of the powerful water tumbling down 380m of rock. So how did Krimml Waterfall measure up in person? I’ll let you be the judge:

description

Krimml Waterfall is the highest waterfall in Europe and the world's fifth highest waterfall! It's no wonder its one of Austria's most visited attractions.

Transcript of Hiking to Krimml Waterfall: Austria’s Highest Waterfall

Page 1: Hiking to Krimml Waterfall: Austria’s Highest Waterfall

Kr im m l Water fa l l as s een from a d is tance. You cou ld s ti l l hear the roar o f the water from s o far away!

Hiking to Krimml Waterfall: Austria’s Highest Waterfallmonkeysandmountains.com /krimml-waterf all

Krimml Waterfall is the highest waterfall in Austria. It’s no wonder the 380 meter (1246 f t)waterfalls are one of Austria’s most visited attractions.

I normally avoid touristy places, but I couldn’t resist the lure of seeing what sounded like an impressive waterfall. I hadbeen awed by Marmore Falls in Umbria, Italy, the world’s tallest man made waterfall built in Roman times. Butunderwhelmed by the Rhine Falls, in Schaffhausen, Switzerland. It’s the largest waterfall in Europe by volume. Beingfrom Canada I had Niagara Falls expectations which felt sort as I observed the waterfall which was nice but resembled areally big rapid.

How would Krimml measure up?

As we drove the winding road up to Hohe Tauern Nat ional Park, where Krimml Waterfall is located, Iadmired the glaciers and craggy peaks. I was in mountain heaven at 1600 meters (5250 f t )!

We stopped at a viewpoint of Krimml Waterfall. It didn’t look overly impressive from the distance but it still soundedimpressive. We were 6km away, but could still hear the unmistakable roar of the powerful water tumbling down 380m ofrock.

So how did Krimml Waterfall measure up in person? I’ll let you be the judge:

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J .P. (m y hus band) looking up a t Kr im m l Water fa l l .

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Lower fa l ls

So what do you think?

I loved it ! The roar of thewaterfall was of ten almostdeafening. No sound existedexcept for the rush of the water,all voices, all birds weresilenced. It was like natureturned up at full volume and wasinvigorating yet relaxing at thesame time.

The wide path made KrimmlFalls accessible to anyone inreasonably good shape. Ittakes between 75-90 minutes toreach the top of the waterfall butthere is also a good vantagepoint about halfway up (~30minutes) with some rockslooking up at the top part of thewaterfall that would make a goodspot for a picnic. There’s also ahut and kiosk there if you wantedto purchase food or something todrink.

I can be snobby when it comesto hiking and tend to avoid easyhikes unless I’m sick or injured. Full disclosure: the reason Ichoose to hike Krimml wasbecause I was still healing froman injured knee (torn MCL) andthis was my first hike since theinjury.

But beyond the path toKrimml there are mult iplehuts so the hike could be

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Looking for the end o f the ra inbow? It’s h id ing a t Kr im m l Water fa l l .

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Me en joying Kr im m l Water fa l l a t one o f s evera l viewing p la tform s .

extended into a full day

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Upper fa l ls

extended into a full dayhike to the KrimmlerTauernhaus or mult i-dayhike to one of the otherhuts. As luck would have itmy snobbishness caught upwith me. I was in too muchpain to continue on to theKrimmler Tauernhaus – what Iwould consider to be more ofa “real hike”. I normally wouldconsider Krimml Waterfall tobe a really easy hike, but mythrobbing knee had me closeto tears the entire way down.So no matter what your ideaof a “hike” is, there truly issomething for everyone atKrimml Waterfall.

The surrounding sceneryin Hohe Tauren Nat ionalPark is incredible! Multipleglaciers, craggy peaks andof course Krimml Waterfall. Itdeserves so much more thanthe day trip we had allocatedfor it. We’ll be back for amulti- day trip, to do some“real” hikes.

Know Before You Go toKrimml Waterfall:

Krimml Waterfall islocated in Hohe TauernNational Park in Austria. There is a €8 fee/car toenter the park.

The entrance fee to hikeKrimml Waterfall is a very

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View over Hohe Tauern Nationa l Park from Kr im m l Water fa l l

reasonable €2.50 foradults and .50 forchildren.

The path to KrimmlWaterfall is in excellentcondition but youshould still wearsneakers or hikingboots.

Krimml Waterfall isopen from May toOctober each year. Note the website saidit was open from mid-April, but it was closedwhen we went on April21. We still went, butthe upper part of thepath was snow-covered in places.Check the officialwebsite for further info.

Allow several days ifpossible to exploreHohe Tauern NationalPark – its beautiful! Iwant to go back.

Krimml Waterfall islocated 185km southfrom Munich or 97kmwest of Innsbruck.

It’s possible to getthere by train, but fromMunich it takes ~5hours.

The road ismountainous and verywindy. My guess is thatthere are a lot of trafficjams in summer since the waterfall receives 350,000 visitors a year. Go in spring or fall. If you do go in summer, tryto go during the week. It wasn’t busy when we were then, but then it wasn’t officially open either.

Directly across from the road is Krimml’s Wonderous World of Water. It was closed when I was there, but lookslike it could be a fun attraction for children.