Krimml Waterfalls Hike: A Complete Guide to Austria's Highest Waterfalls on Foot

Have you ever walked right next to a waterfall for over an hour? At the Krimml Waterfalls you don't just admire the falls from one viewpoint. You climb alongside them for about an hour and a half, while the Krimmler Ache crashes down roughly 380 metres in three huge tiers. They are the highest waterfalls in Austria and among the highest in Europe. You will find them at the western edge of the Hohe Tauern National Park in the Salzburg region.

We've explored the Salzburg Lake District, but we haven't made it to Krimml yet. It is high on our bucket list, so I've researched every detail for you.

The Wasserfallweg (Waterfall Trail) is a well-built path that zigzags up through spruce forest. It stops at ten viewing platforms ("Kanzeln") that stick out towards the water. Near the bottom you feel the spray before you see the falls. Higher up, the views open out over the Salzach valley and the noise becomes a steady roar. Then at the top everything suddenly calms down, and you reach the wide meadows of the Krimmler Achental, one of the national park's longest valleys.

I love that this walk works for almost everyone. You can stop at the lowest fall after 15 minutes, turn round at the middle tier, or carry on into the high valley for a full day out. Also, buses stop right at the entrance, so it is an easy car-free trip.

At a glance

• Distance: about 4 km one way along the waterfall trail. It is roughly 8–9 km return to the top of the upper falls and back.
• Elevation gain: around 380–450 m (sources vary depending on the start point).
• Allow about 1 hr 15 min up from the lowest fall to the top, and 3–4 hours return with stops.
• Difficulty: Moderate. The path is wide and well maintained, but steady and steep in places.
• Route type: Out-and-back (you can extend it into the Krimmler Achental).
• Start point: Krimml Waterfalls entrance and ticket office, near the Krimml WasserWelten visitor centre.
• Best season: May to October. The water is at its most powerful in June–August.
• Prices: trail fee €9 adults, €4.50 children 6–15 (2026 leaflet). A combi ticket with WasserWelten is €15.90 / €7.90, including parking at car park P4. Guest cards and the Nationalpark Sommercard include entry. Check current prices on wasserfaelle-krimml.at.
• Toilets: on the trail (including an accessible WC). There are also several inns and kiosks along the way.
• Pushchairs: step-free to the lowest fall (Kürsingerplatz). Beyond that, it is hard going.
• Dogs: visitor guides report dogs on leads on the trail. However, dogs are not allowed on the national park's ranger-led walks.

Route description

Entrance to the lower falls

From the ticket office, a wide, flat path leads through the trees to the foot of the falls in 10–15 minutes. This section is barrier-free. It ends at Kürsingerplatz, a viewing area right beneath the lowest cascade. This is the wettest spot of the whole walk! The air is full of fine spray, so expect to get misted from head to toe on a sunny day. The lower fall alone drops more than 140 metres.

Here is a fun fact. The waterfall operators describe the falls as a recognised "natural remedy". Researchers at Paracelsus Medical University in Salzburg have studied the effect of the ion-rich spray on people with allergic asthma. Either way, it is a lovely place to cool down on a hot day.

Zigzags to the middle falls

Back on the main path, the climb begins. The trail was originally laid out by the Alpine Club. It winds up in switchbacks, and almost every bend brings another viewpoint. The official map names the Riemann, Regen, Sendtner and Jung platforms on this lower half. Some put you almost inside the spray. Others show the whole lower tier with the valley behind. When the sun and spray line up, you will often see rainbows. Late morning is usually a good time to look for them.

After roughly 30–40 minutes you pass Gasthaus Schönangerl. It is a traditional inn and a great place for a break, and the path gets less steep for a while here. Above it, the middle fall (around 100 metres high) thunders through a narrower gorge.

Upper falls and Schettkanzel

The final section is steeper again, with more hairpins and viewpoints. One of them is the Schettkanzel, near the top of the upper fall at around 1,460 m. The top tier drops about 140 metres. From up here you look down the full height of the falls to the village far below. Allow about an hour and a quarter from Kürsingerplatz to get here at a steady pace. It will take longer with children or lots of photo stops.

Optional: into the Krimmler Achental

Above the falls, the path meets the gravel track into the Krimmler Achental. What a contrast! It is a flat, open valley with grazing cattle, a gently flowing river and simple alpine huts. The Hölzlahneralm is about 30 minutes beyond the top. Keen walkers can continue to the historic Krimmler Tauernhaus (1,631 m), an inn first recorded in 1389. It is about 10 km and 3½ hours from the waterfall entrance. However, most people just wander a little way up the valley, have a picnic by the river and then go back.

Descent

Return the same way. Going down is quicker but harder on the knees. The path can also be damp and slippery near the spray, so take your time.

How to get there

By public transport

• Bus: Salzburg Verkehr bus 670 runs between Zell am See and Krimml, via Mittersill and Neukirchen. It ends at the Krimml Wasserfälle stop right by the falls. The journey from Zell am See takes roughly 1 hr 20 min. Zell am See has direct ÖBB trains from Salzburg and Innsbruck.
• Train: unfortunately the narrow-gauge Pinzgauer Lokalbahn from Zell am See has only run as far as Mittersill since flood damage in 2021, with replacement buses beyond. As of autumn 2026, rebuilding the next section was not due to start until 2027. So plan on bus 670 for the last leg. Check the current situation with Salzburg Verkehr or the ÖBB journey planner (Scotty).
• From Tyrol: you can reach Krimml from the Zillertal, or from Kitzbühel via Mittersill, by bus. See the Zillertal Arena "getting here" page for current timetables.
• Many Krimml guest cards include local buses, so ask your accommodation.

By car and parking

Krimml is at the foot of the Gerlos Pass road (a toll road) and is signposted from the Salzach valley (B165).

Parking: there are large paid car parks close to the falls. The combi ticket includes parking at P4 (WasserWelten). You need to validate it at the WasserWelten cash desk by 4.30pm.

Permits, fees & opening times

• Season: the paid trail runs from early May (some official pages say mid-April) until the end of October. The 2026 leaflet gives cash desk times of 8am–6pm daily.
• Prices (2026): adults €9, children 6–15 €4.50. A combi ticket with the Krimml WasserWelten (an interactive water exhibition) is €15.90 for adults and €7.90 for children.
• Free entry with: the Krimml guest card, Nationalpark Sommercard and SalzburgerLand Card. The Zell am See–Kaprun Card gives a discount.
• Ranger walks: the Hohe Tauern National Park runs guided waterfall walks in summer (Tuesdays in 2026, mid-July to early September). They are free with a guest card or Sommercard. Book via the national park website.
• Winter: the trail is not maintained in winter and is considered too dangerous to hike. Instead, the Krimml tourist office runs guided torchlit walks to the lower falls on winter evenings.

Check current prices and dates at wasserfaelle-krimml.at.

When to go

Thanks to the snowmelt, June to August are the most spectacular months, with the falls at full force. May and September are calmer and less crowded. October often brings clear air and autumn colours on the larch trees, but there is less water.

Krimml is one of Austria's most visited natural sights, so midday in summer can be busy, especially on the lower section. I suggest arriving early (the path is open from first light) or in the late afternoon. Also, afternoon thunderstorms are common in the Alps in summer, so check the forecast and start early.

Hiking with kids

This is a brilliant family walk, because there is a natural turnaround point for every age and energy level.

• Pushchairs: the path to Kürsingerplatz is step-free and suitable for buggies and wheelchairs. Above that, the path is wide and surfaced but steep. A rugged all-terrain pushchair can manage part of it with some effort (and a good brake on the way down). But a carrier is much more comfortable.
• Suitable for children: kids aged around 5 and up can usually walk to the middle falls and Gasthaus Schönangerl. The top is a bigger ask, but keen 7–8-year-olds can definitely do it.
• Keep it fun: count the viewing platforms (there are ten), hunt for rainbows in the spray, look out for dippers bobbing on wet rocks, and promise a snack stop at the inn. The free "Krimml Waters" audio guide in the Locandy app has 14 stops, which work well as a trail game.
• Rainy day backup: the WasserWelten centre by the entrance has hands-on water exhibits.

What to pack

• A light waterproof jacket, as you will get wet from the spray even on sunny days
• Comfortable walking shoes or boots with good grip (the path is damp near the falls)
• Water and snacks (the inns can be busy in peak season)
• Sun protection and a warm layer for the higher valley
• A dry bag or zip-lock pouch for phones and cameras
• Cash as a backup for huts and kiosks

Safety tips

• Stay on the path and behind the railings. The rocks near the falls are always wet and slippery.
• Hold small children's hands at the viewing platforms.
• Take it slowly on the way down. Tired legs and wet surfaces are the main cause of slips.
• Don't hike the trail outside the season. In winter it is icy, unmaintained and dangerous.
• In a thunderstorm, avoid exposed viewpoints and head for shelter at one of the inns.

Leave no trace & sustainable tips

• Arrive by bus 670. The stop is at the entrance, and you won't add to the summer car park queues.
• Keep to the marked path. The slopes between the switchbacks are steep and erode easily.
• The spray zone is home to rare mosses and lichens and protected birds such as dippers and grey wagtails. So please don't scramble down to the water's edge.
• Take your litter home, as there are few bins on the upper trail.
• Spend your money locally. Eat at the family-run inns along the route and buy picnic supplies in Krimml village.
• In the Achental, give way to grazing cattle and keep dogs on a short lead.

Where to stay & eat nearby

On the trail: the official trail map lists Gasthaus Hanke and Kiosk Egarter near the bottom, Gasthaus Schönangerl about halfway up, and Kiosk und Gasthof Richter near the top. In the Achental, the Hölzlahneralm and the historic Krimmler Tauernhaus serve traditional dishes and drinks in summer.

Staying over: Krimml village, Hochkrimml and Wald im Pinzgau have plenty of guesthouses, apartments and family hotels. Many of them include a guest card with free entry to the falls and local buses. For more choice and good train links, Mittersill and Zell am See make handy bases.

More to explore nearby

• Krimmler Achental and the Tauernhaus: extend your hike into this peaceful high valley.
• Tauern Cycle Path (Tauernradweg): one of Austria's most popular long-distance cycle routes. It starts in Krimml and follows the Salzach valley downhill, so it is ideal with a bike trailer.
• Hohe Tauern National Park ranger programme: guided walks, wildlife spotting and kids' activities across the Pinzgau valleys.
• Zell am See and Kaprun: lakeside swimming, the Sigmund-Thun Gorge and high-alpine reservoirs.
• Gerlos Pass and the Zillertal: across the pass you will find the Zillertal Arena hiking area and the Zillertal valley.

FAQ

How long does it take to walk the Krimml Waterfalls? Allow about 15 minutes to the lowest fall, around 40 minutes to the middle falls and roughly 1 hr 15 min to the top. A full return trip with stops usually takes 3–4 hours.

Do you have to pay to see the Krimml Waterfalls? Yes. During the season (May to end of October) there is a trail fee: €9 for adults and €4.50 for children aged 6–15 in 2026. Several regional guest cards include free entry. Check current prices on the official website.

Can you visit the Krimml Waterfalls without a car? Yes, easily. Take a train to Zell am See, then Salzburg Verkehr bus 670 to the Krimml Wasserfälle stop at the trail entrance. The narrow-gauge railway currently ends at Mittersill, so the bus is the simplest option.

Is the Krimml Waterfalls trail suitable for pushchairs? Only the first section, to the lowest fall at Kürsingerplatz, is step-free and easy. Higher up the path is steep, so a carrier is a better choice for babies and toddlers.

Can you visit Krimml Waterfalls in winter? The trail is closed and unmaintained in winter. But you can still see the frozen lower falls from the bottom, and the tourist office organises guided torchlit evening walks.

Have you seen the Krimml Waterfalls? Did you make it all the way to the top? Let me know in the comments!