Riesachfälle and the Riesachsee from the Untertal

From the Seeleiten car park at the head of the Untertal a path climbs beside the Riesach brook, past the Kleiner Riesachfall, to the viewing point of the Großer Riesachfall. A short link then joins the forest lane, the Untertalstraße, which climbs in long bends above the falls, passes the Gföller Alm and runs along the Riesachsee to its east end, where this walk turns round. The way back is the same lane and path.

It is 7 km there and back with 305 m of ascent; allow about 2½ hours. The grade is Easy: a broad forest lane with a steady climb after the first stretch of path. The lane carries on past the lake; this walk stops at the lake's east end.

The tourist board calls the Riesach Waterfall the highest in Styria; it drops in two stages, about 140 m to the valley floor, and the paths around the falls are constantly wet from the spray, so wear shoes with a grip. The Alpinsteig Höll beside the falls is for ascent only, well secured with countless steps and a steep ladder, with a 50 m cable footbridge, and the tourist board says it is not for children under eight or dogs; it is not part of this walk, and the board recommends the forest lane for the return. OpenStreetMap maps the Gföller Alm and the Kaltenbachalm beside the lane; the pages read give no opening dates for either.

The tourist board says there is a parking fee at the public car parks in the Untertal, and that Planai buses from Schladming or Rohrmoos run to the Riesach Wasserfall stop at the Seeleiten car park, the last stop. The operator's timetables are seasonal: the summer 2026 hiking bus ran from 14 May to 11 October and an autumn timetable runs from 12 October to 1 November, so check planaibus.at.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.