How to Visit Lake Lünersee in Vorarlberg, Austria (original) (raw)
Lünersee is a large alpine lake, situated high above Brandnertal in the Austrian State of Vorarlberg. Set amidst the striking limestone mountains of the Rätikon Alps, this gorgeous lake is a destination like no other.
Lünersee Lake is highly accessible, as there’s an aerial cableway that connects Brandnertal (Brand Valley) to the lake. Not surprisingly, this is a very popular destination for families with children and hikers of all ages.
We recommend carving out at least half-a-day to hike around the lake, eat lunch at Douglashütte, and summit one of the panoramic peaks around the lake.
A few years ago, we visited Lünersee in order to start this 4-day hut to hut hike, which was one of the best treks we’ve ever done in the Alps. We recently returned to Lünersee to hike to Schafgafall and Schesaplana.
- Lake Lünersee Hiking Map
- How to Get to Lünersee
- Riding the Lünerseebahn
- Where to Eat
- Day Hikes
- Multi-Day Hikes
- More Rätikon Alps and Vorarlberg Guides
- Austria Trip Planning Essentials
- Area: 112 hectares / 1.12 square km
- Depth: 139 meters
- Surface Elevation: 1,970 meters
- Swimming/Boating: Not permitted.
- Fishing: Allowed with Fishing Club Day Pass. Fishing is allowed from the middle of June until late October.
- Camping: Camping is forbidden.
- Cycling: Not permitted.
- Drones: Only permitted with authorization.
- Dogs: Allowed, also in the cable car.
- Public Transit Accessible: Yes.
- Where to Eat: Douglasshütte, Lünersee Alpe
- When to Hike: Late June – September
- Weather Forecast and Webcam: Bergfex Weather Brandnertal
- Must-Do Day Hike: Lünersee Circuit Trail, Schesaplana Summit
- Recommended Itinerary: 2-Week Austria Itinerary
- Where to Stay in Brand: Pension Bergkristall (budget), Hotel Lün (midrange), or Aktiv-Hotel Sarotla (luxury)
- Recommended Trail Map: WK 5374 Brandnertal – Rätikon
Lake Lünersee Hiking Map
How to Get to Lünersee
Car
The Lünerseebahn valley station is located at the uppermost part of Brand Valley in Vorarlberg, Austria. It’s a 15-minute drive from Brand village and a 30-minute drive from Bludenz. There is large car park at the valley station, free of charge.
Public Transit
To get to Brandnertal, you first have to navigate to Bludenz. There are direct trains to Bludenz from Innsbruck, Linz, Salzburg, and Vienna.
The Bludenz bus station is located directly outside the train station. Hop on bus 580 to Lünersee (40 minutes). You can purchase a ticket directly on the bus.
Book your Train Ticket to Bludenz.
Riding the Lünerseebahn
Lünerseebahn is an aerial cableway that links Brand Valley to Lünersee. You can walk from the cableway valley station to the lake as well, but we suggest taking the Lünerseebahn.
Opening Times | Current Opening Times
Operating Hours | The cableway operates every 15 minutes during operating hours.
Prices | Current Pricing
Where to Eat
Douglass Hütte
Douglass mountain hut (1979 m) is located next to the Lünerseebahn mountain station. They have ample outdoor seating as well as comfortable indoor seating.
The food is excellent. And, the service is even better. We loved their Bauernsalat (Farmer’s Salad).
Lünersee Alpe
The Alpe Lünersee is a traditional alpine pasture hut, located on the opposite side of the lake from Douglass Hütte.
You can try their fresh Buttermilch, which is a traditional dairy drink in the Austrian Alps. They also serve sausage, cake, and a few other snacks.
They accept cash payments only.
Totalphütte
Totalp mountain hut (2385 m) is located on the trail to Schesaplana peak, a good 400-meter ascent from the lake.
We stopped here for an Apfel Strudel and coffee on our final stage of the Rätikon High Trail.
Day Hikes
Lünersee Circuit Trail
The Lünersee circuit trail (Lünersee-Rundweg) wraps around the entire lake.
This is an easy, well-groomed trail suitable for everyone. From the cableway mountain station, you can walk in either direction.
If you go right first, the trail is initially flat. If you go left first, you’ll pass Douglasshütte (1979 m), cross the reservoir wall, and then initially ascend several meters, before the trail levels.
The trail crosses mountain pastures that are grazed in summer.
Trail Stats
Trailhead | Lünerseebahn mountain station
Distance | 6 km circuit
Time Needed | 1:45 hours
Elevation Gain/Loss | 105 meters
Difficulty | Easy
Minimum Elevation | 1967 meters
Maximum Elevation | 2071 meters
Lünersee Circuit Trail and Schafgafall Peak
We recommend combining the Lünersee Loop Trail with a detour to Schafgafall Peak (2414 m), possibly the most rewarding vantage point of the lake.
From the cableway mountain station, turn left.
After crossing the Staumauer (dam wall), you’ll arrive at a signed junction. Continue right following the signs to Schafgafall (1:15 hours) and Lünerseealpe (50 min).
The path immediately ascends in switchbacks. After 10-minutes of steeply hiking uphill, the trail levels. T
Soon the trail divides. Take the left upper path in the direction of Lünerkrinne and H. Hueter-Hütte. This marks the beginning of the Schafgafall Peak hike detour.
The ascent is steep, direct, and continuous.
Read our Schafgafall Peak trail guide for a complete description.
Trail Stats
Trailhead | Lünerseebahn mountain station
Distance | 8.3 km circuit
Time Needed | 4 hours
Elevation Gain/Loss | 472 meters
Difficulty | Moderate
Minimum Elevation | 1967 meters
Maximum Elevation | 2414 meters
Lünersee Circuit Trail and Gafalljoch Ridge
Gafalljoch (2239 m) is a mountain pass that lies on the border of Austria and Switzerland.
To reach Gafalljoch, follow the circuit trail to Lünersee Alpe. From here, the path leads south up grassy slopes to the border.
After enjoying the panoramic views of Prätigau and the Swiss Alps, return to Lünersee Alpe along the same trail, and complete the circuit.
Trail Stats
Trailhead | Lünerseebahn mountain station
Distance | 8.6 km lollipop circuit
Time Needed | 3 hours
Elevation Gain/Loss | 364 meters
Difficulty | Moderate
Minimum Elevation | 1967 meters
Maximum Elevation | 2239 meters
Totalphütte Mountain Hut
After exiting the cableway station, head right. Follow the circuit trail around Lünersee for about 20 minutes until you see a trail sign to Totalphütte and Schesaplana.
The trail to Totalphütte angles up to the right, leaving the Lünersee circuit trail.
The stony path rises slowly amidst dwarf pine and low-lying shrubs. Even with the slightest elevation, Lünersee is a mesmerizing sight to behold.
The traverse continues across more scree slopes and a gully, before zigzagging steeply uphill.
Follow the waymarks, so you don’t miss a turn.
Totalphütte (2385 m) is located on a small plateau above Lake Totalpsee, surrounded by stark mountain scenery. This managed Austrian Alpine Club serves warm food and cold beverages throughout the day.
Return to Lünersee along the same trail.
Trail Stats
Trailhead | Lünerseebahn mountain station
Distance | 6.7 km out-and-back
Time Needed | 2:45 hours
Elevation Gain/Loss | 418 meters
Difficulty | Moderate (white-red-white trail)
Minimum Elevation | 1972 meters
Maximum Elevation | 2383 meters
Schesaplana Summit
Standing on the border of Austria and Switzerland, Schesaplana (2965 m) is the highest mountain in the Rätikon Alps.
This peak hike requires great comfort with high-alpine terrain. It’s a challenging trail, which is made even more difficult by lingering snow fields.
From Lünersee, the hike begins with a straightforward ascent to Totalphütte (1:30 hours). From the hut, the white-blue-white trail develops into a demanding alpine path with scrambling, secured sections, and snow field crossings. It takes 2 hours to reach the summit from Totalphütte.
Read our Schesaplana trail guide for a complete trail description.
Trail Stats
Trailhead | Lünerseebahn mountain station
Distance | 10.3 km out-and-back
Time Needed | 6 hours
Elevation Gain/Loss | 1001 meters
Difficulty | Challenging
Minimum Elevation | 1967 meters
Maximum Elevation | 2965 meters
Multi-Day Hikes
Lünersee 4-Day Hut to Hut Hiking Route
We hiked 4 days around the Rätikon mountains, starting and ending at Lünersee. We wrote this detailed Rätikon hiking itinerary, so you can experience this amazing route too.
Here’s the route summary:
Day 1 | (Brandnertal) – Lünersee – Lindauer Hütte (4 hours, 10 km)
Day 2 | Lindauer Hütte – Tilisunahütte – Carschinahütte (5 hours, 10.2 km)
Day 3 | Carschinahütte – Schesaplanahütte (6 hours, 15.8 km)
Day 4 | Schesaplanahütte – Schesaplana – Totalphütte – Lünersee – (Brandnertal) (9.2 km, 5 hours)
If you’re new to hut to hut hiking, read our Hut to Hut Hiking in Austria Guide.
Lünersee 3-Day Hut to Hut Hiking Route
This is a perfect 3-day route suitable for families and anyone who wants an easy, but tremendously beautiful hike.
If you’re new to hut to hut hiking, this is a great place to start. You can follow the same itinerary. However, on Day 3, you’ll descend down to Lünersee from Gafalljoch/Cavelljoch.
Day 1 | (Brandnertal) – Lünersee – Lindauer Hütte (4 hours, 10 km)
Day 2 | Lindauer Hütte – Tilisunahütte – Carschinahütte (5 hours, 10.2 km)
Day 3 | Carschinahütte – Gafalljoch/Cavelljoch – Lünersee – (Brandnertal) (5 hours, 13.6 km)
Where to Stay
The best base for exploring Lünersee is in the town of Brand in Brandnertal.
Midrange | Pension Bergkristall is an apartment-style accommodation in Brand, next to the Dorfbahn Cable Car Station. If you’re planning to base yourself in Brandnertal for a few days, or even a week, you’ll feel very comfortable here. Breakfast is available upon request.
Midrange | Hotel Lün is a top-rated modern alpine hotel in Brand, offering double rooms as well as apartments with fully equipped kitchenettes and dining areas. Highlights of staying here are the spa area, the breakfast buffet, the cheerful design. Read our Hotel Lün Review.
Midrange | Hotel Garni Tannleger B&B offers modern well-kept rooms in the village of Brand. Guests are treated to a lovely breakfast. If you stay here 2+ nights during the summer season (May – October), you will be given a premium guest card, which gives you free and unlimited use of the local cableways (including the Lünersee cable car).
Luxury | Aktiv-Hotel Sarotla is a stylish and modern hotel with excellent spa facilities, spacious rooms with balconies, and a fabulous hotel restaurant and bar. Guests can participate in guided hiking and cycling tours free of charge.
Look for accommodation in Brandnertal.
More Rätikon Alps and Vorarlberg Guides
Vorarlberg, Austria:
Rätikon Alps, Liechtenstein:
Lech am Arlberg, Vorarlberg:
- Lech am Arlberg Summer Hiking Guide
- Lake Formarinsee to Lake Spullersee, Lechquellen Mountains
- Oberlech – Göppinger Hütte Hike
- Rüfikopf – Stuttgarter Hütte Hike
- Spuller Schafberg Peak Hike, Lechquellen Mountains
Silvretta Alps / Montafon, Vorarlberg:
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Austria Trip Planning Essentials
Use our Austria Travel Guide and Austria blog archive to plan a unique and memorable trip to Austria.
When to Visit Austria
We recommend visiting Austria between June and October for hiking and between December and March for skiing and winter adventuring.
Summer Travel | Summer in Austria
Autumn Travel | Autumn in Austria
Winter Travel | Winter in Austria, Salzburg in December, Vienna in December, Vienna in January, Skiing in Schladming
Getting around Austria
Austria has an excellent public transit system. We’ve used it extensively to travel throughout the country. We highly recommend using transit if you’re visiting cities (Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Graz, etc…), and/or doing hut-to-hut hikes.
Some areas like Mayrhofen, Schladming and Lech am Arlberg have wonderful seasonal transit systems in place (e.g. summer hiking buses). However, if you’re not visiting during the high season, bus frequencies are significantly reduced and it’s far easier to get around with your own vehicle.
If you’re planning on visiting multiple destinations across Austria, we recommend renting a car.
Use these road trip itineraries for trip planning inspiration:
Start in Vienna | 2-Week Austria Road Trip
Start in Salzburg, or Munich | 1-Week Austria Road Trip
Start in Munich | 10-Day Bavarian Alps & Tyrolean Alps Road Trip
Car Rental
We recommend using the Discovercars.com car rental reservation platform to search for and book car rentals. This easy-to-use booking platform compares car rental deals from 500+ trusted providers, so that you can choose the best option for your trip.
If you’re driving into Austria from a neighboring country, don’t forget to purchase a vignette at/near the border.
Hiking in Austria
Where to Hike in Austria
Read Austrian Alps Hiking Destinations for an overview of where to hike in Austria, with tips on specific trails and where to stay. Also check out Best Day Hikes in Austria and these region-specific hiking guides:
Tyrol | Innsbruck Hikes, Lake Achensee Hikes
Salzburg | Salzburg Hikes, Filzmoos Hikes
Styria | Schladming Hikes
Vorarlberg | Vorarlberg Hikes, Lech am Arlberg Hikes
Lower Austria | Vienna Mountains Hikes
Hut to Hut Hiking in Austria
Austria is a premier hut-to-hut and long-distance hiking destination. The quality of the mountain huts are superb. We particularly love the high-alpine trails, which are called Höhenwege in German. We’ve summarized our favorite multi-day hikes in Trekking Austria. If you’re new to hut hiking, read this in-depth guide to Hut to Hut Hiking in Austria.
What to See & Do in Austria
1. Visit a gorge like the Liechtenstein Gorge in Salzburg, or Wolfsklamm Gorge in Tyrol.
2. Bathe in the thermal pools of an Austrian Therme like Aqua Dome in Tyrol
3. Stay in a thermal spa hotel like Rogner Bad Blumau in Styria, EurothermenResort Bad Ischl in Upper Austria, or the Aqua Dome Hotel in Tyrol.
4. Hike to a mountain lake like Lake Tappenkarsee in Salzburg or Lake Drachensee in Tyrol.
5. Go Wine Tasting in South Styria.
6. Marvel at the culture, music, and architecture of Vienna.
7. Eat heartwarming mountain food in an Almhütte at Grosser Ahornboden in Tyrol, or Ursprungalm in Styria.
8. Drive the Grossglockner High Alpine Road in Hohe Tauern National Park.
9. Visit the castles, monasteries, and wine taverns of the Wachau Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
10. Watch a Krampus Run: Krampus Parade in December.
Austrian Hotels
- Best Hotels in the Austrian Alps
- Best Hotels in Lech am Arlberg, Vorarlberg
- Wellness Hotel Theresa, Zillertal, Tyrol
- Hotel Eder in Maria Alm, Salzburg
- Nidum Casual Luxury Hotel in Tyrol
- Seehotel Einwaller in Pertisau, Lake Achensee, Tyrol
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