Zireiner See

Taking in more than 1,500 vertical metres of ascent, this circular hike is certainly not among the easiest out there. However, hikers will be rewarded for all that hard effort with majestic views as they make their way up to the Zireiner See. This lake is considered one of the most beautiful mountain lakes in Tirol and enjoys a fabulous location at the end of a valley at the foot of the mighty Rofan Mountains. The Berghaus Sonnwendjoch hut overlooking the Inn Valley is the ideal place for a drink and a snack before returning back down to the starting point in Kramsach.
This hike starts at the car park at the bottom of the Sonnwendjochbahn cable car (no longer in operation). From there, hikers take trail number 9 and follow it until the trail divides and heads towards "Kaltwasserbründl". They then continue along trail number 8 as far as the mid-way station of the cable car. From the mid-way station there is a trail which leads straight up to the top station of the cable car (approx. 3.5 hours), following the route which the lift took when it was in operation. From the Berghaus Sonnwendjoch hut, hikers head straight up onto the Rosskogelsattel, past the Rosskogel mountain (heading north), across the Rosswies to a trail marked 401, which takes them down to the Zireiner See lake (1 hour). After a short climb at the western end of the lake, the trail divides. Take the left-hand trail and continue towards the Zireiner Alm. Then comes a short descent. At the next corner turns right onto a narrow trail (follow the signs) to the "Bayreuther Hütte und Bergalm" (1.5 hours). From there hikers descend into the valley and back to the car park in Kramsach (2 hours).