Krimml Waterfalls: Austria's highest cascade in the Hohe Tauern

Austria’s highest waterfall: what the numbers mean in practice

The Krimmler Wasserfälle drops 380 metres in three distinct tiers through a narrow gorge at the western end of the Salzach valley. For comparison, Niagara Falls has a vertical drop of about 57 metres. The Krimml falls are among the highest in Europe by total drop, and they rank as the highest in Austria with comfortable margin. The third tier alone — the uppermost cascade — drops around 140 metres in a single plunge.

The visual effect depends on when you visit. The falls are fed by snowmelt from the Hohe Tauern National Park glaciers above, which means the peak flow occurs in June and early July when both winter snowpack and glacial melt are at maximum. In August the flow is still impressive but noticeably reduced. By October, the upper tier is often partially frozen and the lower tiers running at a fraction of peak volume.

For visitors combining Krimml with a Grossglockner drive or an overnight in Zell am See, the timing question is essentially: aim for June or early July if you want the falls at maximum drama. Later in summer is still worthwhile but manage expectations about the volume of water.

Getting to Krimml from Salzburg

The most direct route is via the A10 motorway south to the Pongau junction, then B311 west through Zell am See and south onto the B165 Pinzgauer Straße into the upper Salzach valley. Total: approximately 120 km and two hours in normal conditions. The B165 from Zell am See to Krimml is a straightforward valley road — no altitude or technical difficulty, just a long valley run through a succession of small Pinzgau villages.

Alternatively, the Pinzgaubahn narrow-gauge railway runs from Zell am See to Krimml (the Krimmler Bahnhof is about 500 m from the waterfall entrance), but it is slow — roughly 80 minutes for the 54 km — and runs infrequently. The train is atmospheric and worth considering if you are already based in Zell am See without a car.

There is no direct coach service from Salzburg to Krimml. Independent travellers without a car will need to combine the Salzburg–Zell am See train (1 hour) with the Pinzgaubahn (80 minutes) and accept a fairly full day of transit for a half-day at the falls.

Entry, access, and practical logistics

Entry to the Krimmler Wasserfälle nature area costs approximately €7 per adult (2025 rate). This covers access to the signed walking path that runs from the bottom of the falls to the upper platform above the third tier. Children under 15 enter free. The ticket is checked at a small booth near the lower car park. Cash and cards are both accepted.

Parking: The main car park at the waterfall entrance charges approximately €8 per day. There is a secondary car park in the village of Krimml itself (about 1 km from the falls entrance) at a lower rate, with a footpath connection. In peak season (July–August weekends), the main car park fills by 10:00; arriving before 09:00 or using the village parking avoids frustration.

The falls are accessible year-round but the upper path is closed from November through April or May due to ice and snow danger. The most dramatic viewing season is June–July as noted above.

Toilets and basic snack facilities are available at the bottom, mid-point, and top of the walk. Do not plan a full restaurant meal at the falls — the catering is functional but not the reason to visit.

The walk: what you actually do for two hours

The walking path along the Krimmler Wasserfälle is 4.2 km from the valley floor entrance to the top platform, with a total ascent of approximately 380 m (logically, since it follows the drop). The well-maintained path winds through mixed forest alongside the gorge, with viewing platforms at each tier.

Lower falls and first tier: From the entrance, the path climbs steeply through trees for the first 15–20 minutes before reaching the main viewing platform for the lowest tier. The spray here is significant — at high flow in June and July, you will get wet within 10–15 minutes of standing on the platform. A waterproof jacket or packable poncho is strongly recommended rather than just mentioned as a possibility. Umbrellas are impractical in the wind generated by the falling water.

Between first and second tier: The forest section between the lower and middle falls takes 20–25 minutes of steady walking on a well-graded path. The sound is constant — the roar of the main falls audible for the entire ascent — but the visual spectacle is interrupted by trees, which makes the clearings all the more striking.

Second tier and middle platform: A substantial viewpoint with seating, approximately 45 minutes from the entrance. This is the best single viewpoint on the walk: you can see part of the second tier above and the lower cascade below simultaneously. The arc of spray catches light in a way that produces a visible rainbow on sunny mornings roughly between 09:00 and 11:00.

Third tier and summit platform: The steepest section of the path reaches the top in approximately 30 minutes from the middle platform. The summit area has a viewing terrace above the final cascade and a clear view south toward the Krimml glacier cirque above the valley head. On clear days you can see the glaciated peaks of the Venediger group (up to 3674 m) at the valley’s end.

Total time for the round trip: Two hours is the minimum for the full ascent and descent at a reasonable pace. Allow 2h30–3h if you want to stop properly at each tier rather than rushing. Descent on the same path takes slightly less time than ascent but the path is steep enough that knee strain is a factor on the way down; walking poles help.

Difficulty: Moderate. The path is well-surfaced and signed throughout. Standard hiking footwear with ankle support is appropriate but not strictly required on the main path. The challenge is simply the cumulative ascent and the fact that the lower portions are frequently wet and slippery from spray.

Wildlife and ecology in the gorge

The Krimml gorge sits within Hohe Tauern National Park, and the forest section of the path is notably biodiverse. The negative ion concentration in the spray zone is among the highest recorded in any natural environment in Europe — this is not merely atmospheric marketing; the gorge air does have a distinctive freshness that is physiologically perceptible. Studies have found this concentration beneficial for people with respiratory conditions, and Krimml runs official “breathing cure” programmes drawing visitors for multi-day wellness stays.

Bird life in the gorge includes Eurasian dippers (dark brown, white-chested birds that walk into the current and feed underwater — look for them on wet rocks at the base of each tier), white wagtails, and kingfishers along the Salzach river below the falls. Roe deer are occasionally seen at the forest margins early morning.

Higher up, above the third tier, the terrain transitions to the national park’s alpine zone. Marmots are heard (their piercing whistle) if not always seen. The ibex population of the wider Hohe Tauern is substantial; the rocky slopes above the Krimml valley head hold a resident population, though you would need to hike beyond the falls themselves to reliably encounter them.

Combining Krimml with the Grossglockner road

The most logical multi-attraction combination from Salzburg pairs Krimml with the Grossglockner High Alpine Road in a single ambitious day. The route logic: drive south from Salzburg early, enter the Grossglockner road from the north (Ferleiten) by 08:30–09:00, descend by 13:00–13:30, then drive west along the B311/B165 to Krimml (approximately 45 minutes from the Grossglockner junction at Bruck). Arrive at Krimml around 14:30, walk to the second or third tier and back by 17:00, return to Salzburg by 19:30.

This is genuinely achievable if you leave Salzburg by 06:30 and maintain the schedule. The risk is weather — if the Grossglockner road is in cloud in the morning, waiting for clearing burns the time buffer for Krimml. Have a fallback: if Grossglockner is socked in, drive directly to Krimml first and revisit Grossglockner on another day.

Combining Krimml with Zell am See and Kaprun

The valley geography makes combining Krimml with Zell am See and Kaprun very natural. From Kaprun village to Krimml is about 50 minutes on the B165. A two-day programme works well:

• Day 1: Zell am See lakefront in the morning; Kaprun Kitzsteinhorn glacier in the afternoon; overnight in the area
• Day 2: Krimml Waterfalls in the morning; drive back via Zell am See to Salzburg

This avoids all the timing stress of a single-day attempt and gives both the glacier and the waterfalls appropriate time.

What to pack and wear

Essential:

• Waterproof jacket or packable poncho (non-negotiable in the spray zone)
• Hiking shoes with grip (the lower path gets very slippery when wet)
• Sunscreen (UV index is elevated in the open sections above the first tier)
• Water — 1 litre per person minimum

Useful:

• Walking poles (descending the lower section on wet rock)
• Camera with lens cloth (spray deposits on optics constantly in the lower gorge)
• Warm layer (the upper section above the third tier can be 10°C cooler than the valley)

Leave behind: Sandals, flip-flops, or smooth-soled shoes of any kind. The combination of steep path and wet rock makes these genuinely hazardous near the lower falls.

Seasonal guide

May (if path open, variable): Snow still present on upper sections; lower falls running at early melt pace. Path sometimes partially closed — check in advance.

June–July: Peak season for water volume and spray intensity. The most dramatic visual experience. Crowds building through July.

August: Still worthwhile but reduced flow. The forest section is the most appealing in the heat. Busiest month — weekends crowded by 10:00.

September: Fewer visitors, still good flow, cooler temperatures. Excellent photography light (lower sun angle, clearer atmosphere). Best overall balance.

October: Falls still running, some ice forming on rocks near the spray. Upper path may close from mid-October. Foliage colour in the gorge can be striking.

The village of Krimml: worth a look

Krimml village (population approximately 800) sits at 1067 m at the head of the upper Pinzgau. The main road through the village is functional rather than charming, but the church and a handful of traditional wooden houses give the core some character. One genuinely good reason to walk through the village rather than driving directly to the falls car park: the approach along the village path past the church puts you at the lower falls entrance from the east, which is slightly less steep for the first section.

There is one passably good traditional restaurant on the village square (Gasthof Krimml) serving Pinzgauer Hausmannskost — roast pork, dumplings, Krautsuppe — at honest prices (mains €14–18). This is preferable to the falls entrance café for a proper lunch stop.

The Krimml Achental: hiking beyond the falls

The valley above the waterfalls — the Krimml Achental — is a classic Hohe Tauern high valley, accessible only on foot after the falls themselves. A marked trail continues from the top of the waterfall walk into the upper valley toward the Krimmler Tauern pass (2634 m, the old trading route into South Tyrol) and the Rainbachkees glacier. This is proper alpine hiking rather than a family waterfall walk, and it requires a full day and appropriate mountain gear.

For day visitors, the top of the waterfall walk is the natural turnaround point. For walkers based at a local guesthouse, the upper valley offers a continuation into genuine wilderness with the mountain hut Krimmler Tauernhaus (2631 m) as an overnight target. This hut is staffed from June to September and provides half-board accommodation and hot meals.

The Hohe Tauern hiking guide covers the Krimml area trails in detail, including the Venediger Höhenweg (a multi-day ridge traverse that passes above Krimml) for experienced mountain hikers.

The Krimml Waterfalls in the health tourism context

The therapeutic properties of the Krimml spray zone have been scientifically documented: the area immediately adjacent to the lower and middle tiers generates among the highest concentrations of negative air ions measured anywhere in Europe, as a result of the Lenard effect (water droplet fragmentation generating static charge). Medical studies — primarily from the University of Salzburg — have found that extended exposure in the spray zone produces measurable improvements in aerosol particle clearance from the lungs, with beneficial effects documented for people with asthma and other respiratory conditions.

This is not merely tourism marketing: the Austrian health system recognises Krimml as a Kneipp and respiratory therapy location, and some health insurers cover multi-day “Wasserfallkur” (waterfall cure) stays as preventive health treatment. A week-long residential programme from a local guesthouse with daily sessions in the spray zone costs approximately €500–800 per person including accommodation.

For the ordinary tourist, none of this changes the visit materially — but it does explain the unusual density of wellness-oriented guesthouses in a village of 800 people.

Photography at the falls

The main photographic challenge at Krimml is the spray itself: at peak flow in June–July, a camera without protection will have condensation on the lens within five minutes of approaching the lower tier viewpoint. Solutions: a UV filter that you can wipe repeatedly, a waterproof camera sleeve (cheap and effective), or simply keeping the camera inside a jacket until you step to the edge for the shot.

Best light for the lower falls is morning, roughly 09:00–11:00, when the sun angles into the gorge and produces a visible rainbow in the spray. The effect is most pronounced on clear days with direct sunlight (not useful on overcast days). The rainbow appears most clearly from the platform about halfway along the lower tier, looking up-valley.

For the upper tiers, afternoon light (14:00–17:00) catches the cascade face better from the mid-level and upper platforms, where the gorge opens out enough to allow direct sunlight.

Krimml in the context of a longer Alps itinerary

For the 5-day Salzburg itinerary, Krimml fits most naturally on the day designated for the High Tauern area — typically combining with either Grossglockner or the Zell am See/Kaprun area. The salzburg-lakes-mountains-5-days guide maps out a complete loop from Salzburg that integrates Krimml with the Grossglockner road and the lake towns of the Salzkammergut.

The best day trips from Salzburg guide situates Krimml relative to other day-trip options — it is a longer and more committed drive than Hallstatt or Werfen, which matters for shorter itineraries.

The broader Hohe Tauern hiking guide covers multi-day walking routes that use Krimml as a starting point for routes into the upper park — including the Kaiser-Tauern pass and routes connecting to the Grossvenediger glacier region.

The falls are one of those rare Austrian natural attractions that consistently over-deliver on expectation. Two hours walking through spray and forest to stand at the base of a 140-metre plunge pool is not subtle — but then it was not designed to be.