From the Reiteralm to famous Mirror Lake
easy Hiking · Schladming
This hiking tip is a leisurely, short mountain hike to a beautiful destination – the "Spiegelsee", meaning Mirror Lake. Its original name is actually Mittlerer Gasslsee, but over the last 30 years, many photo-loving hikers have re-christened it.
In a wonderful setting, whenever winds are calm it serves up the most beautiful reflections imaginable. If you stand on the south shore, you are treated to an amazing reflection of the south face of the Dachstein Massif! The colors are spectacular from mid June on, when the rhododendron come into full bloom (Rhododendron Festival), delightful summer scenery in July and August, while the golden-yellow larches of October bring us magnificent contrasts. We are but a short climb from the Obersee, a small Ice-Age tarn, picturesquely and peacefully nestled in the rearmost cirque at the foot of the Rippetegg and Pichler Schober. Magnificent panoramic views of the Dachstein and Bischofsmütze.
IMPORTANT NOTE: the Spiegelsee is a relatively shallow, small mountain lake in the vicinity of a fragile ecosystem. Please be considerate of nature and other nature lovers and do not go swimming in the lake!
Gallery
From the mountain terminal (or the car parking at Gasselhöh'-Hütte Inn respectively) follow trail n° 66 around Reiteralmsee Lake and follow the signage and trail n° 66 into the forest towards Spiegelsee Lake. The easy hiking trail runs along the East slopes of the ridge between Rippetegg and Gasselhöhe summits.
After approximately 45 minutes you reach the picturesque "Mirror Lake". A couple of minutes more and you reach the small Obersee Lake between the summits of Rippetegg and Schober.
Alternatives for the way back:
- Another possible way back is via the Reiteralm High Trail (via Rippetegg and Gasselhöhe summits) with an additional 2 hours
- On the way back you can also make a smaller detour via trail n° 66a and Untersee Lake (an additional 30 minutes).
Approximately 4 km West of Schladming take exit Pichl from highway B320 Ennstalbundesstraße and continue on Preuneggstraße road towards Reiteralm. Taking a couple of switchbacks you reach the valley terminal of Preunegg-Jet gondola which operates also in summer (operating times at www.reiteralm.at).
You can also continue on Reiteralmstraße road (toll road) to Eiskarhütte, Reiteralmhütte or Gasselhöh'-Hütte huts.
Ramsauer Verkehrsbetriebe offers a bus connection to the valley terminal of Preunegg-Jet gondola on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday.
- Buses of Ramsauer Verkehrsbetriebe: www.rvb.at
From there you take the cable car Preunegg-Jet to Reiteralm.
Changes in weather patterns, quick falls in temperature, thunderstorms, wind, fog and snow are some of the dangers that can be encountered on a hiking tour. Hosts of alpine huts and mountain refuges have a lot of experience in the mountains and can give good advice about weather and the trails. Poor equipment, overestimation of one's own capabilities, carelessness, poor personal constitution and/or wrong judgement can lead to critical situations. In case of thunderstorms: avoid summits, ridges and steel ropes.
GPS data and orienteering
Available GPS data - just like hiking maps - is only a guidance for orientation and can never depict a trail exactly with all its details. Especially at dangerous spots it is essential to judge on site how to proceed.
In an emergency please call:
- 140 - for Alpine emergencies (all over Austria)
- 112 - European GSM emergency number
Tourist information: www.schladming.com
Information about bus schedules: www.rvb.at
Information about cable-car hours: www.reiteralm.at
- Hiking map ‘Hiking WEST’ available at the information offices in the region.
- Schladming hiking map, 1:25,000, available at the Schladming information office.
- Hiking map Schladming-Dachstein, 1:50,000, available at the information offices in the region.
- Hiking guide Schladming-Dachstein by Herbert Raffalt, available at the information offices in the region.
