Finsterbach Waterfalls

Sattendorf / Treffen am Ossiacher See, Carinthia (Karnten), Austria

About Finsterbach Waterfalls

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Waterfall Safety and Common Sense

The Finsterbach Waterfalls (Finsterbach Wasserfälle) were a series of three waterfalls with heights of 23m, 21m, and 34m, respectively.

To my knowledge, the first waterfall was called the namesake Finsterbachfall, the second waterfall was called Kesselfall (Cauldron Falls?), and the uppermost one was called the Schleierfall (Bridal Veil Falls?).

Finsterbach_Waterfalls_140_07112018 - The uppermost of the Finsterbach Waterfalls called Schleierfall
The uppermost of the Finsterbach Waterfalls called Schleierfall

The uppermost of the waterfalls was by far the most impressive of the lot.

With teasing glimpses of the Lake Ossiachersee, this was kind of my waterfalling excuse to check out the partially geothermally heated lakes of the Austrian province of Carinthia.

By the way, this was a part of the country that I don’t think many foreign tourists have put on their itineraries judging by how few of them we’ve noticed during our travels here.

Even though the foreign tourism route hadn’t really touched Carinthia en masse, these waterfalls were by no means unpopular.

Finsterbach_Waterfalls_036_07112018 - This was the first or lowermost of the Finsterbacher Waterfalls called Finsterbachfall
This was the first or lowermost of the Finsterbacher Waterfalls called Finsterbachfall

In fact, it was quite the contrary as I encountered numerous Austrian visitors during my late afternoon visit.

This might have been aided by extensive trail renovation in 2015-2016 to make this trail more accessible to families.

Indeed, there was certainly no shortage of the amount of families I had witnessed during my excursion to these waterfalls.

Finally, I should mention that I’ve seen these waterfalls referenced collectively in other ways.

Finsterbach_Waterfalls_067_07112018 - The middle or second of the Finsterbach Waterfalls called Kesselfall
The middle or second of the Finsterbach Waterfalls called Kesselfall

For example, I’ve seen them called the Finsterbacher Waterfalls, Finsterbach Wasserfälle, Finsterbacher Wasserfall, and Finsterbachfälle (literally Finsterbach Falls in German).

Finsterbach Waterfalls Trail Description – the first pair of waterfalls

I began my hike after finding makeshift street parking on the main drag through the small town of Sattendorf (see directions below).

I’m actually not quite sure if we were allowed to park there or not.

In any case, right off the bat, I was treated to partial views towards the impressive Ossiachersee.

Finsterbach_Waterfalls_188_07112018 - Looking towards the Lake Ossiachersee from where I started the hike up to the Finsterbach Waterfalls in Sattendorf
Looking towards the Lake Ossiachersee from where I started the hike up to the Finsterbach Waterfalls in Sattendorf

Then, I backtracked towards the signed Wasserfallweg leading uphill just to the left of the Finsterbach Creek.

This initial part of the trail was pretty much along a residential road flanked by homes sprinkled with a couple of guesthouses.

The path then veered to the right as it went around some of the charming buildings here before continuing further uphill.

Barely ten minutes into the hike, I encountered the first of the Finsterbach Waterfalls.

Finsterbach_Waterfalls_043_07112018 - Looking back at the trail with the heart-shaped frame and some local logging stash with the Lake Ossiachersee way in the distance as I was near the spur to the first of the Finsterbach Waterfalls
Looking back at the trail with the heart-shaped frame and some local logging stash with the Lake Ossiachersee way in the distance as I was near the spur to the first of the Finsterbach Waterfalls

Nearby was a heart-shaped frame for taking photographs as well as a short spur trail to get a closer look from its base.

Next, the trail then climbed more steeply as it made its way further up and above the first Finsterbach Waterfall.

Eventually, there was another trail junction, where I kept straight to check out another spur trail leading to the second Finsterbach Waterfall (or Kesselfall).

It took me about 15 minutes to get from the first waterfall to the second one.

Finsterbach_Waterfalls_091_07112018 - Looking back towards the Lake Ossiachersee from the spur trail leading to the second or middle Finsterbach Waterfall
Looking back towards the Lake Ossiachersee from the spur trail leading to the second or middle Finsterbach Waterfall

The second waterfall had a small dam infrastructure, which was said to be the electricity plant at Schutzenhof.

It was said to still run off the original turbine since 1920, and it was instrumental in supplying the town of Sattendorf power exclusively up until the 1950s.

There were also some concrete barricades to discourage scrambling right up to the base.

Looking back downstream, I was able to get some pretty nice partial views towards Sattendorf and the Ossiachersee behind it.

Finsterbach Waterfalls Trail Description – the third waterfall

Finsterbach_Waterfalls_097_07112018 - Looking up at a particularly steep part of the trail between the second and the third Finsterbach Waterfalls
Looking up at a particularly steep part of the trail between the second and the third Finsterbach Waterfalls

Continuing on the waterfall trail, the trail became increasingly steeper and rockier the further I went.

The stretch between the second and third waterfall was also the longest section without coming into contact with the Finsterbach.

Thus, I’d imagine that this was the most difficult part of the hike.

Ultimately after getting through the steepest part of the climb, the trail climbed a bit more gradually as it undulated alongside the Finsterbach before entering a gorge.

Finsterbach_Waterfalls_115_07112018 - The trail to the uppermost of the Finsterbach Waterfalls traversed this gorge where there was a mine as well as some more footbridges over the Finsterbach
The trail to the uppermost of the Finsterbach Waterfalls traversed this gorge where there was a mine as well as some more footbridges over the Finsterbach

When I got to the first bridge cutting across the Finsterbach within this gorge, I noticed what appeared to be a sealed mine entrance or cave.

Apparently, the rock supporting this gorge and ultimately the third waterfall was composed of marble.

Beyond the bridge, the trail continued to climb steeply up stone steps, then across another bridge, before making the final approach to the third Finsterbach Waterfall – Schleierfall.

The trail dead-ended at this point with fencing to discourage any further scrambling to get closer as the giant boulders at the bottom attested to past rockfalls.

Finsterbach_Waterfalls_153_07112018 - This was the third of the Finsterbacher Waterfalls called Schleierfall, which was right at the end of the trail
This was the third of the Finsterbacher Waterfalls called Schleierfall, which was right at the end of the trail

After having my fill, I returned back the way I came.

When I got back to the parked car, I wound up spending about 75 minutes away from the car.

The return hike went way faster since it was pretty much all downhill.

Authorities

The Finsterbach Waterfalls reside near the town of Sattendorf in the state of Carinthia (Kärnten), Austria. It may be administered by the Villach government. For information or inquiries about the area as well as current conditions, you can try visiting their website.

Maps and Routing Content are for annual members. See Membership Options.
Content is for members. See Membership Options.
Tagged with: sattendorf, ossiachersee, villach, carinthia, karnten, austria, waterfall, finsterbach, kesselfall, schleierfall, finsterbachfall



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Johnny Cheng

About Johnny Cheng

Johnny Cheng is the founder of the World of Waterfalls and author of the award-winning A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls. Over the last 2 decades, he has visited thousands of waterfalls in over 40 countries around the world and nearly 40 states in the USA.
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