Kaunertal Waterfalls

Kaunertal Municipality, Tyrol (Tirol), Austria

About Kaunertal Waterfalls

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Waterfall Safety and Common Sense

The Kaunertal Waterfalls were a series of waterfalls that we saw tumbling down into the Kaunertal Valley on our driving excursion up to the Kaunertal Glacier.

The glacier was actually called the Weißseeferner Glacier, and we happened to notice some of other glacier arms (like the Gepatschferner Glacier), which produced waterfalls as well.

Kaunertal_124_07192018 - Context of glaciers feeding some of the Kaunertal Waterfalls as seen along the Kaunertal Glacier Road
Context of glaciers feeding some of the Kaunertal Waterfalls as seen along the Kaunertal Glacier Road

These waterfalls provided our waterfalling excuse to check out the scenic valley and toll road.

The Kaunertal Glacier Road was a 26km road that ultimately climbed up 29 hairpin turns (kehre is like curves in German) to an elevation of 2750m (said to be one of the highest paved roads in the Alps).

As for the waterfalls themselves, the most notable ones that we’ve managed to encounter and identify were the…

  • Wurmetalbachfall
  • “Kaiserbergtalbachfall”
  • Bliggbachfall
  • Rifflbach Waterfalls
  • “Blockgletscher Waterfall”
Kaunertal_178_07192018 - The Kaunertal Glacier was one of a handful of glaciers feeding the waterfalls spilling into the Kaunertal Valley
The Kaunertal Glacier was one of a handful of glaciers feeding the waterfalls spilling into the Kaunertal Valley

We were able to view all of them along the roadside at various parts of the drive.

To give you an idea of the time commitment involved, this out-and-back drive took us a total of the better part of a half-day (at least 4 hours).

That said, we made numerous stops along the way, and we also made a break for lunch at the Gletscherrestaurant Weisssee at the very end of this road.

Experiencing the Kaunertal Waterfalls – Wurmetalbachfall

We first Kaunertal Waterfall that we encountered was the 140m high Wurmetalbachfall (or Wurmetalbach Waterfall).

Kaunertal_074_07192018 - The Wurmetalbachfall, which was the first of the significant waterfalls we saw on the Kaunertal Glacier Road
The Wurmetalbachfall, which was the first of the significant waterfalls we saw on the Kaunertal Glacier Road

This waterfall sat at about 3km south from the dam holding up the Gepatsch Reservoir.

There was signage as well as small pullouts on either side of the bridge over the Wurmetalbach Stream.

However, we were looking against the sun with this waterfall in the morning since it was west-facing.

Thus, I’d imagine that the best time to photograph the Wurmetalbachfall was in the afternoon.

Experiencing the Kaunertal Waterfalls – Kaiserbergtalbachfall

Kaunertal_107_07192018 - This cascade spilling into the Gepatsch Reservoir was on the Kaiserbergtalbach so I called it the 'Kaiserbergtalbachfall'
This cascade spilling into the Gepatsch Reservoir was on the Kaiserbergtalbach so I called it the ‘Kaiserbergtalbachfall’

The next Kaunertal Waterfall that we encountered was actually across the Gepatsch Reservoir on the Kaiserbergtalbach, which I’m dubbing “Kaiserbergtalbachfall”.

This was a tall and thin waterfall, which showed up well in the morning since it was facing east.

We managed to pull out for this waterfall at various points starting at 200m south of the Wurmetalbach Waterfall.

Experiencing the Kaunertal Waterfalls – Bliggbachfall

At roughly 1.7km south of the Wurmetalbach Waterfall was the Bliggbach Waterfall (or Bliggbachfall).

Kaunertal_117_07192018 - Looking up at the Bliggbachfall
Looking up at the Bliggbachfall

Like the Wurmetalbachfall, this waterfall also faced west so we were looking against the sun from the road bridge over the Bliggbach.

There were also some pullouts to stop the car and get a closer look a little south of the bridge.

Experiencing the Kaunertal Waterfalls – Rifflbach Waterfalls

Beyond the Bliggbachfall, the Kaunertal Glacier Road started climbing steeply up several twists and switchbacks.

Along the way, we started to notice the Rifflbach Waterfalls, which was really a series of cascades gushing on the namesake Rifflbach Stream itself.

Kaunertal_265_07192018 - Looking down towards the cascading Rifflbach Waterfalls as this was directly fed by the Kaunertal Glacier as part of the Fagge River
Looking down towards the cascading Rifflbach Waterfalls as this was directly fed by the Kaunertal Glacier as part of the Fagge River

According to the brochure they handed out to us at the toll station, there was a short 15-minute hike to the falls from the signpost 23.

Experiencing the Kaunertal Waterfalls – “Blockgletscher Waterfall”

Lastly, when we made our return from the Kaunertal Glacier Road end, we noticed a very tall waterfall spilling beneath what I believed was the Block Glacier.

So I informally called it the “Blockgletscher Waterfall” since it didn’t seem to have an official name.

We spotted this waterfall near the top of the road curves between the signed stops 24 and 25.

Kaunertal_139_07192018 - Context of the 'Blockgletscher Waterfall' as it was fed by the dirty ice of the Block Glacier as seen from high up the Kaunertal Glacier Road
Context of the ‘Blockgletscher Waterfall’ as it was fed by the dirty ice of the Block Glacier as seen from high up the Kaunertal Glacier Road

There may be other waterfalls that we didn’t quite stop for or get to see, but that just goes to show you the degree of waterfall-fatigue you could have here.

Authorities

The Kaunertal Waterfalls reside in the Kaunertal Municipality in the state of Tyrol (Tirol), Austria. It may be administered by Kaunertal Municipality. 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 subscribers. See Membership Options.
Content is for subscribers. See Membership Options.
Tagged with: kaunertal, landeck, weisssee, weissseespitze, gepatsch, austria, waterfalls, wurmetalbachfall, bliggbachfall, rifflbachfall



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Waterfalls of the Kaunertal Glacier Road (Austria) April 7, 2012 2:57 pm by Ruth Williams - The Tyrol region of Austria is home to the Kaunertal Glacier Road. In 16miles the road winds up through 29 hairpin bends to the tongue of the Weisseeferner Glacier at an altitude of 2750m (9022ft). The alpine scenery is breathtaking with surrounding peaks well in excess of 3000m (10000ft) the glaciers form the largest single… ...Read More

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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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