Riesachfaelle

Schladming / Rohrmoos-Untertal, Styria (Steiermark), Austria

About Riesachfaelle

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Waterfall Safety and Common Sense

Riesachfaelle (Riesachfalle or more accurately Riesachfälle; literally Riesach Falls) was a waterfall situated at the head of the Untertal Valley upslope from Schladming and Rohrmoos.

It actually consisted of two waterfalls – a lower waterfall and a bigger upper waterfall.

Riesachfalle_Schladming_036_07032018 - Riesach Falls or Riesachfälle
Riesach Falls or Riesachfälle

Supposedly, this combination made it one of the highest waterfalls in the state of Styria.

It turned out to be one of the easiest waterfalls to visit and at the same time one of the most frustrating.

It was easy in that the lower waterfall was a straightforward uphill hike that only took about 10-15 minutes along the Riesachbach.

There was a short spur leading up to a metal lookout that was blasted by the spray from the waterfall during my visit.

Riesachfalle_Schladming_027_07032018 - View of the Riesach Falls or Riesachfälle from a footbridge at its base
View of the Riesach Falls or Riesachfälle from a footbridge at its base

I was able to get a slightly more photogenic view from the footbridge further downstream away from the mist.

The frustrating part was that I apparently missed the upper waterfall.

Even as I write this, I’m still kicking myself for not thoroughly exploring the rest of the trails to ensure that I had completed this experience.

In my defense, the trail signage was not very obvious.

Riesachfalle_Schladming_042_07032018 - The lower path to the base of the Riesach Falls (or Riesachfälle) went across this bridge in a short loop walk
The lower path to the base of the Riesach Falls (or Riesachfälle) went across this bridge in a short loop walk

The path I took to the lower waterfall (marked with a blue dot on the trail signage) was either a dead-end or a short loop leading back down to the Seeleitenparkplatz (see directions below).

While some of the trail signage at the trailhead seemed to suggest that there was Riesachfallsteig further up alongside the Riesachbach Creek taking about 30 minutes, I didn’t recall seeing the continuation of the path from the lower waterfall.

That said, I did recall one trail fork along the way where in hindsight, I should have gone up the red dotted path for the Alpinsteig another hour upstream.

During my visit, the signage didn’t suggest there was more of the Riesach Waterfalls further up this way, but that ended up being my critical mistake on this visit.

Riesachfalle_Schladming_096_07032018 - This was the view of the Untertal Valley towards the car park from the long switchback that I wound up (regrettably) not persisting on as it would have taken me to the Uppe Riesach Falls (albeit a longer path better suited on the return)
This was the view of the Untertal Valley towards the car park from the long switchback that I wound up (regrettably) not persisting on as it would have taken me to the Uppe Riesach Falls (albeit a longer path better suited on the return)

If I ever get a chance to return to Austria, I’m quite sure I’m going to go up that red-dotted path determined to at least get to the upper waterfalls and possibly extend the hike out to the Riesachsee Lake.

I did try to hike up the much longer Grosser Riesachfallrundweg (a longer 1.5-hour loop trail) up the west side of the creek.

However, it veered away from the creek in a long switchback before leading back towards the creek by the entrance of the Alpinsteig Höll.

I wound up turning around before completing the switchback as this hot and sun-exposed uphill hike was better done on the return leg of the longer loop hike (assuming I would have found the steep uphill trail on the east side of the creek).

Riesachfalle_Schladming_083_07032018 - This waterfall across the Untertal Valley could be the Wildkarbachfall since it was on the Wildkarbach Stream
This waterfall across the Untertal Valley could be the Wildkarbachfall since it was on the Wildkarbach Stream

Further up beyond the waterfall was the Riesachsee, which was the catchment and drainage feeding the waterfalls.

As a consolation prize, I did notice a tall waterfall across the Untertal Valley from the switchback on the longer trail as well as sweeping views of the valley itself.

I believe that waterfall was on the Wildkarbach and could be called the Wildkarbachfall or Wildkarbach Wasserfall in German.

I wound up only spending about an hour away from the car trying to figure out what I had missed as I suspected something was missing from the experience.

Riesachfalle_Schladming_045_07032018 - This switchbacking road would have gotten me higher up on the Grosser Riesachfallrundweg (the larger Riesach Falls loop), but I didn't follow through with it
This switchbacking road would have gotten me higher up on the Grosser Riesachfallrundweg (the larger Riesach Falls loop), but I didn’t follow through with it

It wasn’t until I returned home did I realize what I had missed.

Speaking of the Alpinsteig Höll, one of the nice workers at the Schladming Visitor Center informed me that it was a trail involving suspension bridges, catwalks, and metal steps in a sort of a gorge hike.

However, she said that the trail was only open on Fridays (it wasn’t a Friday on my visit).

Authorities

The Riesach Falls resides near the town of Schladming in the state of Styria (Steiermark), Austria. It may be administered by the Schladming 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 subscribers. See Membership Options.
Content is for subscribers. See Membership Options.
Tagged with: schladming, untertal, rohrmoos, austria, waterfall



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Riesachfall (Austria) July 22, 2014 9:16 pm by Ruth Williams - The 140m Riesachfall is located near the ski resort of Schladming and is on the Wild Waters hiking trail. The fall is in two sections the lower fall is only a ten minute walk from the car park which is located at the end of a toll road. You can then hike up a steep… ...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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