Turracher See Lake
High mountain lake on the Carinthia–Styria border
High on the Turracher Höhe between Carinthia and Styria, Turracher See sits beside alpine trails and ski runs. Visitors swim or boat in summer and use the slopes and lifts in winter; a compact village supports mountain accommodation.
Turracher See at a Glance#
Address: Turracher See (Turracher See), Turracher Höhe, Austria
About Turracher See#
Turracher See is an alpine lake on the Turracher Höhe plateau in the Nockberge (Gurktal Alps) of Austria, lying near the border between Carinthia and Styria. The lake is the central feature of a small mountain resort area.
A compact circuit trail runs around the lake and provides easy walking access, while lifts and trails in the surrounding slopes support hiking, mountain biking and summer alpine activities. In winter the area operates ski lifts and prepared pistes; the lake and plateau also see winter walking and skating when conditions allow.
The site has long been used for alpine grazing and mountain travel; over the 20th century it developed into a recreational resort with visitor facilities and ski infrastructure. The lake and pass have been a locally important mountain destination for decades.
Turracher See sits on the Turracher Höhe mountain pass in southern Austria, straddling the boundary between the states of Carinthia and Styria in the Nockberge range.
- Elevation and setting: The lake sits on the Turracher Höhe mountain pass at roughly 1,750 metres above sea level and is part of an alpine resort area straddling Carinthia and Styria.
What to See#
- Turracher See (main lake): The alpine lake on the Turracher Höhe plateau sits adjacent to the Turracher Höhe resort area, with walking paths that circle the lake and access to mountain lifts and ski runs.
- Turracher Höhe resort: Turracher Höhe resort provides year-round mountain recreation with ski facilities in winter and hiking, biking and alpine pastures in summer.
How to Get to Turracher See#
Turracher See is accessible by road via the Turracher Höhe pass. From the A10 motorway, follow signs to Turracher Höhe; the lake is a short walk from the main pass road and local parking areas.
Tips for Visiting Turracher See#
- For the best light on the alpine shore, visit early morning or late afternoon when the lake reflects the cirques clearly.
- Combine a walk around the lake with the Turracher Höhe mountain pass viewpoints.
- If visiting in winter, check local ski lift status - Turracher Höhe is a popular ski area and lifts can change access to trails.
Best Time to Visit Turracher See#
Summer for hiking and alpine scenery; winter for skiing and dramatic snowbound vistas.
Weather & Climate near Turracher See#
Turracher See's climate is classified as Subarctic - Subarctic climate with cold summers (peaking in August) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -10°C to 14°C. Abundant rainfall (1738 mm/year), wettest in July.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Poor | -10° - -2° | -12° | 90 mm | partly cloudy | 92% | 4.4 m/s | 0.1 low | 8.9h |
| February | Poor | -10° - -2° | -12° | 82 mm | partly cloudy | 92% | 4.5 m/s | 0.3 low | 10.2h |
| March | Poor | -8° - 0° | -9° | 117 mm | partly cloudy | 87% | 4.4 m/s | 0.6 moderate | 11.8h |
| April | Poor | -5° - 3° | -5° | 147 mm | overcast | 81% | 4.0 m/s | 0.9 moderate | 13.4h |
| May | Poor | 0° - 9° | 1° | 156 mm | overcast | 80% | 3.6 m/s | 1.3 high | 14.8h |
| June | Poor | 3° - 12° | 5° | 193 mm | overcast | 80% | 3.3 m/s | 1.6 very high | 15.6h |
| July | Acceptable | 5° - 14° | 8° | 197 mm | partly cloudy | 79% | 3.2 m/s | 1.7 very high | 15.2h |
| August | Acceptable | 5° - 14° | 8° | 172 mm | partly cloudy | 81% | 3.0 m/s | 1.4 high | 14.0h |
| September | Acceptable | 2° - 11° | 4° | 162 mm | partly cloudy | 84% | 3.5 m/s | 0.9 moderate | 12.4h |
| October | Poor | -1° - 8° | 0° | 150 mm | partly cloudy | 87% | 3.8 m/s | 0.5 low | 10.7h |
| November | Poor | -6° - 2° | -7° | 151 mm | partly cloudy | 90% | 4.1 m/s | 0.2 low | 9.3h |
| December | Poor | -8° - -1° | -10° | 121 mm | partly cloudy | 90% | 4.4 m/s | 0.1 low | 8.5h |
