Hallstätter Glacier

The Hallstätter Glacier lies in the Dachstein Mountains of Upper Austria, beneath the northern slopes of the Dachstein massif. It stretches down to Eissee lake below the Simony Hut at 2,205 metres. The glacier is bounded by the High Gjaidstein to the east and sealed off at its western end by the Schöberl, 2,426 metres high. To the west it meets the eastern flank of the Hohes Kreuz ridge, which rises to 2,837 metres. In its upper third the ice flows around the Eisstein, a striking rock outcrop. The glacier responds quickly to climate shifts, as shown by views from the Simony Hut over the past twenty-five years. It is the largest glacier in the Dachstein range and sits beside the smaller Gosau Glacier to the west and the Schladminger Glacier to the east. The Hunerkogel and the Dirndln mark its southern head where snow accumulates. Visitors reach the glacier on paths that lead from the Simony Hut. The ice field is visible from high viewpoints along the ridge, offering long views over the surrounding limestone peaks. Below, the glacier feeds the clear waters of Eissee lake, a small body of water dammed by the glacier’s snout. The stark contrast between ice, rock and alpine meadows creates a landscape of dramatic scale.