Gailtal Alps

The Gailtal Alps form a limestone range in southern Austria, running for about 100 kilometres between the Drava and Gail rivers. The western section, known as the Lienz Dolomites, reaches heights of nearly 2,800 metres, while the eastern part includes the Dobratsch massif at 2,166 metres. These mountains rise north of the Periadriatic Seam, separating them from the Southern Limestone Alps despite their name. Adolf Schaubach described the range in 1845, and the Lienz Dolomites were named in 1885 by the local Alpine Club branch. Five main ridges divide the range, with the Weißensee lake lying between the Gailtal Alps and the Goldeck massif. The range’s geology shows remnants of limestone nappes pushed north during mountain-building. The Latschur Group contains crystalline rocks rather than limestone, while the Lienz Dolomites resemble South Alpine formations despite not being true dolomite. The Drauzug subgroup stretches eastward from the Gailberg Saddle, bordered by the Kreuzeck and Schober Groups of the Hohe Tauern to the north. The Weissensee, Austria’s highest bathing lake at 930 metres, sits in a trough between the Gailtal Alps and the Goldeck. Visitors find rugged karst peaks, steep valleys, and high alpine meadows across the five massifs. The Lienz Dolomites offer dramatic ridges like the Große Sandspitze and Spitzkofel, while the Reißkofel Group includes the Jauken massif and Torkofel. The Latschur and Spitzegel Groups provide quieter trails, and the Dobratsch massif features the Schütt nature reserve. The range’s varied rock types and clear alpine lakes make it a destination for geologists and walkers alike.