Taugl

The Taugl is a short but dramatic river in the Salzburg Alps. It begins high on the flanks of Gennerhorn and Gruberhorn in the Salzkammergut range, where meltwater gathers at about 1,700 metres above sea level. After only ten kilometres the stream plunges into an eight-kilometre gorge before reaching the still waters of Lake Hintersee. The gorge forces the water into powerful rapids, making the Taugl a recognised danger for white-water enthusiasts. Despite its speed, the river keeps its clarity, earning top-grade water quality. Local walkers know the lower valley best, where the ravine opens into gentler meadows. Paths follow the left bank for several kilometres, crossing wooden bridges and offering glimpses of the churning stream below. Above the gorge, the river widens into shallow pools that children paddle in during summer. The contrast between the roaring gorge and the calm lake is striking, giving the valley two distinct moods in a short space. At the northern end, the Taugl drains into Lake Hintersee, a small glacial lake ringed by spruce forest. The lake’s outlet, the Almbach, carries the water onward toward the Berchtesgaden Alps. Visitors often combine a walk along the river with a circuit of the lake, where the still surface reflects the surrounding peaks. The whole valley feels remote, yet it lies less than thirty minutes by car from the city of Salzburg.