A natural jewel at the foot of Hochschwab

Grüner See (Green Lake) in ERZBERG LEOBEN

As soon as the snow melts and Grüner See fills with crystal-clear water from the surrounding mountains, visitors are presented with a magical natural spectacle: The lake shimmers in rich emerald green.

The special feature of Grüner See is its dependence on the weather and the seasons. In May and June, it can be up to ten metres deep, making it a natural jewel particularly worth seeing. The water level then drops continuously until autumn. And in winter, the water may even dry up completely.

A paradise for nature lovers

The home of Grüner See is the municipality of Tragöß – Sankt Katharein, where guests enjoy fresh air, silence, and picturesque alpine meadows. The beautiful surroundings are best explored during various outdoor activities:

"Kamplsteig" flower trail

The starting point for the hiking route including the themed flower trail is the car park at Grüner See. It leads you across Haringgraben to Klammhöhe at the foot of Meßnerin.

Hikers will be amazed at the variety of colourful flowers to see there – and what’s more, exciting facts are conveyed on numerous information boards along the trail.

Hike to Edelweißboden

The queen of the alpine flowers, the edelweiss, which is a protected plant species, also feels at home in the untouched nature around Grüner See. Hikers can enjoy stunning vistas from the plateau on Trenchtling. You’ll have a view of Brandstein, Ebenstein, the summit of Hochschwab as well as the Tragöß valley. Incidentally, Trenchtling is also known as flower mountain and home to ibexes, chamois and marmots.

Good to know: The hike is particularly beautiful from mid-June to early July when the meadow is in full bloom. The starting point is at Almgasthof Hiaslegg.

Marienklamm

Nordöstlich von Tragöß-Oberort hat sich der Haringbach im Laufe der Jahrtausende durch das kalkhaltige Konglomeratgestein seinen Weg gebahnt und eine enge, stellenweise nur wenige Meter breite Klamm geschaffen, deren Wände bis zu 20 Meter aufragen und teilweise überhängen.

Durch die hohe Feuchtigkeit und den Lichtmangel weist dieser idyllische Ort mit einzigartigen Farnen und Moospflanzen eine besondere Vegetation auf und macht die Klamm damit zu einem wilden Naturspektakel.

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Culinary delights at Grüner See

If you would like to add culinary delights and discoveries to your explorations, you should stop at one of the many inns and taverns. In front of magnificent backdrops such as the Hochschwab mountain range, nature lovers can taste authentic Styrian delicacies.

Listen up, hiking enthusiasts: The restaurants are starting points for numerous other hikes in the region.

Gasthof Seehof

Gasthof zur Post

Hoamat-Kaffee

Seestüberl Zenz

Gasthaus Lengger

Sonnschien Hütte - Schutzhaus

Almwirtshaus Hiaslegg

How to get to Grüner See (Green Lake)

Grüner See is a special treasure, situated in a still completely untouched natural environment. An environmentally friendly way to get to this picturesque place is by public transport. The RegioBus Steiermark 175 takes passengers from Bruck an der Mur directly to Tragöß.

Please note: At weekends, buses are only guaranteed to run during the hiking season from May to October. If you travel there by car, you can choose from two car parks (charges apply):

Grüner See car park
Jassing car park

The parking fee is EUR 6.00 for one day. A season ticket is available for EUR 60.00. Payments can be made directly at the tourist office at Grüner See car park. Camping and overnight stays are not permitted at the car parks.