--- title: "Experience Lake Gosau: Hiking, swimming & views - summer in the Salzkammergut" url: "https://dachstein.salzkammergut.at/en/visitor-information/our-lakes/lake-gosau.html" description: "Plan your summer day at Lake Gosau: hiking trails, viewing points, bathing spots & car park information at a glance. Ideal for families & nature fans." image: "https://dachstein.salzkammergut.at/fileadmin/user_upload/dachstein-salzkammergut/Logos/Dachstein_Logo_80__gro%E2%94%9C%C6%92.jpg" date: 2012-07-17 modified: 2025-04-24 --- # Experience Lake Gosau: Hiking, swimming & views - summer in the Salzkammergut [ © Open copyright © Dachstein Salzkammergut Lake Gosau hiking couple (Photo: Oberoesterreich Tourismus GmbH, Stefan Mayerhofer) Close copyright ![Hiking at Lake Gosau in the Holiday Region Dachstein Salzkammergut](https://dachstein.salzkammergut.at/fileadmin/_processed_/f/7/csm_Dachstein-Salzkammergut-Gosausee-Wandern-Paerchen-Foto-Oberoesterreich-_Tourismus-GmbH-Stefan-Mayerhofer_672270f4af.jpg "Dachstein Salzkammergut Lake Gosau hiking couple (Photo: Oberoesterreich Tourismus GmbH, Stefan Mayerhofer)") The Gosau lakes ](https://dachstein.salzkammergut.at/en/visitor-information/our-lakes/lake-gosau/artikel/detail/621/lake-gosau-gosaulacke-upper-lake-gosau.html "Die drei Gosauseen") [ ![](https://dachstein.salzkammergut.at/fileadmin/_processed_/d/4/csm_Wassertemperatur__1__c25715d738.png) ](https://dachstein.salzkammergut.at/oesterreich-poi/detail/201041/gosausee.html "Wassertemperatur Gosausee") The Gosau lakes --------------- **Lake Gosau** Influencers and travel bloggers have made it famous: the Vorderer Gosausee - a mountain lake nestled in a unique landscape with views of the majestic Dachstein and close to the Gosaukamm ridge. A mountain lake that is used as a source of energy, providing electricity for numerous households. **Gosaulacke** If you walk an hour further in the direction of the Dachstein, you will discover the Gosaulacke. It is a so-called small body of water that is fed by small tributaries. However, when the snow melts or there is heavy rainfall, it fills up due to the overflow of the Hinterer Gosausee, the third of the Gosau lakes. **Lake Gosau** The Hinterer Gosausee forms the end of the Gosau Valley. It lies at the foot of King Dachstein and forms a unique landscape with the mountains, the beauty of which is unrivalled. So it's well worth taking the path from the Vorderer Gosausee via the Gosaulacke to the Hinterer Gosausee (walking time approx. 1.5 hours). Whatever the weather, you will be rewarded with stunning views and energising nature. [ © Open copyright © Lake Gosau (photo: Rudi Kain Fotographie) Close copyright ![View from Lake Gosau to the Gosaukamm (photo: Rudi Kain Fotographie)](https://dachstein.salzkammergut.at/fileadmin/_processed_/2/6/csm_Vorderer-Gosausee-Gosaukamm-Foto-Rudi-Kain-Fotographie_39e44a8412.jpg "Lake Gosau (photo: Rudi Kain Fotographie)") Lake Gosau ](https://dachstein.salzkammergut.at/en/visitor-information/our-lakes/lake-gosau/artikel/detail/622/lake-gosau-gosaulacke-upper-lake-gosau.html "Lake Gosau") [ © Open copyright © Gosaulacke (photo: Wolkenkratzer) Close copyright ![The Gosaulacke originates from the abundance of the Upper Lake Gosau and flows into the Lake Gosau (photo: Wolkenkratzer)](https://dachstein.salzkammergut.at/fileadmin/_processed_/b/6/csm_Gosaulacke-Gosau-Foto-Wolkenkratzer_923b8a7696.jpg "Gosaulacke (photo: Wolkenkratzer)") Gosaulacke ](https://dachstein.salzkammergut.at/en/visitor-information/our-lakes/lake-gosau/artikel/detail/622/lake-gosau-gosaulacke-upper-lake-gosau.html "Gosaulacke") [ © Open copyright © Upper Lake Gosau (photo: Rudi Kain Fotographie) Close copyright ![The Upper Lake Gosau borders on the Gosaukamm (photo: Rudi Kain Fotographie)](https://dachstein.salzkammergut.at/fileadmin/_processed_/6/0/csm_Hinterer-Gosausee-Gosau-Foto-Rudi-Kain-Fotographie_0d5891d394.jpg "Upper Lake Gosau (photo: Rudi Kain Fotographie)") Upper Lake Gosau ](https://dachstein.salzkammergut.at/en/visitor-information/our-lakes/lake-gosau/artikel/detail/622/lake-gosau-gosaulacke-upper-lake-gosau.html "Upper Lake Gosau") Experience. Discover. Savour. ----------------------------- [ ![Ein Pärchen wandert entlang des Gosausees und blickt auf den Dachsteingletscher. Foto: Oberösterreich Tourismus GmbH Stefan Mayerhofer](https://dachstein.salzkammergut.at/fileadmin/_processed_/d/b/csm_DachsteinSalzkammergutGosauseeWandernPaerchenWeg_OberoesterreichTourismusGmbHStefanMayerhofer_70a5e39210.jpg "Wandern am Gosausee (Foto: Oberösterreich Tourismus GmbH Stefan Mayerhofer)") Hiking ](https://dachstein.salzkammergut.at/en/things-to-do/summer/hiking.html) © Open copyright © Wandern am Gosausee (Foto: Oberösterreich Tourismus GmbH Stefan Mayerhofer) Close copyright [ ![Kind badet im Gosausee mit Blick auf den Dachsteingletscher (Foto: Oberösterreich Tourismus GmbH Stefan Mayerhofer)](https://dachstein.salzkammergut.at/fileadmin/_processed_/8/4/csm_Familienurlaub-Gosausee_OberoesterreichTourismusGmbHStefanMayerhofer_96601c60ab.jpg "Baden im Gosausee (Foto: Oberösterreich Tourismus GmbH Stefan Mayerhofer)") Bathing ](https://dachstein.salzkammergut.at/en/things-to-do/summer/watersports/artikel/detail/978/public-bathing-beach-lake-hallstatt-lake-gosau.html) © Open copyright © Baden im Gosausee (Foto: Oberösterreich Tourismus GmbH Stefan Mayerhofer) Close copyright [ ![Via Ferrata in Gosau (Photo: RudiKainPhotografie)](https://dachstein.salzkammergut.at/fileadmin/_processed_/1/7/csm_Klettern-Gosau-Dachstein-Foto-RudiKainPhotografie_ce7296cdde.jpg "Via Ferrata in Gosau (Photo: RudiKainPhotografie)") Climbing ](https://dachstein.salzkammergut.at/en/things-to-do/summer/climbing-and-fixed-rope-route/artikel/detail/3449/klettern-im-dachstein-salzkammergut.html) © Open copyright © Via Ferrata in Gosau (Photo: RudiKainPhotografie) Close copyright [ ![The Lake Gosau is the right cooling on a hot summer day. Pure bathing pleasure. (photo: RudiKainPhotografie)](https://dachstein.salzkammergut.at/fileadmin/_processed_/7/0/csm_Gosausee-Badegenuss-Foto-RudiKainPhotografie_90e0221d03.jpg "Bathing lake Lake Gosau (photo: RudiKainPhotografie)") Boating ](https://dachstein.salzkammergut.at/en/adventure/listen-tourdata/boat-hire-in-the-dachstein-salzkammergut.html) © Open copyright © Bathing lake Lake Gosau (photo: RudiKainPhotografie) Close copyright [ ![Diving in Lake Gosau.](https://dachstein.salzkammergut.at/fileadmin/_processed_/8/0/csm_tauchen__5db868a87c.png "Diving in the Dachstein Salzkammergut (Photo: Canva)") Diving & ice diving ](https://dachstein.salzkammergut.at/en/things-to-do/summer/watersports/artikel/detail/3003/diving-lake-hallstatt-lake-gosau.html) © Open copyright © Diving in the Dachstein Salzkammergut (Photo: Canva) Close copyright 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Frequently asked questions -------------------------- [ Where is Lake Gosau? ](#ttgNCECollapse188891) ------------------------------------------------- Lake Gosau is located at the end of **Gosau at Dachstein** in the **Upper Austrian Salzkammergut**, embedded between the Gosaukamm and the Dachstein. [ How big is Lake Gosau? ](#ttgNCECollapse188892) --------------------------------------------------- The Lake Gosau has a **width of 500 m and a length of 1.8 km**. The **maximum depth is 96 m**. Since the Lake Gosau is a reservoir, the water level varies constantly. [ Can I dive in the Lake Gosau? ](#ttgNCECollapse188893) ---------------------------------------------------------- The Lake Gosau is the **clearest lake in the Salzkammergut** and offers the **best conditions for diving**. In winter, **ice diving is also possible**. You can get more information about this at the diving club Dachstein Salzkammergut. [ Can I fish at the Lake Gosau? ](#ttgNCECollapse188894) ---------------------------------------------------------- You can also **fish at the Lake Gosau**, but only from the shore. There is a restriction on 2 chars, 1 lake trout per day and a maximum of 10 lake trout per year. There is no fan restriction for perch. [ Are there boat tours on Lake Gosau? ](#ttgNCECollapse188895) ---------------------------------------------------------------- There are **no boat tours on Lake Gosau**. However, you can rent electric boats and stand up paddle boards to explore the Lake Gosau by water. [ Where can I swim at Lake Gosau? ](#ttgNCECollapse188896) ------------------------------------------------------------ It is possible to swim in the Lake Gosau. There are no advertised bathing spots, so you can choose the best spot. But please pay attention to the nature, don't get dirty and take the garbage back with you! [ Are the bathing places at Lake Gosau free of charge? ](#ttgNCECollapse188897) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- There are no advertised bathing places at the Lake Gosau. You can choose a place on the shore. **The use of these is free**. But please pay attention to nature, don't make a mess and take the garbage back with you! [ Is there a circular path around the Lake Gosau? ](#ttgNCECollapse188898) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- You can **[walk around the Lake Gosau](https://dachstein.salzkammergut.at/en/oesterreich-tour/detail/430000685/tour-around-the-lake-gosau.html)** in about 1 to 1.5 hours. The path is also suitable for prams and is mostly flat. [ Can I cycle around the Lake Gosau? ](#ttgNCECollapse188899) --------------------------------------------------------------- **Cycling** around the Lake Gosau is **not allowed**. A short part of the hiking trail can be used to reach the Ebenalm (mountain bike tour[**Durchgangalm Runde**](https://dachstein.salzkammergut.at/oesterreich-tour/detail/430008569/s512-durchgangalm-runde.html)). [ What is the temperature of the Lake Gosau? ](#ttgNCECollapse188900) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- The Lake Gosau is a **mountain lake** and therefore a bit fresher. It can vary from **1 degree in winter to 23 degrees in summer**. To the [**daily water temperature**](https://dachstein.salzkammergut.at/en/austria/poi/201041/lake-gosau.html).