Key facts at a glance
The Mooserboden reservoir sits at 2,040 m at the head of the Kaprun Valley, with the Wasserfallboden below it. The only way up is by shuttle bus and the Lärchwand inclined lift – weather permitting, from 22 May to 11 October 2026, with the last ascent at 15:30. At the top you get the 107-metre dam with guided tours inside it, a mountain restaurant and easy trails facing the glaciers of the Hohe Tauern. Allow half a day to a full day.
| Wasserfallboden | Mooserboden | |
|---|---|---|
| Position in the valley | the lower reservoir | the upper reservoir, 2,040 m |
| What visitors do there | the mountain road runs past it; the inclined lift starts here | dam, guided tours, exhibition, mountain restaurant, hiking trails |
| Role in the trip | a stage on the way up | the destination |
Part of our complete guide: Discover Kaprun
The Mooserboden reservoir sits at 2,040 metres at the head of the Kaprun Valley. Together with the lower-lying Wasserfallboden it forms the Kaprun high alpine reservoirs – turquoise glacier water behind a 107-metre dam, with the peaks of the Hohe Tauern in front of it. You cannot drive up: the final stages are covered by shuttle buses and the Lärchwand inclined lift.
Mooserboden and Wasserfallboden: two reservoirs, one above the other
Both reservoirs collect the meltwater of the surrounding glaciers, but they do not sit at the same altitude. The Wasserfallboden is the lower of the two; the mountain road runs along it, and the Lärchwand inclined lift starts from its upper end. The Mooserboden at 2,040 metres is the upper one – and the one the trip ends at: the dam, the exhibition, the mountain restaurant and the hiking trails are all up there. When people say “the reservoirs”, they almost always mean the Mooserboden.
The ascent with the Lärchwand inclined lift
As there is no direct access by private car, the way up is via buses and the Lärchwand inclined lift – with 431 metres of elevation gain, one of the largest open inclined lifts in Europe. The ride itself is a small adventure.
Erlebniswelt Strom & dam tours
The facility is operated by the Austrian energy company VERBUND. Several times a day, guides lead tours through the interior of the dam; the Erlebniswelt Strom (Electricity Adventure World) vividly explains how glacier water becomes clean electricity – and it is included in the ticket.
Hiking & via ferratas
- Stromtrail – family-friendly themed trail all about water
- Herb nature trail featuring the alpine plant world
- Höhenburg hike with a sweeping panorama
- Höhenburg via ferrata arena (three routes) and the demanding MOBO 107 on the dam
- To the Fürthermoaralm: an easy downhill walk from the national park info hut by the Bergrestaurant Mooserboden, with views over the reservoirs – also offered as a guided ranger tour in the Hohe Tauern National Park
A break with a glacier view
Mountain restaurants and rustic huts invite you to pause and enjoy the view: while the turquoise water glitters below, the gaze reaches out over rock, firn and the peaks of the Hohe Tauern.
Tips for your visit
- A summer-only destination – the exact season dates, operating hours and prices are in the box below.
- Allow half a day to a full day; the ascent alone takes around 45 minutes each way.
- The last ascent leaves considerably earlier than the last descent – arrive at the Kesselfall too late and you will not get up at all.
- Warm, windproof clothing and sturdy shoes: at 2,040 metres it is routinely far colder than down in the valley.
Is it worth it – and who should skip it?
Yes, if you have half a day to a full day and find high mountains and engineering equally interesting. The combination of turquoise water, a 107-metre dam wall and a glacier view exists in this form nowhere else in the region, and the ride up on the open inclined lift is an experience in its own right.
No, if any of this applies to you. You have less than half a day – the chain of bus, inclined lift and connecting bus eats around 90 minutes there and back on its own. The weather is unsettled – with low cloud you get grey water in front of a grey wall, and the panorama you came for simply does not happen. Or you are travelling with very small children, for whom four changes of vehicle and a cold, windy dam crest are harder work than they look.
You will find more excursion ideas for your stay in our summer travel guide for Zell am See.
Book the dam tour
You cannot drive up here yourself — the final stage runs on shuttle buses and an inclined lift, and that package is exactly what the guided option includes. Summer only; the season dates are in the box above.
Kaprun: Hochgebirgsstauseen mit Staumauer-Tour
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Mooserboden the same thing as the Kaprun high mountain reservoirs?
Almost. "Kaprun high mountain reservoirs" is the collective name for the two reservoirs Wasserfallboden and Mooserboden. Visitors travel to the upper of the two, the Mooserboden at 2,040 m, which is where the dam, the exhibition, the mountain restaurant and the trails are. In practice, "Mooserboden" and "the reservoirs" mean the same excursion.
How do you get to the Mooserboden reservoir?
By car only as far as the Kesselfall Alpenhaus. From there a shuttle bus, the Lärchwand inclined lift and a connecting bus take over. The full ascent takes around 45 minutes each way.
When are the Kaprun high mountain reservoirs open?
In the 2026 season from 22 May to 11 October, weather permitting. Daily from 8:10 to 16:45, and until 17:00 in July and August. The last ascent leaves at 15:30 – arrive at the Kesselfall later than that and you will not get up at all.
Mooserboden or Kitzsteinhorn – which is more worthwhile?
Both are half- to full-day trips from Kaprun, but they tell different stories: the Mooserboden is water and engineering at 2,040 m, the Kitzsteinhorn is glacier and altitude at 3,029 m. With low cloud the Mooserboden is the more robust choice, because the dam and the exhibition still work without a long view.
How long does the walk around the Mooserboden take?
The loop around the reservoir takes roughly 2 to 3 hours depending on your pace and is mostly easy to moderate. Sturdy footwear is recommended.
Are the reservoirs suitable for families?
Yes – the ascent by bus and inclined lift is an adventure for children in itself, and there are easy trails and an exhibition at the top. With very small children, though, the four changes of vehicle and the windy dam crest are harder work than they look from below.
