Buga: 03.09.2015
Anyone who has already been on vacation in the Hochpustertal Valley has certainly visited it, Lake Toblach at the entrance of the Höhlensteintal Valley. Without a doubt, one of the biggest highlights in the Hochpustertal Valley for adventure and nature lovers.
The mountain lake is located 3 kilometers from the village of Toblach. At the Toblach junction, turn onto the road towards Cortina, passing the Laurin and Santer hotels on the right until you reach the entrance to the Höhlensteintal Valley. The signs and advertisements of the lake are immediately noticeable, where the public parking lot is located a few meters to the right. As information, parking is not free here. Walk a few more meters and you will reach your destination, Lake Toblach.
In addition to Lake Antholz, Lake Prags, Lake Kaltern, Lake Montiggl, and Lake Reschen, Lake Toblach is one of the most famous lakes in South Tyrol. It is one of the few lakes in South Tyrol that has a boat rental. Only Lake Prags and Lake Kaltern still offer this possibility. It is hard to believe when you know the depth of this lake, as it has a maximum depth of only 3.5 meters and is even shallower in certain areas. Therefore, it is advisable not to get too close to the shore when boating on Lake Toblach, otherwise the boat will simply get stuck.
Another impressive feature of Lake Toblach in South Tyrol is the view of and through the mountains of the Höhlensteintal Valley, where two of the famous nature parks in South Tyrol border each other, namely the Fanes-Sennes-Prags Nature Park and the Drei Zinnen Nature Park. Both nature parks are part of the Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage Site and offer numerous hiking opportunities.
A small part of these hiking and mountain tours also start at Lake Toblach, such as the hike to the Toblach mountain, the Sarlkofel, at an altitude of 2,378 meters, and the Lungkofel at an altitude of 2,282 meters, which is located on the backside of Sarlkofel. Approximately 3 hours are required for this mountain tour in the Hochpustertal Valley. Another great tour that starts just a few meters from Lake Toblach is the mountain tour to the Hochebenkofel and the Birkenkofel at an altitude of 2,922 meters. For these Dolomite peaks, you should already have some endurance in your legs.
For those who prefer a more leisurely experience, the circular path around Lake Toblach in South Tyrol is a great option. 45 minutes of walking and you can already admire Lake Toblach from all sides. If this is still too tiring, you can of course also relax in the Restaurant Seeschupfe (Camping Toblach) and enjoy a direct view of the lake with a beer. There is also a small sunbathing area at the lake. However, swimming in Lake Toblach is not recommended due to the extremely cold water temperatures.
Lake Toblach is an ideal destination for a leisurely outing in the Hochpustertal Valley. I personally choose this destination more often, whether for a leisurely walk or as a starting point for a hiking tour in the Fanes-Sennes-Prags and Drei Zinnen Nature Park. Highly recommended is also a bike tour or a walk to Lake Toblach. The cycling network is perfectly developed and offers the opportunity to reach the lake from Toblach, Innichen, or Niederdorf.