Obernberger See

The Obernberger See lies at about fifteen hundred metres at the head of the Obernbergtal, a side valley off the Brenner, and it was formed when a rockslide blocked the stream - which also means it is temporary in geological terms: the inflow carries sediment, the lake is filling in, and it has visibly shrunk over the last century, with the shallow end now meadow. A small chapel, the Kapelle Maria am See, stands on a spit reaching into the water and is the standard photograph. The setting is quiet - the valley is a nature reserve, there is no road to the lake itself, and reaching it means about forty-five minutes on foot or a shuttle from the village. Routes continue over the Portjoch into Italy, a crossing used for centuries.

What you actually see

• A rockslide-dammed lake - visibly silting up and smaller than a century ago.
• The lakeside chapel - Maria am See on the spit reaching into the water.
• A protected side valley - reserve status and no road to the lake.
• The Portjoch crossing - the old route on over into Italy.

When to go

June to October. Half a day.

Honest expectations

The last stretch is on foot - about forty-five minutes from the village car park. The lake is shallow and cold. Snow lies late in the valley. Facilities are one hut.

Nearby

The Brenner pass is east; Steinach and the Gschnitztal are north.