Seebensee

The Seebensee lies at about fifteen hundred metres in a basin below the Sonnenspitze and the Mieminger chain, with the Zugspitze massif behind, and the combination of turquoise water, the pyramid of the Sonnenspitze and the wall of rock has made it one of the standard images of Tyrol. Getting there means either the Ehrwalder Almbahn cable car and then an hour and a half of steady walking, or about three hours on foot from the valley. The Seebenalm hut sits above it and the route continues to the Coburger Hütte and the smaller Drachensee, a harder and quieter walk that most day visitors skip. The popularity has consequences: the shore has suffered from wild camping and drone use, and both are now restricted.

What you actually see

• Turquoise water under rock - the basin below the Sonnenspitze and Zugspitze.
• A ninety-minute walk in - from the top of the cable car, or three hours from the valley.
• The Coburger Hütte route - the harder continuation to the Drachensee above.
• Restricted camping and drones - rules brought in after damage from visitor pressure.

When to go

June to October; early morning for still water. A day.

Honest expectations

It is a real mountain walk, not a stroll, and boots are needed. Wild camping and drone flying are restricted - respect that. The lake is crowded midday in summer. Snow lies late into June.

Nearby

Ehrwald and the Zugspitze cable car are below; Reutte is north.