Climb & swim Vol. 1: Climbing and swimming in Tyrol

First, stretch your fingers, then dip your battered feet into the cool water - or better still, jump right in. This is how climbing and swimming in Tyrol works. Few days are as fulfilling as when filled with a combination of climbing and swimming. That's why, in the first edition of our series, we present four spots in Tyrol where this works refreshingly well.

Climbing and swimming in Tyrol

You can combine many sports: cross-country skiing and target shooting, which is called biathlon. Running, swimming, cycling - that's triathlon. Climbing and cliff jumping is called deep water soloing.

But real life professionals know: First the work, then the pleasure. If the "work" itself is also a pleasure, all the better: off to climb & swim. We recommend four spots in Climbers Paradise Tirol, where rock and water come together perfectly.

Steinseehütte, Tirol West

The name alone contains everything you need for a successful climbing weekend in midsummer: Stein-See-Hütte. Stone is everywhere here in the Lechtal Alps. There's a lake too, a mountain lake could hardly be more idyllic. And huts are essential here at over 2,000 meters anyway, whether for overnight stays or for the rewarding Kaiserschmarrn after the tour.

The area around the Steinseehütte behind Starkenbach in the Tyrolean Oberland is a gem for climbers: whether it's an alpine classic on the spectacular Spiehlerturm (2,550 m), relaxed sport climbing in the Schneekarle or the Steinsee via ferrata (B/C) - you shouldn't miss out on a dip in the ice-cold Steinsee after your sporting activity.

The routes up here are perfect for alpine beginners and are generally not too difficult. However, you have to work your way up to the area: it takes a good two hours with a heavy climbing rucksack to reach the Steinseehütte. And then a little further on to the rocks - you will certainly work up a sweat, and the lake of the same name is a good half hour above the hut.

The reward for this is not only the magnificent ambience, but also the soothing tranquillity and comparative solitude that you often seek in vain in the valley.

Read more: Topo Steinseehütte climbing gardens

Kraftwerkswandl, Reutte

In the far north-west of Tyrol, just a few meters from the Bavarian border, there is a climbing area that is perfect for warm days: the Kraftwerkswandl near Reutte.

A short approach, shady orientation and usually a cool breeze make the compact limestone bar an ideal summer area. The routes are of a more advanced level, as many of the rewarding lines require two things that the "Wandl" already implies in the name: Strength and good footwear. There are many great projects here from the seventh degree upwards, but there are also a few good, easier routes. "Carpe diem" (7a), for example, should definitely be climbed, and then you should live the principle immediately, i.e. into the water!

For a post-climbing cool-down after a session on the Kraftwerkswandl, you are faced with a luxurious choice: off into the river or into the lake?

From the bends you can already look down on the beautiful Lech, which flows through the valley not far from the wall. A few meters up or down the river, there are plenty of beautiful gravel banks with bathing opportunities. But if you prefer a few lengths of backstroke in the calm water, we recommend the nearby Urisee above Reutte (approx. 10 minutes by car).

Find out more: Routes and approach

Around the Achensee

When it comes to bodies of water in Tyrol, there's no getting around a prominent name: Achensee, the "Sea of Tyrol".

The Tyroleans like to exaggerate a little, that much is known, but Achensee is actually by far the largest lake in the country. However, you shouldn't expect Mediterranean temperatures, "nice and warm" is the order of the day here. This is because the deep Alpine lakes with constant inflows from clear mountain streams do not heat up nearly as much as shallow lakes in the lowlands. But, more importantly for us climbers, they are also sandwiched between two mountain ranges: the Karwendel in the west and the Rofan in the east.

This means that there are numerous climbing opportunities on all sides of the lake, although you always have to get away from the lake a little. Except for the Achenseehof climbing garden, which is more for children, but is close to the shore. The more rewarding destinations can be found high above the lake, which makes them climbable in summer too: the "Klobenjoch" with its epic multi-pitch routes, the "Paradies" with its, yes, paradisiacal sport climbs in the steep Lochfels, the Rotspitze with its photogenic view down to the lake. No matter which destination you choose: unless you spend a night at the Erfurter Hütte, all paths lead back down to the Achensee - or better still, into the Achensee.

Find out more: Overview of Achensee sport climbing areas

In the Pillerseetal, Steinberge

Here, in the Tyrol-Salzburg border region, you won't get bored so quickly: over 1,000 climbing routes await you in the entire Steinberge climbing region, the iconic Steinplatte with its sunny multi-pitch routes is one of the climbing epicenters in the Eastern Alps.

But if you want to combine climbing with swimming, it's better to stay in the valley. The rare combination of a perfectly drilled climbing garden with a nearby swimming lake is manifested in the small but beautiful Wiesensee climbing garden. This attracts families in particular, many of the routes here are in the lower levels of difficulty, and the three-minute approach is easily manageable even with small children. A feel-good place!

The Adolari climbing garden, just over a kilometer from Pillersee, offers a slightly larger selection of routes, over 40 in fact. Or you can cool off in the nearby Teufelsklamm gorge, which you can hike into directly from the climbing garden. The small, cool mountain stream will definitely cool your feet.

5. climbing above the Drachensee lake in the Zugspitz Arena

There's probably no better way to describe it than in the intro to the article in the climbing magazine Limit #2: "What does Homo Bergensis need to be happy? Actually only mountains, right? If that's the case, then mountain people high above Ehrwald must be careful not to collapse from an overdose of happiness. Because there's more of everything there: more mountain lakes, more bright colors, more new climbing routes."

Even if it may sound a little exaggerated, the reality in the multi-pitch areas of Seebenwände, Wampeter Schrofen, Sonnenspitze and Grünstein Nordwand comes pretty close to the poetic signs. This is because two mountain lakes, Seebensee and Drachensee, are located in the immediate vicinity of the climbing areas. This means that the "cool water" is right on the way home. And then there are the culinary delights up here at the Coburger Hütte, which according to the Süddeutsche Zeitung boasts the best "Tirol Gröst'l in the world". So enjoy your meal!

6th Rote Flüh in the Tannheimer Tal

Anyone who has ever climbed the south face of the Rote Flüh in the Tannheimer Tal knows that the view of the deep turquoise Haldensee is both a blessing and a curse.

On the one hand, it is always in view and you can't wait to jump into the cold water after climbing. At the same time, on hot days it makes you long to dive into the water immediately to cool off.

But thank goodness there are plenty of distractions for climbers here. There are a good dozen multi-pitch routes of really good quality waiting for repeaters. The distribution of difficulty levels is very balanced. There are attractive lines for both leisure climbers with the "old south face" and professional climbers with routes in grade 9.

Once you are back down in the Tannheimer Tal, after a short drive you can finally plunge into the crystal-clear lake water at the Haldensee lido.