Obernberger See defines the natural character of Obernberg Am Brenner: it lies at around 1,600 metres in a protected high-mountain valley, surrounded by dense forests, steep rock faces and flower-filled alpine meadows. For planning purposes, the easy loop around the lake, Steiner Alm and the mountain tour to Tribulaun can be considered as different destinations. Churches, a chapel and visible mining spoil heaps also offer a glimpse into the area’s architectural and mining history.

Hiking at Obernberger See

The lake is in the “Obernberger See - Tribulaune – Nösslachjoch” nature conservation area. The Obernberger See loop is an easy 6.0-kilometre hike; walking time is about 2.5 hours. This gives you a general idea of how long the loop takes without turning the approximate estimate into a fixed schedule. Walking times and route conditions can vary; check local updates when planning your outing.

Visitors to Obernberger See are asked to stay on the marked trails and respect the sensitive flora and fauna. This conservation request is therefore an integral part of planning your visit: you can explore the protected landscape while treating its plant and animal life with care.

Steiner Alm and the mountain tour to Tribulaun

Steiner Alm is about a 30- to 35-minute walk above Obernberger See, at an elevation of 1,737 metres. Walking time can vary depending on conditions. As a traditionally operated alpine farm with its own dairy, the alm also adds a culinary element to your hiking plans: hikers can enjoy Tyrolean farmhouse dishes and homemade alpine cheese there. This means the alm can be described not only by its location and elevation, but also by what it offers.

Another type of outing is Route 129, a mountain tour to Tribulaun. It starts at the car park at the end of Obernberg. This gives you clearly different details for planning: the loop’s difficulty, distance and approximate walking time are specified, while Route 129’s destination and starting point are given. Details for each route should be considered separately.

Churches, chapel and mining history

The parish church of St Nicholas in Obernberg is a listed building. It was built in 1760 and 1761 in the late Baroque style. The “Maria am See” chapel is a natural-stone building dating from 1934. Its impressive frescoes include a depiction of the Coronation of Mary. The dates make two distinct building periods clear: the late Baroque parish church and the 20th-century chapel.

A tourism article updated on 5 September 2025 describes access to the chapel via a small bridge and a special view across the emerald-green Obernberger See. The area’s mining history is also visible in the landscape: mining spoil heaps can still be seen, especially in Hinterenns, beyond Waldbauer. Cultural interest thus extends beyond the religious buildings to visible traces of mining.

Getting to the loop

For the Obernberger See loop, the public transport connection listed is the S-Bahn to Steinach am Brenner, followed by bus route 570 to the Gh Waldesruh stop. This connection applies to the loop; Route 129, by contrast, starts at the car park at the end of Obernberg. Check the current timetable before travelling, as public transport connections can change when timetables are updated. This will help you match the travel information to your chosen hiking destination and plan your day accordingly.

Discover more destinations: Absam, Vals, Igls, Axams, Gries Im Sellrain, Pfons, Oberperfuss, Volderau

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