get cold feet and

Natural ice bathing

  • Your goal: To overcome yourself, jump in at the deep end and overcome your own limits
  • Where to? To the ‘Gumpen’ on the Finkenberg
  • Difficulty level: easy
  • When? Perfect for summer and autumn

+lively +icy +healthy +invigorating

Jumping into cold water is really something special. And of course a challenge - even for the ‘hardy’. Because it usually takes a lot of effort to get into the ice-cold pools. You have to leave your comfort zone a little. But it's worth it, it's a real adventure and also strengthens your immune system.

Frau schwimmt in einem kleinen Bach

Naturally special

  • The pleasure of being in a truly unique place.
  • Naturally good for your body and soul.
  • You feel really alive after swimming.
  • You meet interesting people (if there are any).
  • Addictive potential to do it again.

Real No-Gos

  • Walking the path with flip-flops.
  • Sharing the place online.
  • Visiting the pools in winter when it's snowing.
Zwei Frauen schwimmen in einem kleinen See
Frau spritzt in einem See Wasser in die Höhe

Where to go for an ice bath?

In the rear Zillertal valley, natural pools form in the gorges - the ‘Gumpen’. These pools filled with crystal-clear water have always been the ‘places to be’ for locals. As children, the pools were our favourites. Even today, we still seek out these real natural gems for swimming and ice bathing. For your visit, we have chosen a pool that is easily accessible and off the beaten track. 

Natürlich erfrischend.

Even today, these are places that we visit again and again, but as absolute frostbites we only swim in summer. We have selected a pond for you that is relatively easy to reach. If you would also like to go ice swimming in winter, just ask at reception, we have one or two other ideas where you could do this.

Fun Fact
You meet all sorts of people here and every now and then the odd hiker or nature lover comes along and quickly jumps naked into the water.

Mann steht auf kleinem Felsen

Here are the directions:

You can get there quickly by car, but we would recommend cycling as there is no public car park. First drive to Mayrhofen and then in the direction of Ginzling to the Hochsteg car park. The car park belongs to Gasthaus Hochsteg, so please ask if you can park there. What they would certainly be fine with is if you simply treat yourself to a delicious drink there after swimming. At the end of the car park near the bridge, there are steps leading down:

After about 30 metres, you will find a gate on your left that you have to go through. The descent is relatively steep but only short. Nevertheless, we recommend wearing sturdy shoes or at least trainers. After a few metres, you will come to our favourite gorge, the so-called ‘Blue Lagoon’. You can also hike a little further back along the gorge and find your favourite spot. 

P.S.: we really ask you not to share the location of these places online, so that they remain a special place for all of us.

Here too, live and let live.
Everyone is allowed to be who they are!