The Schlegeis dam is a double-curvature arch dam, a design chosen for its structural efficiency in resisting high water pressure.
The reservoir holds approximately 126.5 million cubic meters of water when at maximum capacity.
The Schlegeis Alpenstraße is privately owned by VERBUND, Austria's largest electricity provider.
The road includes several narrow, single-lane tunnels that are controlled by traffic light systems to manage flow.
The dam is part of a larger interconnected hydroelectric power scheme that utilizes water from multiple glacial catchments.
The Schlegeis Alpenstraße is a 13.3-kilometer toll road leading to the Schlegeis Stausee, a reservoir dam located at 1,782 meters above sea level in the Zillertal Alps. The road features eight hairpin bends and four natural stone tunnels, traversing significant elevation changes within the Hochgebirgs-Naturpark Zillertaler Alpen. The dam wall itself is a double-curvature arch structure standing 131 meters high. Visitors can access the crest of the dam, which serves as a departure point for various high-alpine hiking trails, including routes to the Olpererhütte. The road was constructed primarily to facilitate the building and maintenance of the power plant infrastructure owned by VERBUND. It remains one of the primary high-altitude access points for mountaineers in the Tuxer Alps.
The crest of the dam wall looking back toward the turquoise reservoir and the surrounding glaciers.
Check the official road status before departure, as the route is prone to temporary closures during adverse weather conditions.
Arrive early in the morning to secure parking near the dam, as spaces fill up rapidly during peak season.
Pack layers, as temperatures at the reservoir are significantly lower than in the valley due to the high altitude.
Attempting to drive the road in a large campervan without checking width restrictions, and underestimating the intensity of high-altitude sun exposure.
Open only during the summer season, typically from late May until late October, depending on snow conditions.
Stay on marked trails to protect the fragile high-alpine vegetation and adhere to all traffic light signals within the tunnels.
