The dam wall is specifically designed as a double-curvature arch, a configuration that allows water pressure to be transferred into the flanking rock walls.
A specialized via ferrata route is installed directly on the dam wall, allowing climbers to scale the concrete surface.
The reservoir's water is fed by glacial melt from the surrounding Zillertal Alps, including the Schlegeiskees glacier.
The Schlegeis Alpine Road leading to the site is a private toll road that features several narrow rock tunnels with signal-controlled traffic.
The dam is a critical component of the Mayrhofen power station, which is one of the largest hydroelectric projects in Austria.
Schlegeis Stausee is a 131-meter-high arch dam located at the end of the Zillertal Alps in Tyrol, Austria. The dam wall features a unique 600-meter-long accessible crest and is used for hydroelectric power generation by the Verbund utility company. Visitors can access the dam via the Schlegeis Alpine Road, which traverses several tunnels and mountain landscapes. The reservoir, situated at an altitude of approximately 1,782 meters, provides a starting point for hiking trails leading toward the Olpererhütte and the Friesenberghaus. It is part of the Zamser Grund valley and serves as a major water storage basin for the Zillertal power plant system. The dam structure itself is a double-curvature arch dam completed in 1973. It contains roughly 126.5 million cubic meters of water at full capacity.
The viewing platform near the Olpererhütte trail provides the classic elevated shot looking back down toward the dam and the turquoise reservoir.
Bring a windproof jacket, as temperatures at this elevation are significantly lower than in the valley.
Use the shuttle bus service if you want to avoid driving the narrow, tunnel-heavy Alpine road.
Start your hike early to secure parking near the dam, as the limited lots fill up quickly during peak season.
Do not attempt to walk on the dam crest if there is heavy fog or rain, as the surface becomes extremely slippery.
The access road is closed during the winter months due to snow and avalanche risk; it typically opens in late spring and closes in late autumn.
Stay within marked paths, especially near the dam crest, and follow all safety signage regarding cliff edges.
