The platforms are illuminated at night by LED lights that change color based on the season.
The structure was designed to provide a bird's-eye view of the Hallstatt Lake, which sits at an elevation 400 meters below the precipice.
The individual 'fingers' are each designed to offer a different sensation of height or visual perspective.
Construction required anchoring the steel frame directly into the limestone rock of the Dachstein plateau.
The 5 Fingers observation deck consists of five distinct cantilevered platforms extending 8 meters over a 400-meter vertical drop above the Hallstatt valley. Each of the five fingers features a unique design, including a glass floor section, a frame for photo opportunities, a hole in the floor, a trampoline-like rope-mesh, and a telescope. The structure is part of the Dachstein Krippenstein mountain range in the Austrian Alps. It is accessible via the Dachstein Krippenstein cable car system. The platform overlooks the UNESCO World Heritage region of Hallstatt-Dachstein/Salzkammergut. The viewing deck is constructed primarily of steel and is designed to withstand extreme alpine weather conditions. Visitors reach the platform via a 20-minute hiking trail from the Krippenstein mountain station.
From the finger with the glass floor looking straight down into the valley.
Bring a windproof jacket, as temperatures at 2,100 meters are significantly lower than in the valley.
Use the 'Dachstein Salzkammergut' app to check real-time visibility from the live webcams before ascending.
Wear sturdy hiking boots, as the path from the cable car station is gravel-heavy and uneven.
Attempting the walk in flip-flops or open-toed sandals due to the loose gravel terrain.
Operates seasonally; typically closed during the late autumn and early spring months for maintenance or due to snowpack.
Sturdy footwear is required; do not lean over or drop items from the open-grate platforms.
