Introduction

Austria is home to a very unusual lake that changes dramatically depending on the season.

It is Grüner See (Green Lake), located in the northern part of Styria.

“Grüner” means “green” in German.

As its name suggests, Grüner See is known for its beautiful green water. What makes it particularly unique is that the lake changes dramatically with the seasons as a result of melting snow.

From spring to early summer, melting snow flows into the lake, causing the water level to rise significantly and the lake to expand. By late summer and autumn, however, the water level drops, and the lake itself almost disappears.

Because of this unique landscape, Grüner See has also been selected as one of the “most beautiful places in Austria” by the Austrian National Tourist Office. I actually first learned about Grüner See through this website. This time, I decided to visit it myself.

　

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What Is Grüner See?

A Seasonal Lake Created by Melting Snow

The most distinctive feature of Grüner See is that it is formed mainly by melting snow flowing down from the surrounding mountains.

As the snow that accumulated in the mountains during winter begins to melt in spring, a large amount of water flows into the area.

As a result, the lake goes through a rather unusual seasonal cycle:

• Spring: The snow begins to melt
• Early summer: The water level reaches its highest point
• Summer: The water level gradually decreases
• Autumn: The lake almost disappears

This means that if you want to see the large, impressive Grüner See that you often see in photographs, early summer is generally the best time to visit.

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Visiting Grüner See in August

Early Summer Is Normally the Best Time

Having said all that, I actually visited Grüner See in August.

Early summer is normally the ideal time to visit, but there was a very simple reason why I decided to go in August this time.

It was because… it was hot.

At the time, Graz was experiencing an intense heat wave, with temperatures reaching 37°C.

“This is just too hot…”

So I decided to head to Grüner See in search of somewhere a little cooler.

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37°C in Graz, 30°C at Grüner See

When I arrived at Grüner See, the temperature was around 30°C.

At 30°C, it certainly wasn’t what you would call “cool.”

However, the difference was still quite significant:

Graz: 37°C
Grüner See: 30°C

At least compared with being in the middle of Graz, spending time surrounded by mountains and nature was much more comfortable.

So for me, Grüner See ended up becoming a rather unexpected summer retreat from the heat.

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How to Get There

Taking the Bus from Bruck/Mur

If you are traveling to Grüner See from the Graz area, the first step is to get to Bruck/Mur.

From there, you can take a bus. At the bus terminal in front of the station, take bus line 175 from Steig-C.

The bus heads toward Grüner See, but there is one important thing to keep in mind: the service is quite infrequent.

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There Are Very Few Buses

Bus 175 runs only about once every three to four hours. This is very important to know.

If you go there thinking, “I’ll just figure out the return bus when I get there,” you could end up waiting several hours for the next bus.

For this reason, I strongly recommend checking the return bus schedule in advance, not just the bus you take to get there.

Since Grüner See is located in a natural area away from the city, managing your time is especially important if you are relying on public transportation.

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About a 30-Minute Walk from the Grüner See Bus Stop

Once you get off the bus, you still have to walk to Grüner See.

It takes roughly 30 minutes on foot. However, this 30-minute walk is more than just a way of getting from the bus stop to the lake.

There are several smaller lakes and mountains in the surrounding area, so you can enjoy the scenery as you walk.

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The Walk to Grüner See

I Took the Route via Kreuzteich

Looking at the map, there are several possible routes to Grüner See.

The main options are:

• The route via Kreuzteich (the lower route on the map)
• The route that does not go through Kreuzteich (the upper route on the map)

I chose the route via Kreuzteich on the way there.

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The Lakes Along the Way Are Beautiful Too

There are actually several lakes around Grüner See.

These lakes are also quite beautiful.

Rather than simply looking at the lakes, you get to enjoy a combination of lakes, forests, and surrounding mountains, making the walk itself a very pleasant experience.

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You Can See Fish at Kreuzteich

At Kreuzteich along the way, you can see plenty of fish.

It is a small detour on the way to Grüner See, but I found it to be quite an interesting place in its own right.

Rather than heading straight for Grüner See, I recommend taking your time and enjoying the surrounding nature along the way.

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Be Careful Not to Get Lost

One thing that was a little challenging, however, was finding the right path.

On the map, it looks like there are only two main routes, but in reality there are various smaller paths branching off in different directions.

As a result, it is easier to get lost than you might expect.

I managed to follow the route via Kreuzteich without any problems on the way there.

However, on the way back, I tried taking a different route and ended up making a wrong turn.

Before I knew it, I had ended up on a road used by cars.

In the end, I simply walked back along the pedestrian area beside the road.

I made it back safely, but when walking in a natural area like this, it is probably best not to rely entirely on Google Maps or similar apps. Make sure to pay attention to the actual paths and signs around you as well.

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Passing the Grüner See Guesthaus

After passing Kreuzteich and walking for a while, you will come across the Grüner See Guesthaus.

After passing it and continuing along the path, you are finally getting close…

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There It Is—Grüner See!

After walking for a while, Grüner See finally comes into view.

However, I visited in August.

The moment I saw the lake from a distance, my honest reaction was: “Oh… yeah, it really has dried up…”

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A Partially Dried-Up Grüner See

White Rocks Spread Around the Lake

In photos taken in early summer, Grüner See appears to be a fairly large lake.

By August, however, the water level has dropped, leaving a large area of pale-colored rocks around the lake.

These areas were probably underwater in early summer.

Thinking about that, I actually found it fascinating to realize, “So this entire area would normally be part of the lake!”

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Still Surprisingly Beautiful

That said, once I got closer, I realized that it was still very much a lake.

Of course, it was nowhere near as impressive as the photos from early summer.

Still, the water was clear and beautiful, and the surrounding mountains made for a stunning combination.

It wasn’t as though visiting in August meant that the trip was a complete disappointment.

In fact, it was interesting to actually see how dramatically the water level changes throughout the year.

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A Strange Lake Without Fish

Because Grüner See is formed by melting snow, its environment is somewhat different from that of an ordinary lake.

When I visited, I couldn’t see any fish in the lake at all.

On the other hand, there were plenty of ducks.

There are quite a few hikers around the lake, so perhaps the ducks were hoping for some leftover food.

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I Put My Feet in the Lake

Since I had come all this way, I decided to put just my feet in the lake.

And then… it was really cold!

After walking around in 30°C summer heat, the cold water felt incredibly refreshing.

Sitting there with my feet in the cold water while looking at the mountains surrounding the lake felt like such a luxurious moment.

It was one of those moments when I thought, “I’m really glad I came all the way here.”

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A Hiking Trail Runs Around the Lake

There are walking trails around Grüner See, and you can walk all the way around the lake.

It’s not just about the lake itself. You can enjoy:

• The lake
• The forest
• The mountains
• The surrounding trails

All of this makes the area a great place for a short hike.

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Grüner See Is Actually Made Up of Two Lakes

Another interesting thing I discovered around Grüner See is that there are actually several lakes in this area.

In particular, Grüner See itself appears to consist mainly of two separate bodies of water.

And the other one was… completely dried up.

The area was covered in reddish-brown soil.

It was amazing to think that this area may also have been covered with water in early summer, showing just how dramatically the landscape changes with the seasons.

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Early Summer and Late Summer Look Completely Different

When people see photos of Grüner See, they often picture a beautiful green lake filled with water.

But visiting in August allowed me to see what the lake looks like as it gradually shrinks.

It was a very interesting experience in its own way.

If you want to see the magical, full-water version of Grüner See that you often see in photographs, early summer is definitely the best time to visit.

On the other hand, if you want to avoid the crowds and enjoy the surrounding nature, visiting toward the end of summer could also be an option.

　

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Final Thoughts

I think the greatest appeal of Grüner See is not simply that it is a beautiful lake, but that it is a lake that completely changes its appearance depending on the season.

Since I visited in August, the water level had unfortunately dropped considerably.

Even so, I was able to enjoy:

• The beautiful green lake
• The majestic surrounding mountains
• Nearby lakes such as Kreuzteich
• The hiking trail around the lake
• The cold water from the melting snow
• A lake that almost disappears depending on the season

There was still plenty to enjoy.

And more than anything, on a day when Graz was sweltering at 37°C, being up in the mountains at 30°C and cooling my feet in the lake felt absolutely wonderful.

However, if your main goal is to see the spectacular scenery of Grüner See at its best, I definitely recommend visiting in early summer.

Grüner See in August is less about seeing a lake at its fullest and more about experiencing the lake as it gradually disappears.

It is a uniquely Austrian natural attraction that shows a completely different side of itself depending on the season.