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Prags Dolomites
Prags Dolomites
Prags Valley
Lake Prags
Plätzwiese
Puster Valley / South Tyrol
UNESCO Dolomites / Nature Park
Dolomites highlights
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A natural jewel shrouded in myths

Lake Prags

Close by, just half an hour’s walk from our hotel, is Lake Prags, the pearl of the Dolomite lakes. Its clear water reflects the surrounding mountains and shimmers in a multitude of greens, from the darkest bottle green to sparkling turquoise. Surrounded by the Herrstein, Seekofel and Schwarzberg mountains, this mountain lake covers an area of 37 hectares, is 1.2 km long and at its deepest point is 36 metres deep and is part of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage site of the Dolomites. Despite its fame and the people who visit it every day, it radiates gentle tranquillity and serenity.

The picture shows Lake Braies with boats and mountains in the background. A couple is sitting in a boat and sailing across the lake.
The image shows a series of wooden boats on a mountain lake. They are reflected in the water. In the background, you can see a few trees.
The image shows the Pragser Wildsee in the fall. The landscape is reflected in the water, and the trees are already turning yellow.
Small church in the middle of a winter landscape. There is a lot of snow on the church roofs.
The picture shows Lake Braies in winter. The snow-covered mountain is reflected in the lake. The trees are covered with lots of snow.

Just a walk away from Lake Prags

This is how to get to Lake Prags from the Hotel Trenker

Our exclusive location makes it possible for you to visit Lake Prags at any time of day all year round:

We recommend

That you follow hiking trail no. 1 on foot. It is a very beautiful and easy hike through the forest alongside a stream and can be completed in around 30 minutes. The hiking trail is open all year round and you DO NOT need a reservation or a ticket.

By bus no. 442

All year round, at least 1 x hour, journey time approx. 5 minutes (between 10 July 2025 and 10 September 2025 only available if you have booked a seat, bookable via Reception).

By car

Just two minutes away, however all parking is pay-and-display (between 10 July 2025 and 10 September 2025 from 9 am to 4 pm only with a parking space reservation).

In Winter

In snowy weather, winter equipment is mandatory for your car, but there is no guarantee that you will get there, so it's better to go on foot...

What can I do at Lake Prags in summer?

A woman and a man are sitting in a wooden boat on a mountain lake. The woman looks directly into the camera while the man with the oars rows the boat.

Go on a boat

From the beginning of May until the beginning of November

The picture shows two hikers sitting on a summit and writing in a summit book. In the background you can see the Three Peaks.

Hiking

  • Circular hike around Lake Prags with a diversion to the Grünwald Alp – easy hike

  • Hike to the Kaser Alp – moderately difficult hike

  • Demanding hikes to the Seekofel, Herrstein, Rossalm, Plätzwiese and Hochalpenkopf...

Find out more
The picture shows a woman climbing a via ferrata. The sun is shining directly on her.

Climbing in the climbing park

Only with your own equipment

Find out more
The image shows Lake Pragser Wildsee with a building and a church on the shore. These reflect in the water, and in the background, you can see snow-covered mountains.

If you are feeling peckish

If you are feeling peckish, there is a snack bar and Bistro Emma right by the lake, otherwise, the Grünwald Alp is easy to reach.

Mountain lake at dawn. Sun shines on the peak in the background. The landscape is reflected in the lake.

And what about swimming?

Sadly, this is not permitted, as the ecosystem of the lake is sensitive. Apart from that, the water temperature is a chilly 15 ºC at most.

Several houses on the edge of a forest in front of wooded mountains with steep rocky peaks under a blue sky.

Your perfect hotel for a holiday by Lake Prags

Five really good reasons to choose the Hotel Trenker

  1. Because we are so close to Lake Prags and still far enough away from the hustle and bustle that you can reach the lake in just 30 minutes’ walk.

  2. Because the loveliest tours and hikes into the heart of the Prags Dolomites start from our hotel.

  3. Because we act sustainably, both in what we purchase and in the production of our energy using a photovoltaic plant as well as woodchip heating.

  4. Because we take care of your every need and serve delicious food and drink.

  5. Because here you can combine visiting the lake with the amenities in our wellness complex and so truly relax.

Pragser Wildsee in winter, covered in a layer of snow with a mountain in the background. A wooden hut and a wooden bridge are in the foreground.

In the winter wonderland

Lake Prags during the cold season

In winter, when the temperatures are low and the days short, the lake freezes almost completely and is covered by a thick layer of snow. The sun only shows itself for a short period and transforms the landscape into a glittering winter fairytale. A winter hike straight from the hotel to the lake along hiking trail no. 1 followed by a walk along the north shore is well worthwhile then. The remainder of the circular path is not accessible due to the risk of avalanche. Winter lasts a long time at Lake Prags since the lake freezes around the beginning of December and only thaws towards the end of April. Back in the hotel you can fortify yourself with a small afternoon snack and afterwards thoroughly warm yourself up again in the sauna.

Tipps und Wissenswertes

What can I do at Lake Prags in winter?

The image shows a person walking through a winter landscape with sticks. In the background, a snow-covered mountain can be seen.

Winter hiking

A walk along the north shore of the lake – the rest of the circular hike is closed due to the risk of avalanche

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The image shows a person wearing a blue jacket and beige pants. They are wearing snowshoes and poles. They are hiking through a winter landscape.

Snowshoeing into the Grünwald Valley

But only with avalanche protection equipment!

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Two ski tourers in a snowy winter landscape. In the background, a mountain panorama with the Three Peaks.

Back-country skiing to the Seekofel

1,300 m above the legendary lake, the summit offers spectacular views of the entire Sennes plateau.

Find out more
The image shows the frozen Pragser Wildsee. In the background, a snow-covered mountain can be seen.

And what about ice skating?

Unfortunately, the lake is not suitable for this. Immediately after it freezes it is covered with snow.

The image shows two snow-covered wooden cabins and a wooden bridge that protrudes out over a snow-covered lake. In the background, mountains with snow can be seen.

Walking onto the lake in winter

PLEASE NOTE: it is dangerous to walk onto the lake in winter. The ice covering can be very thin, meaning that it cannot bear the weight of a person and will break.

The image shows the Pragser Wildsee in winter. The lake is frozen over and the mountain in the background is snow-covered.

Should you need a snack

Should you need a snack, Bistro Emma is open.

Tipps und Wissenswertes

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a ticket or a reservation to visit Lake Prags?

No, since as our guest you can visit Lake Prags, which is just 30 minutes’ walk away, at any time on foot. In contrast, the car parks are pay-and-display and in high season you will also need a reservation to use them.

Can I swim in Lake Prags?

No, as the ecosystem is very sensitive and therefore protected by nature park rules. What’s more, the water temperature does not rise above 15 ºC.

I have heard that Lake Prags is overrun with visitors. Is that true?

Lake Prags is a very popular destination in the Dolomites and much visited. For this reason, in the last 10-plus years, we Prags residents have done everything we can to ensure that rules are introduced to allow visitors to relax while enjoying the lake but also protect nature.

Am I allowed to camp by Lake Prags?

No, the nature park rules on this are very strict and forbid camping in either tents or motorhomes.

I have heard that it is very expensive to park near Lake Prags. Is that true?


Yes, all car parks at Lake Prags are pay-and-display. But as our guest you have the advantage of being able to access Lake Prags on foot all year round in just 30 minutes by following hiking trail no. 1. Alternatively, you can take bus no. 442.

Can I walk on the lake in winter?

Lakes and other bodies of water should not be walked upon. The layer of ice can be very deceptive – even at the coldest time of year, unforeseen weak points or fragile areas may be present. Above all, in early winter and in spring, the danger is especially great as the ice layer is at its thinnest then. Anyone walking on the ice does so at their own risk.

Why is the water level of the lake so deep at times?

The water level of Lake Prags is subject to natural cycles. It fills up completely in spring when the snow melts. If in summer it does not rain, or only rains a little, for a period of time, then the water level falls, until there is heavy rain again, which fully or partially refills the lake.

Are the colours of Lake Prags really as they seem in photos?

Even if some photos look like they have been heavily edited, the lake actually does have its unmistakeable colours that change over the course of the year and even day.

The picture shows Lake Braies with a direct view of a building. In the foreground, you can see a hiking trail with a wooden fence.
Snowy Pragser Wildsee with two people walking along the shore. A mountain and a cloudy sky in the background.
A mountain lake at the foot of a mountain landscape. The trees are in the foreground.
The image shows a winter scene. There is a snowbank on a board, and a snow-covered forest landscape in the background.
Church in a snowy winter landscape. Lots of snow on the church roofs. Snowy trees in the background.
Detailed shot of a mountain lake in autumn. The trees are already yellow and reflected in the lake.
A mountain lake with a wooden bridge and a wooden hut that juts out into the water. The shore with trees and branches in the foreground.
The picture shows a mountain with a lake. In the foreground, you can see a tree and its roots.
Mountain lake at the foot of a lightly snow-covered mountain. The landscape is reflected in the lake.
A branch with a rose protrudes into the picture in the foreground. Behind it, you can see a mountain lake and mountains that are slightly out of focus.
The image shows a wooden hut with wooden bottoms standing on a lake. In the background, a mountain can be seen.
The picture shows Lake Braies from the perspective of a boat. The tip of the wooden boat can be seen at the bottom of the picture.

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