Trip Duration: Half or Full Day ⛰️ Difficulty Level: Easy 🚸 Trip Date: August 2026

Upon arriving at Lake Anterselva, our daughter made it very clear that there would be swimming involved.

She put her life vest on top of her blue dress and refused to let us take it off. So we packed the rest of the swimming gear into a large backpack and crossed our fingers that we could make her dream come true: swimming in a mountain lake at 1,640 m above sea level.

Researching on my phone on the way there, I found out that Lake Anterselva is the third-largest mountain lake in South Tyrol and that there is a circular path around it that promised to be family-friendly.

So, with high expectations, we set off to turn another day out into a family adventure.

Quick Overview

• 📍 Location: Lake Anterselva, Südtirol, Italy
• ⛰️ Difficulty: Easy
• ⏱️ Trip Duration: Half or full day
• 📅 Trip Date: August 2026
• 🚗 Parking: During our visit, we paid €10 for a full day at the Biathlon Centre. Parking is available on event-free days.
• 🚶 Walking: Approximately 3.4 km around the lake; allow extra time with young children.
• 👶 Pushchair: Yes — a pushchair with larger wheels is recommended.
• 🛝 Family Facilities: Restaurants, grassy areas, a playground and rest areas are available around the lake.
• 🏊 Swimming: We couldn’t find clear official information about swimming before our visit, so we packed swimwear just in case. During our visit, we saw people swimming and paddle boarding.
• 🚦 Staller Saddle: Timed one-way traffic if approaching from Austria.
• 🌐 Official Website: Antholzertal Tourism

Our Adventure

Staller Saddle Pass

Our adventure started before we even reached Lake Anterselva.

We arrived at the Staller Saddle Pass about 25 minutes before traffic from the Austrian side was due to get the green light. Rather than sitting in the car and waiting, we pulled into one of the large car parks beside Obersee and jumped out to explore.

The lake looked beautiful, but the water was a different story! My eldest couldn’t resist walking in to test it. He made it as far as his ankles before the freezing temperature sent us straight back out again.

With ten minutes to spare, we jumped back into the car and joined the queue for the pass.

During our August 2026 visit, traffic from the Austrian side was allowed through from the hour until quarter past, while traffic travelling in the opposite direction had its turn from half past until quarter to the hour. Signs at both ends of the pass show the green-go window, while a digital countdown board tells drivers how much time is left before the traffic direction changes.

Once the light changed, we were off.

The road winds its way down through the mountains, with sharp bends and the forest closing in around us.

Then, suddenly, the car in front came to a complete standstill.

For a moment, we had no idea what was happening. Then we spotted them — the jumping shadows of deer disappearing into the deep forest beside the road.

Within seconds they were gone, leaving us with just a glimpse of the wildlife sharing this spectacular mountain pass.

And then, through the trees below us, Lake Anterselva came into view.

Lake Anterselva – The Blue Valley

As we made our way down from the Staller Saddle, Lake Anterselva began to appear between the trees below us. The turquoise-green water looked almost unreal against the mountains surrounding it.

We parked at the Biathlon Centre and set off on the circular path, keeping the lake on our right. It didn’t take long for our youngsters to find their own, very slow rhythm.

There was simply too much to see, touch and investigate — and only one path to share with the many other visitors.

We had brought our double Thule to make the walk easier, but our hardheaded youngsters had other ideas. They either wanted to walk or preferred to ride on one of our shoulders. Apparently, neither the buggy nor walking independently was quite comfortable enough!

So we split up and proceeded at the speed of a snail.

Bringing up the rear with our youngest turned out to have its advantages. The slower we went, the more we noticed.

Along the forest path, he discovered mushrooms tucked into tiny holes in the ground — many of them so small and well hidden that we would have walked straight past them.

I began to wonder if this was one of those moments when travelling at toddler speed actually lets you see more.

The path curled between the edge of the lake on one side and the steep mountain on the other, with the forest providing plenty of distractions along the way.

Finally, Time to Splash!

By the time we caught up with the rest of the group, we were all ready for a break — and, more importantly, some time in the water.

Before reaching the main grassy area by the restaurant, we spotted a woman out on a paddle board. As we were still unsure whether swimming was allowed, we stopped to ask her.

It turned out she was a local, and she was surprised to be the only paddle boarder out on the lake that Sunday morning. She told us that normally there are plenty of people swimming and paddle boarding here.

That was good news for our daughter, who had been wearing her life vest since we left the car — just in case.

When we reached the restaurant area, we found a large patch of green lawn beside the lake. A couple of people were getting in and out of the water, while others were relaxing in the sunshine.

There were places to eat and drink, and large rotating wooden loungers where visitors could sit and enjoy the view.

It felt surprisingly like a beach day — just at 1,640 metres above sea level.

We settled into the shade, got changed and finally headed towards the water.

The lake was wonderfully refreshing. In some places the water felt almost mild, while just a step deeper could be noticeably colder. Standing knee-deep, I could feel different temperatures around my ankles and shins.

As we stayed longer, more people appeared on the lake, including several paddle boarders. Perhaps our quiet first impression had simply been a matter of timing.

The Legend

Standing in the water, I couldn’t help thinking about the numerous mountain springs that feed Lake Anterselva. They reminded me of the legend behind the lake’s creation.

Long ago, according to the legend, three farms stood where Lake Anterselva is today. Their inhabitants were known for being hard-hearted towards the poor.

One day, during the village festival, an old beggar came to the farms asking for alms. The wealthy farmers gave him only some mouldy bread.

The beggar became angry and warned each of them:

Be careful, in a few days a spring will appear behind your house, and then you’ll see what happens.

For three days, nothing happened.

On the fourth day, however, a spring appeared behind each house. The springs grew larger and larger until they eventually submerged the farms, giving birth to Lake Anterselva.

So goes the legend.

In reality, Lake Anterselva was formed after massive landslides dammed the valley on both sides, allowing it to fill with water.

Standing knee-deep in the lake, with the mountain springs feeding the water around us, it was rather fitting to hear how folklore had explained the lake’s mysterious origins.

Return Journey

By the time we were ready to leave, we had already spent plenty of time exploring the lake. At the entrance to the grassy area, we stopped to look at the map of the circular trail and noticed that the other side of the loop follows the road through the forest.

With three small children, we decided to return the way we had come instead. The lakeside path was much more appealing than walking alongside the busy road.

It also meant we could enjoy the lake from a different perspective on the way back.

Why Each Child Loved Lake Anterselva

One of the things I love about exploring with three children at very different ages is that they rarely experience the same place in the same way.

Why our youngest loved it…

🍄 Mushroom hunting: The slower we walked, the more mushrooms he discovered hiding along the forest path. Many were so tiny that we would have completely missed them if he hadn’t been looking from his much lower vantage point.

🪨 Throwing stones: The lake provided an endless supply of stones to collect, examine and eventually throw into the water.

🛝 The playground: After all that walking, the playground beside the restaurant was a very welcome discovery.

Why our daughter loved it…

🦶 Walking barefoot: She loved walking barefoot along the forest path.

🪨 Collecting treasures: Tiny stones and sticks from beside the lake quickly became more interesting than the scenery.

🎠 The merry-go-round: The playground beside the restaurant gave her another reason to stop, and the merry-go-round was a particular favourite.

Why our eldest loved it…

🏊 Swimming: While the younger two were busy with their own discoveries, our eldest was happiest once he finally got into the lake.

🔎 Exploring the information stations: He enjoyed stopping to find out more about the surrounding mountains, wildlife and lake.

📖 The legend: Learning the story behind the creation of Lake Anterselva gave him something else to take away from the visit — and gave us plenty to talk about afterwards.

Practical Tips for Parents

🚗 Staller Saddle traffic
During our August 2026 visit, traffic from the Austrian side was allowed through from the hour until quarter past, while traffic travelling in the opposite direction had its 15-minute window from half past to quarter to the hour. Signs at both ends show the current green-go window, and a digital countdown displays the remaining time. The schedule can change, so check the current arrangements before setting off.

🅿️ Parking at the Biathlon Centre
We paid €10 for the day during our August 2026 visit. Parking is available on event-free days.

🧥 Pack layers and waterproofs
Lake Anterselva sits at around 1,640 m, so mountain weather can be very different from conditions in the valley. Even on a sunny day, bring layers and something waterproof.

🏊 Pack swim gear — just in case
We couldn’t find clear official information about swimming before our visit, so we packed ours anyway. During our visit, we saw people swimming and paddle boarding, and a local told us this is normally common on the lake. If you’re planning to swim, check the current local situation before getting into the water.

👶 A pushchair is possible
We managed with our double Thule, but the route includes gravel sections, so a pushchair with larger wheels would be much more comfortable.

⏰ Allow more time than the trail length suggests
The circular route is around 3.4 km, but don’t expect to complete it in a hurry with young children. Our walk included mushroom hunting, stone collecting, playground time, swimming and plenty of very slow walking.

🍽️ The main lawn is the busiest area
This is where you’ll find the restaurant, playground, lawn space and other facilities. It can get busy, particularly on weekends.

💺 Take a break
Look out for the large rotating wooden loungers near the lake. They’re a lovely place to sit and enjoy the view while the children explore.

🚶 You don’t have to complete the loop
We noticed on the trail map that the opposite side of the circular route follows the road through the forest. Rather than continue with three tired children, we simply returned along the lakeside path. There is no rule saying a family adventure has to be completed exactly as planned!

Would We Visit Again?

Absolutely.

Next time, we’d come prepared with a paddle board or small boat and allow more time to enjoy the lake rather than simply walking around it. Our eldest would certainly be happy with that plan!

For us, Lake Anterselva was one of those places where the children found their own adventures along the way — mushrooms, stones, playgrounds and eventually the lake itself.

That’s usually a good reason to come back.

A Moment to Remember

Our daughter put on her life vest the moment we got out of the car and refused to take it off for the entire walk around the lake.

She had clearly decided that swimming was going to happen — whether we knew it was allowed or not!

When we finally made it into the water, she waded in almost to her hips. But instead of swimming, she was perfectly happy exploring the shallows, collecting tiny stones and sticks as treasures.

After carrying that life vest around the entire lake, watching her finally get into the water was one of my favourite moments of the day.