Zeller See and Schwarzsee

The Zeller See lies to the north of the Grossglockner in the Middle Pinzgau, surrounded by commanding peaks. The lake is 4km/2.5mi long, 1.5km/ 1mi wide and up to 69m/225ft deep; the temperature of the water in summer can be as high as 20 deg C/68 deg F. Around the lake and in the little towns and villages reaching up into the valleys are facilities for a variety of sports. The well-equipped resorts of Zell am See, Saalbach and Kaprun have combined to form the "Europa Sport Region", linking the interests of advertising, public services, planning and transport. As well as providing facilities for winter and water sports, riding, tennis, golf and ice skating enthusiasts are also well catered for. In Zell am See there is a gliding school as well as four ski schools.

Above Zell to the west rears the Schmittenhöhe (1,965m/6,447ft), easily accessible by cableway; on foot the climb takes some 3.5 hours. The Schmittelhöhe is one of the finest lookout points in the Kitzbühel Alps; to the south can be seen the Grossglockner (with the reservoirs in the Kapruner Tal in front of it) and the Grossvenediger, to the north the Calcareous Alps from the Kaisergebirge to the Dachstein. Near the upper station of the cableway stand a hotel and St Elisabeth's Chapel. A beautiful ridge path leads in 45minutes to the Sonnkogel (1,856m/6,090ft), from which there is a chairlift down to the Sonnenalm (1,382m/4,534ft) and from there a cableway to Zell.

To the east of Thumersbach looms the Hundstein (2,117m/6,946ft; Statzerhaus, accommodation), with beautiful panoramic views and good skiing country. The climb by way of the Rupertihaus (1,654m/5,427ft; privately owned) takes about four hours.

To the north of the Zeller See the Glemmtal, through which flows the upper Saalach, turns westward. This is an excellent skiing area, with many ski lifts and mountain huts, and it is also popular with walkers in summer.