Dürrensee, Lake near Toblach, South Tyrol, Italy
Dürrensee is a small mountain lake near Toblach, in the Höhlenstein Valley in the South Tyrolean Dolomites, sitting at around 4,600 feet (1,400 m) above sea level. It is the warmest of the three lakes in the area, with a small pebble beach on its northern shore where people swim and rest.
The Höhlenstein Valley, where the lake sits, was a key route between the Puster Valley and Cortina d'Ampezzo for centuries. The area was part of Austria-Hungary until 1919, when it became part of Italy after World War 1, which is why place names in the region are still given in both German and Italian.
The lake is reachable by bus (line 445), by car, or by bike along a dedicated cycling path that passes right by the shore. In summer, arriving in the morning gives the best chance to enjoy the water before the day gets busy.
Despite being the smallest of the three lakes in the valley, Dürrensee has the warmest water because its shallow depth allows the sun to heat it quickly. Just a short walk from the shore, there is also a sport climbing area on a rock face that was restored in 2006 and offers routes at different levels.
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