Egelsee, Natural monument lake in Kufstein, Austria

Egelsee is a mountain lake in Kufstein situated at about 547 meters elevation surrounded by dense coniferous forests. The water is clear and the steep forested slopes enclosing it create a sheltered valley setting.

Egelsee was declared a natural monument in 1936, with its shoreline added to the protection in 1978; the protected area covers 4.53 hectares. In June 2000 it was listed as a European protected area (FFH, site code AT3307000) covering 3.07 hectares. The lake has silted up over time and has lost about a third of its original surface.

The lake lies on the German-Austrian border and is reached by unmarked paths, for example from the Hechtsee outflow across a meadow in about 400 metres, or from Kiefersfelden past the Hintergugglberg farm. The route along the border from the Buchberg cross passes several historic boundary stones. Swimming is prohibited because the lake is private.

The easiest way to reach the lake is by taking bus route 4046 to Kufstein Edschlössl and following the marked hiking trails from there. The well-marked paths are straightforward to follow and require no special skills.

The lake has lost about a third of its original surface area to silting, and its wet margins hold round-leaved sundew and bog cranberry. Since 2021 a European beaver has settled here, arriving via the outflow from the Kieferbach; gnaw marks on the shore are its traces.