What to know about kayaking in Austria during the Spring
In the early Spring the main rivers will be relatively low. The snow is still up in the mountains and it can take up to mid-June for the melt to really start feeding the main rivers in the West of Austria.
However, the steeper tributaries of the Inn while be running a nice level. The Sanna is one of the shortest rivers in the Alps and is an absolute gem. Further up the Stanzer Valley into the Arlberg region is the Rosanna River which has 5 sections of different character and river grades. For a Guide to the Rosanna River: https://www.gokayaking.at/blog/a-kayaking-guide-to-the-rosanna-river
So here are a few top tips for planning and making a trip to kayak in Austria during the Spring…
1. Know your levels
What time of the Spring you come to Austria dictates the river levels and grades of rivers. For instance in the early Spring which for us here up in the mountains is May the rivers will be a little low. By mid-June the temperature has warmed up considerably, the snow is melting and with some help of a warm rainfall or thunderstorms the rivers will start to get big. Spring melt will add at least half a grade on the rivers. For instance the Sanna is normally a Class 3-4 river but over the Spring melt period the Sanna will turn into a solid Class 4 and even Class 4+.
2. Bring a drysuit
Bring one! Without a doubt, a drysuit makes life so much more comfortable, keeping you warm and dry no matter what the weather, river and terrain throws at you. Spring kayaking can bring 3 different seasons within a few days and so a dry suit is ideal. We use the Peak UK One Piece Suit. It is extremely sturdy with a near bombproof material. The leg entry is one of a kind and it is made from recycled material! Follow the link to find out more: https://peakeu.eu/one_piece
3. Watch out for Wood
There can be a lot of debris in the rivers during Spring that has been delivered from the previous Winter. Expect wood in pretty much every river and section in this part of Austria and the higher you head up the valley the more chance of snow blocking or covering the river. This is very common around Base Arlberg with upper sections of the Rosanna and Lech rivers blocked sometimes until the end of June. The Spring melt acts like a kind of flusher to the majority of the rivers and sections in this part of Austria, though it can also bring in some big trees or logs from the higher mountain reaches.
Avoiding the wood on a Landeck Gorge in flood….
4. Festivals
There are a lot of local festivals and events being held in Austria throughout the Spring. Ranging from big tent festivals with live bands to old cultural traditions of celebrating such as: Pfingsten, Fronnleichnam and Christi Himmelfahrt. Lots of beer, schnapps, umpah music and the men in their lederhosen and women in their dirndl’s makes for an unforgettable kayaking trip off the river. Just know which way the knot is tied on the women’s dirndl to see if they are single or married!!
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It does take a little longer for the Spring season to get really going compared to regions in Italy or the Soča River in Slovenia but when it does it this part of Austria certainly packs a punch!
Here is a video to see what our local rivers are like during the Spring made by Maria Jesus who came to visit from Chile.
There is no place I would rather be in the world when the Spring melt is happening around Base Arlberg and the region of Landeck. To see just why, here a few videos of Spring melt on our local rivers.
Rosanna River in Spring
Upper Lech River in Spring
If you have any tips that would be helpful for kayakers coming to Austria in the Spring then drop us a line, we may even add it to this piece!