schreiende Brunnen Travel Guide

The Schreiende Brunnen, poetically named the 'Crying Springs,' is more than just a picturesque waterfall; it's a place where legend and nature intertwine. Located in the Hörndlinger Graben near Fieberbrunn, these springs emerge as a karst spring, creating a delicate veil of water as it cascades down the rocks. The water is of such high quality that it's considered potable.The springs are fed by the Wildseeloder lake, located approximately 3 kilometers west. The legend associated with the Schreiende Brunnen tells a tale of alpine dairymen who lived in excess and wickedness on the Wildseeloder. As the story goes, they were flooded by God's wrath, forming the Wildseeloder lake, and their cries can still be heard in the ditch near the 'crying wells'.For those interested in the science behind the legend, the springs have been a measuring point for the Tyrolean Hydrographic Service since 1998. As a typical karst spring, the water flow increases rapidly during rainfall or snowmelt. The average discharge is 76 l/s, with a minimum of 18 l/s and a maximum of 361 l/s recorded. The water temperature fluctuates between 5 and 7°C.The Schreiende Brunnen is easily accessible and makes for a delightful family-friendly hike. The destination can be reached on foot from Gasthof Eiserne Hand through a wildly romantic valley in about an hour.