Fallbachfall (Maltatal)
(Fallbach wasserfall)
The Fallbachfall is the highest waterfall in Carinthia and is located in the Maltatal near Koschach in the region Kärnten, Austria.
The Maltatal is one of my favorite valleys because of the numerous beautiful waterfalls. The Fallbachfall is the highest and most impressive waterfall and is easy to access. There is a free parking at the right side of the road, just for the waterfall (gps 46.980737, 13.465532).
The Fallbachfall is already from a far distance visible and from the parking the view is great. If you walk a little to the right and an hundred meter towards the Fallbachfall you have the best view.
Unfortunately a lot has changed the last decade. This was the second time I visited the Fallbachfall but nowadays you have to pay admission (€7 for an adult in 2024) for the “wassererlebnis park“. From here it is a few minute walk to the base of the Fallbachfall. In the evening the park is closed and the path to the base of the waterfall is open without admission. It is also possible to walk to the top of the waterfall, which takes appr. 60 minutes.
The river Fallbach drops down vertically over 150 meters and is one of the highest single drop waterfalls in Austria. If taking pictures you will photograph towards the north-northeast. Best time to visit the Fallbachfall is in the afternoon.
We visited the Fallbachfall twice, in May (many years ago) but that was a little bit too early in the season. There was still a lot of snow on the mountains and the weather was wet and cold. Best season to visit all waterfalls in the Maltatal and the Fallbachfall is from June to July when melted snow feeds the Fallbach and the volume of the river increases. Early in the season/wintertime the last part of road into the Maltatal (Malta High Alpine road) is closed. July 2022 I visited the valley for the second time and indeed there was more water in the river course.
Opposite of the Fallbachfall there is another nice waterfall called Gössfalle. A nice trail leads through the forrest along the river Gössbach and has several viewpoint on different parts of the waterfall.
Other nice waterfalls in the Maltatal are: Hinterer Maralmfall and the Melnikfall