Aqua Nova Adventure Pool | Lechtal's Premier Recovery Basecamp

Let’s be brutally honest: If you come to Aqua Nova expecting a high-G water park experience, you are in the wrong valley. The "Adventure Pool" moniker is a misnomer for the adrenaline mindset. The 60-meter slide is pediatric, and the waterfall is for shoulder massages, not kayaking.

However, to dismiss Aqua Nova is a tactical error. Located in high-alpine Steeg (1,100m), it is the only dedicated physiological recovery center in the upper Lechtal. After battling the Simmswasserfall Via Ferrata or freezing in a canyoning gorge, this facility is not a luxury—it is the mandatory decompression chamber required to flush lactic acid and reset your nervous system for the next day’s mission.

The Facility Audit

The Assets (Recovery)

The Heat Engine: The 240m² sauna landscape is the star. The outdoor Keloblockhaus (Log Cabin) Sauna runs at 90°C—essential for heat shock protein activation.
Contrast Therapy: Crushed ice stations and cold plunge showers allow for proper "Hot/Cold" vascular pumping to reduce inflammation.
The View: The "Whirl Loungers" face the mountains. Staring at the peak you just climbed while floating in 30°C water is the ultimate psychological closer.

The Reality Check

Zero Adrenaline: The slide is slow. The pool is warm. This is a sedation zone, not a stimulation zone.
Rainy Day Chaos: When it rains, every hiker in the valley retreats here. Arrive at opening (often 14:00 or 10:00 depending on season) or wait in line.
Strict Rules: No photos in the pool area (privacy laws). No shorts in the sauna (textile-free zone). Respect the culture.

Operational Data

Parameter	Specification
Water Temperature	30°C (Pool), 34°C (Air)
Sauna Types	Finnish (90°C), Bio (60°C), Steam (45°C), Infrared
Slide Length	60 Meters (Grade: Blue/Easy)
Entry Cost	~€12-15 (Adult Day), Discount with Lechtal Card
Best Time	16:00 - 19:00 (Post-Hike Window)

The Recovery Protocol

Why You Need This Place

The Lechtal is physically demanding. The trails are steep, and the limestone rock is unforgiving. After 6 hours of exerting yourself on the Simmswasserfall via ferrata, your cortisol levels are high and your muscles are full of metabolic waste.

The Strategy:
1. Active Recovery: 15 minutes of gentle swimming/movement in the main pool.
2. The Purge: 15 minutes in the Finnish Blockhouse Sauna.
3. The Shock: Immediate cold shower or ice rub.
4. The Reset: 20 minutes in the "Ruheraum" (Silent Room) or Whirl Lounger.
Repeat x 2.

Logistics & Access

The Lechtal Aktiv Card

The Golden Ticket: If you stay at a partner hotel, you get this card. It provides a ~25% discount on entry. It effectively subsidizes your recovery.
Bus Access: The card also makes the bus (Line 110) free. The stop "Steeg Aqua Nova" is literally at the front door. Leave the car at the hotel.

The "Rain Check"

In alpine environments, weather cancels climbs. Aqua Nova is the universal backup plan.
Tactical Note: If the forecast predicts rain starting at 14:00, be at the door at 13:45. By 14:30, the locker room will be a war zone.

Pre-Recovery Missions

The Climb

Activity: Simmswasserfall Via Ferrata

The Move: Located 5km down-valley in Holzgau. Do the B/C climb in the morning, sweat it out, then bus to Aqua Nova for the soak.

The Plunge

Activity: Canyoning "Jumping Jack"

The Move: Freezing cold water tours run by Fun Rafting. You will need warmth afterwards. Aqua Nova is the antidote to hypothermia.