Jump to content
Jump to footer
Book now
To the online version
Hiker on the Lechweg with a view of the mountains

Lechweg Path, Lech am Arlberg – Füssen

Long-distance hiking from the source to the waterfall

10 Days / 9 Nights
Walking
Hiker on the Lechweg with a view of the mountains

The sparkling Lech measures 125 kilometres from its source near Lake Formarin in Lech am Arlberg at an altitude of 1,973 metres to the Lech Falls in the Bavarian Allgäu. Unique, breathtaking and with concentrated hydropower, the river rushes through the cross-border Alpine region. Experience the beauty of the regions on the cross-border hiking trail in Vorarlberg in Austria as well as in Bavaria in Germany as you hike.

  • You can find more information about the Lechweg here.

Right at the beginning of the tour you will be enchanted by the idyllic Lake Formarin and the monument of an Ibex at the start of the trip. But it is not only at the beginning that you will be spoiled with highlights. Numerous attractions also await you over the daily stages. On day three, you visit the highest alpine dairy and butcher’s shop in Vorarlberg and cross a small suspension bridge over the Krumbach.

On the stage from Elbigenalp to Stanzach you will be amazed by the natural spectacle of the Doser Waterfall. There are many legends and myths about this impressive phenomenon. This waterfall only goes about its ‘work’ from April 23 until November 11. The rest of the year? Nothing! You arrive on day nine at your destination in Füssen, still completely amazed by all the sights you’ve seen. You reach Bavaria via the Alpsee and can gaze upon the castles of Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein.

  • Sparkling Lake Formarin: Idyllic, sparkling and nestled between countless mountain peaks, Lake Formarin is around 1,793 metres above sea level. This is where the Lechweg begins.
  • Crossing the longest pedestrian bridge in Austria: 200 metres long and 110 metres above the Höhenbach Gorge – spectacular, but definitely not for the faint of heart. The breathtaking suspension bridge is on the programme for day five. There is no getting around it from Holzgau to Elbigenalp. So, gather up your courage and experience a real adrenaline-filled highlight.
  • Even more active experiences: If you haven’t had enough after the day’s stage, you can do an ‘extra lap’ on one of the Lech loops. These hiking routes are designed as half-day or full-day tours and serve as a valuable addition to the Lechweg.

With sturdy shoes and a good basic level of fitness, you can manage each of the daily stages with ease. On well-marked hiking and forest trails, as well as gravel roads, you can walk comfortably through the Vorarlberg countryside via Tyrol to the Bavarian neighbours in the Allgäu. Nevertheless, you should not underestimate the routes and on some days longer tours are on the programme. Optionally, you can shorten the hikes by bus with the included guest tickets.

Our tip: Enjoy the well-deserved break with your four-legged friend, because the tour can also be booked as a hiking holiday with a dog.

Itinerary at a glance

On the Lech trail, you start with a view of the sparkling Formarinsee lake and cross the longest pedestrian bridge in Austria - courage is required! At Warth, the highest alpine dairy and butcher's shop in Vorarlberg invites you to take a break.

Hotel example: Lärchenhof

In the morning, the hiking bus takes you to the idyllic Lake Formarinsee, where the Lechweg-path starts at an altitude of about 1793 metres. Enjoy the stupendous view onto the sparkling mountain lake before you proceed via the Lech-riverside path back amidst the mountain world to Lech am Arlberg.

Hotel example: Lärchenhof

Initially you walk high above the river through idyllic farmland and across lush mountain meadows before fascinating views deep down into the wild Lech-ravine present themselves. The route ascends gently through the high-altitude forest to the Walser-village Warth, where a natural bathing lake and the highest situated Alpine dairy and butchery invite for a rest.

Hotel example: Gehrnerhof

Onwards you proceed across the stream Krumbach to Gehren and now find yourselves on Tyrolean soil. The route leads you uphill to Lechleiten, to the start of the panorama path. Enjoy the marvellous views into the Lechtal-valley, far below you notice again and again the glistening turquoise of the river. Via numerous serpentines the route leads you downhill again to the riverbank and through little hamlets all the way into the pretty village of Steeg.

Hotel example: Styrolerhof Hotel & Wirtshaus

Leisurely on the Jochweg-path always along the Lech riverside until you reach the beautiful village of Holzgau, which is characterised by its colourful painted houses. There a very special highlight awaits with the crossing of one of Europe’s longest and most spectacular pedestrian suspension bridges. You proceed across blooming meadows and forest paths to Elbigenalp, the geographic centre of the Lechtal-valley and heartland of the traditional wood craft.

Hotel example: Traditionsgasthof Stern

A picturesque nature reserve leads you to Häselgehr, where we highly recommend you visit the lovely parish church with its opulent interior before continuing with the route uphill to the Doser-waterfall. There are many legends and stories around this mysterious nature phenomenon. Via an high-altitude path with fabulous views onto the ‚wild river‘ you reach Stanzach, a tranquil village situated amidst an amazing mountain world.

Hotel example: Föhrenhof

Today the river Lech presents itself once more from its wildest side: you hike across a rugged river landscape, past the Lechzopf to Forchach, where another suspension bridge taunts brave hikers to cross over. Across the Johannesbrücke-bridge and through the Moosberg-nature reserve you hike to Weissenbach, cross the river Rotlech and via gentle riverside paths reach the quiet little village of Höfen.

Hotel example: Die Lilie

Via the panorama path to a beautiful viewpoint situated high up at the Costaries-chapel. Past the glistening Lake Frauensee you proceed into the ‚Pflacher Au‘. Here you can enjoy an impressive panoramic view onto the wetlands near the river from the so-called ‚Bird Tower‘, a 20-meter high wooden construction. In Pflach the river Lech feel like it is within your grasp.

Hotel example: Gasthof zum Schwanen

You now leave the river Lech and walk through meadows and forests uphill across the border all the way to Bavaria. Soon you can already make out the palaces Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein in front of you in the distance! The impressive Lechfall-waterfall finally marks the end of the Lechweg-path. In Füssen the final treat awaits when visiting the royal palaces.

Hotel example: Hirsch

Day
10
Departure or extension

Itinerary at a glance

On the Lech trail, you start with a view of the sparkling Formarinsee lake and cross the longest pedestrian bridge in Austria - courage is required! At Warth, the highest alpine dairy and butcher's shop in Vorarlberg invites you to take a break.

Hotel example: Lärchenhof

In the morning, the hiking bus takes you to the idyllic Lake Formarinsee, where the Lechweg-path starts at an altitude of about 1793 metres. Enjoy the stupendous view onto the sparkling mountain lake before you proceed via the Lech-riverside path back amidst the mountain world to Lech am Arlberg.

Hotel example: Lärchenhof

Initially you walk high above the river through idyllic farmland and across lush mountain meadows before fascinating views deep down into the wild Lech-ravine present themselves. The route ascends gently through the high-altitude forest to the Walser-village Warth, where a natural bathing lake and the highest situated Alpine dairy and butchery invite for a rest.

Hotel example: Gehrnerhof

Onwards you proceed across the stream Krumbach to Gehren and now find yourselves on Tyrolean soil. The route leads you uphill to Lechleiten, to the start of the panorama path. Enjoy the marvellous views into the Lechtal-valley, far below you notice again and again the glistening turquoise of the river. Via numerous serpentines the route leads you downhill again to the riverbank and through little hamlets all the way into the pretty village of Steeg.

Hotel example: Styrolerhof Hotel & Wirtshaus

Leisurely on the Jochweg-path always along the Lech riverside until you reach the beautiful village of Holzgau, which is characterised by its colourful painted houses. There a very special highlight awaits with the crossing of one of Europe’s longest and most spectacular pedestrian suspension bridges. You proceed across blooming meadows and forest paths to Elbigenalp, the geographic centre of the Lechtal-valley and heartland of the traditional wood craft.

Hotel example: Traditionsgasthof Stern

A picturesque nature reserve leads you to Häselgehr, where we highly recommend you visit the lovely parish church with its opulent interior before continuing with the route uphill to the Doser-waterfall. There are many legends and stories around this mysterious nature phenomenon. Via an high-altitude path with fabulous views onto the ‚wild river‘ you reach Stanzach, a tranquil village situated amidst an amazing mountain world.

Hotel example: Föhrenhof

Today the river Lech presents itself once more from its wildest side: you hike across a rugged river landscape, past the Lechzopf to Forchach, where another suspension bridge taunts brave hikers to cross over. Across the Johannesbrücke-bridge and through the Moosberg-nature reserve you hike to Weissenbach, cross the river Rotlech and via gentle riverside paths reach the quiet little village of Höfen.

Hotel example: Die Lilie

Via the panorama path to a beautiful viewpoint situated high up at the Costaries-chapel. Past the glistening Lake Frauensee you proceed into the ‚Pflacher Au‘. Here you can enjoy an impressive panoramic view onto the wetlands near the river from the so-called ‚Bird Tower‘, a 20-meter high wooden construction. In Pflach the river Lech feel like it is within your grasp.

Hotel example: Gasthof zum Schwanen

You now leave the river Lech and walk through meadows and forests uphill across the border all the way to Bavaria. Soon you can already make out the palaces Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein in front of you in the distance! The impressive Lechfall-waterfall finally marks the end of the Lechweg-path. In Füssen the final treat awaits when visiting the royal palaces.

Hotel example: Hirsch

Day
10
Departure or extension

Route information

Walking

You walk on easy, well-maintained hiking paths, forest paths and partially also on forest- and gravel roads. For all daily tours a good basic fitness level is required. You always have the option to comfortably cut longer tours short by taking the bus any time. In some parts of the tours some surefootedness is necessary, if required the spectacular suspension bridges can be easily bypassed.

Prices & Dates

Category: beautiful 3***-hotels and inns

Prices per person in EUR

Services & Information

Further details about this tour

Included

  • Accomodation as already mentioned
  • Breakfast
  • Luggage transfer
  • 1 Lech Card (reductions for cable cars, entrance fees etc.)
  • 4 guest cards for all other hiking days of the holiday (reduced entrances, free bus rides etc.)

  • 1 original „Lechweg-cheese“, provided by the organic dairy Sojer in Steeg
  • Carefully elaborated route description
  • Detailed travel documents 1x per room (German, English, French)
  • App for Navigation and GPS-data
  • Service hotline

Optional extras

  • Return transfer by minibus to Lech, costs EUR 79 per person, EUR 29 per dog (only SAT/SUN), reservation is necessary, to be paid for in advance.

Arrival / Parking / Departure

  • By train to St. Anton am Arlberg and by bus to Lech am Arlberg.
  • Innsbruck or Munich airport.
  • Car parking: limited number of hotel parking spaces available free of charge, no reservation possible. Public covered car park near the hotel, cost approx. EUR 10 per day.
  • Return journey from Füssen by bus to Lech am Arlberg, duration approx. 3 hours (2x change).

Things to note

  • Tourist tax, if due, is not included in the price
  • Travel by public transport to shorten the daily hikes, optional
  • Further important information according to the package travel law can be found here!

Join us in achieving greater sustainability by choosing our digital route book, rather than the printed version. As a small thank you we will give you a discount of €20 per room.

Services & Information

Further details about this tour

Included

  • Accomodation as already mentioned
  • Breakfast
  • Luggage transfer
  • 1 Lech Card (reductions for cable cars, entrance fees etc.)
  • 4 guest cards for all other hiking days of the holiday (reduced entrances, free bus rides etc.)
  • 1 original „Lechweg-cheese“, provided by the organic dairy Sojer in Steeg
  • Carefully elaborated route description
  • Detailed travel documents 1x per room (German, English, French)
  • App for Navigation and GPS-data
  • Service hotline

Optional extras

  • Return transfer by minibus to Lech, costs EUR 79 per person, EUR 29 per dog (only SAT/SUN), reservation is necessary, to be paid for in advance.

Arrival / Parking / Departure

  • By train to St. Anton am Arlberg and by bus to Lech am Arlberg.
  • Innsbruck or Munich airport.
  • Car parking: limited number of hotel parking spaces available free of charge, no reservation possible. Public covered car park near the hotel, cost approx. EUR 10 per day.
  • Return journey from Füssen by bus to Lech am Arlberg, duration approx. 3 hours (2x change).

Things to note

  • Tourist tax, if due, is not included in the price
  • Travel by public transport to shorten the daily hikes, optional
  • Further important information according to the package travel law can be found here!

Join us in achieving greater sustainability by choosing our digital route book, rather than the printed version. As a small thank you we will give you a discount of €20 per room.

From our hiking blog

Lisa Schlager

"I look forward to making your vacation dreams come true."

Lisa Schlager
Travel specialist
One call to vacation bliss
Monday - Friday: 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Call now
One click to vacation bliss
 
I am looking forward to your message!
Contact form

4.78 out of 5 stars

32 ratings
5
78%
4
22%
3
0%
2
0%
1
0%
Load more

Other tours that might interest you

from
€1,139
Book now Book
You now receive special conditions when you book a trip.