Hiking (mountain trail, in places narrow and exposed)
Alpine route (equipped or very exposed section, snow field, blocks)
R48
Wolfratshauser Hütte » Weißenbach am Lech
|
7h00 |
27.4 km
|
716 m
|
1583 m
Away from the hectic bustle around the Fernpass, this stage leads to the remote and peaceful Berwanger Tal valley. The descent from the Wolfratshauser Hütte refuge is followed by a leisurely hike with changes in altitude hardly worth mentioning until reaching Weißenbach am Lech.
From the refuge, follow the trail in the direction of the Grubigstein Hut for a short while, then turning immediately to the right down into the Gartner Tal valley. At the point where you meet the trail from the Gartner Alm meadow, keep to the left and climb upward to the Sommerbergjöchl pass. The trail becomes increasingly steeper and leads over the grassy meadows between the Bleispitze and the Gartner Wand ridge, and the striking Bleispitze peak (2,225m) can be climbed from the pass (approx. 1h 45min from the Wolfratshauser Hut). On the other side of the pass, the trail leads equally steeply down over the alpine grassland until reaching the spruce wood of the Weittal valley. Cross the Bichlbächler Alm meadowland and dip back into the wood. Head steeply downward to reach the stream and then cross it. The trail takes a turn to the West and heads along the right-hand bank across the meadows to Bichlbächle. Just before the hamlet of Bichlbächle, cross the Weittalbach stream once again and pass the village along the narrow asphalt road, which continues through and out of the Stockachtal valley (approx. 1h 20min from the Sommerbergjöchl pass). Follow the little forest road alongside the Stockachbach stream to reach the bridge over the Mühlbach stream after approx. 1.5km. Immediately before this bridge, a roadway swings off to the left, continuing to the South of the stream and the main road from Bichlbach. Cross the Mühlbach and you will come onto a wider trail that must be followed again to the left. Keeping to the right at the fork in the road, you will come to the village of Berwang (approx. 45min from Bichlbächle). In Berwang, follow the main road from the church for a short while and then, just behind the chapel, turn onto a little roadway. Follow it to cross the meadows and pass through the village area of "Moos", heading back to the main road and to Rinnen. Behind the church of Rinnen, leave the main road and continue straight ahead at first. Then turn right in the direction of the Rotlech-Stausee reservoir and the Lechtal valley. Just above the deeply cut ravine, the trail winds along the sloping ridge, mostly through woodland until reaching the reservoir, on the banks of which the trail leads to the dam wall. Head further along the ravine until coming across a wayside shrine at a fork in the road. Here, take the left-hand trail, which takes you gently downward, soon leading away from the Rotlech valley to Rieden. Keeping slightly to the left at the wayside shrine, you will reach the asphalt road. Follow it westward and finally cross the old Lechbrücke bridge to arrive directly in the village of Weißenbach am Lech (approx. 3h from Berwang). From Weißenbach, cross the Lech on the old bridge at the southern end of the village, keeping to the East to arrive in the village of Rieden. Here, follow the trail along the Rotlech valley through the ravine to the reservoir. In Rieden, head northwards, taking a hiking trail south of the main road as of Berwang until turning off to the right towards Kleinstockach. (Christina Schwann, OeAV)
Natural and cultural heritage
The 1,336 metre high town of Berwang is a popular tourist destination, both in winter and summer. The town lies exactly on the cupola that connects the Berwanger and Rotlechtal valleys. Above all the numerous hikes and guided tours create pleasant holiday possibilities that bring visitors closer to the mountain world with its – especially in this area – extremely varied alpine flora. Head through the Rotlechtal valley and past the Rotlechstausee reservoir to reach the Lechtal valley. In June 2000, the valley was registered as a Natura 2000 site of the European Union. The idea of Natura 2000 is to create a European network of protected zones that, based on the Habitats Directive and the Directive on the conservation of wild birds, should ensure the preservation of animal and plant species. The Lechtal valley is one of the most untouched natural valleys in the Alps. The Lech river is the lifeline of this unique landscape, which is above all influenced by the dynamics of the river, the vast gravel-strewn areas and the ever changing watercourses. The Celts named the Lech "Licca", which means “rapidly flowing". However, since approx. 30 barrages were constructed in the Bavarian lower and middle course, there is no longer much of it left. Only the "actual Lechtal valley" is free of power station buildings or drained streams. River controls did set limits on the Lech, but 70% of its flux can be described as having been largely unaffected. The river dynamics, the transport of gravel and the redepositions have given rise to extensive intersections of a size that no longer exists elsewhere in Central Europe, even through this would actually correspond to the actual phenotype of an alpine river. Each year, the Lech river transports a boulder freight of 100,000 tonnes. When it does not get the boulders from higher up, in other words from its distributaries, they are obtained from its own river-bed and thus an ever deeper channel is carved out. This became clear only all too soon, when attempts were made in the past to prevent it streaming into the side valleys with sediment retention dams. But this initiative backfired, as the river began to channel itself so deeply that more and more embankments started to break off. Over time, the dams have filled up and some of them – as in the Schwarzwassertal valley – were removed again. (Christina Schwann, OeAV)
Useful topographic maps
WK 352 Ehrwald, Lermoos, Reutte, Tannheimer Tal ~ Freytag&Berndt (1:50.000)
ÖK 50 Nr. 115, 116 ~ Bundesamt für Eich- und Vermessungswesen (1:50.000)
Nr. 4, Füssen - Außerfern ~ Kompass (1:50.000)
Websites relative to natural and cultural heritage
Favourites, criticisms ? Make your personal comments on this stage. For more general notes please use the comments section of the page Over to the Via Alpinists.
Thorsten - 2022-09-13
In Weißenbach we can recommend the guest house Greif, which is owned by a very nice elderly woman. Breakfast before 7 o'clock was fine with her, so we could start early on a day with bad wheather forecast.
On the route to Forchach we recommend not staying on the bicicle road. Instead, right after the Lechsteg (near the public swimming pool), take the small footpath to the left, which is very quiet and right by the Lech, and passes some interesting private leisure huts that are open to the public!
Road between Rinnen and Weißbach is officially closed due to a landslide at Rotlechstausee. No problems for hiker's however as of July 15th.
POPEYE GG - 2019-02-03
Lundi 25 juin 2018
Etant partis de Berwand, nous arrivons avant midi à Weißenbach. Un petit tour à l'office du tourisme (fermé l'après-midi), et hop, le Gästehaus Wachter (+ 43 5678 5295), moins cher que l'hôtel Goldenes Lamm, où nous avons toutefois dîné.
Nous en profitons l'après-midi pour visiter l'ancienne mine de fer près de la Gaichtkapelle.
Automatic translation
[Google]
Monday, June 25, 2018 Having left Berwand, we arrive at Weißenbach before noon. A short tour at the tourist office (closed in the afternoon), and hop, the Gästehaus Wachter (+43 5678 5295), cheaper than the Goldenes Lamm, where we had dinner. We take the afternoon to visit the old iron mine near the Gaichtkapelle.
Martin - 2018-08-15
Da wir die Via Alpina in Richtung Triest laufen, haben wir die Etappe in Berwang halbiert.
Im "Haus Daheim" wurden wir herzlich empfangen und hatten ein tolles Zimmer und ein sehr gutes Frühstück.
Automatic translation
[Google]
As we walk along Via Alpina towards Trieste, we halved the stage in Berwang. In the "house home" we were warmly welcomed and had a great room and a very good breakfast.
SPYD - 2017-08-11
Belle montée au Sommerbergjöchle, mais avec les orages précédents et le passage des troupeaux le chemin jusqu'à Bichlbächle était difficilement pratiquable et très glissant. Picnic tardif à Berwang.
Ensuite la piste est très monotone et surtout longue jusqu'à Weissenbach.
Nous dormirons à l'hotel pension Kreuzeck (très bien là aussi, avec de grandes chambres).
Ce sera notre dernière étape car le mauvais temps s'est définitivement installé et nous sommes obligés d'annuler no 4 dernières étapes... A suivre donc
Automatic translation
[Google]
Nice climb to Sommerbergjöchle, but with previous thunderstorms and the passage of herds the way to Bichlbächle was hardly practicable and very slippery. Late Picnic in Berwang. Then the track is very monotonous and especially long until Weissenbach. We will sleep at the Pension Kreuzeck hotel (very good there too, with large rooms). This will be our last stop because the bad weather has definitely settled and we are obliged to cancel the last 4 steps ... To follow then
Gasthof Lamm was full, but the staff was willing to phone around and found a room at Haus Olga Wachter, Zittenhof 4. 500m west of the center. €30 B&B, very pleasant.
berta - 2014-08-02
in berwang wurden wir von maria, der besitzerin des gästehauses baumgärtner (liegt am ortsanfang, direkt an der via alpina) wärmstens beherbergt. wunderbare zimmer, gute matratzen und hervorragendes frühstück
Automatic translation
[Google]
in berwang we were greeted by Maria, the owner of the guest house tree gardener (located at the beginning location, just off the via alpina) houses warmly. wonderful room, good mattress and excellent breakfast
Michael - 2013-08-21
I stayed in the Gasthof Kreuz in Rieden which has superb food and very helpful owners/staff
Elisabeth - 2012-12-29
A Weissenbach, l'hôtel Lamm était complet mais le patron m'a envoyée chez Judith : très bon accueil et prix raisonnable. Auparavant, je m'étais cassée les dents sur une adresse de B&B périmée depuis plus d'un an !
Automatic translation
[Google]
A Weissenbach, the Lamm hotel was full but the boss sent me to Judith very welcome and reasonable prices. Previously, I had broken my teeth on a B & B address expired for more than one year
Alpinisten - 2012-09-24
Weißenbach ist leider ein eher tristes Dorf. Eine sehr gute Alternative zum Hotel Lamm ist eine der wenigen verbliebenen Privatunterkünfte: Judith Eberhard, Föhrenweg 10, +43(0)56785329. Die Touri-Info schließt bereits um 12 Uhr, so daß man keine Chance auf Zimmervermittlung hat, wenn man tatsächlich von der Wolfratshauser Hütte aus gelaufen ist.
Automatic translation
[Google]
Weissbach is, unfortunately, a rather dreary town. A very good alternative to the Hotel Lamm is one of the few remaining private accommodation: Judith Eberhard, Föhrenweg 10, 43 (0) 56,785,329th The tourist information office closes at 12 clock, so that you have no chance in room booking, if you are actually run by the Wolfratshauser hut.
Margy - 2012-02-07
23/6/11 From Lermoos we hiked to Berwang via the Sommerbergjoch Pass through lots of mud and cows. In Berwang, the Baumgartner Haus was a pleasant B&B (very good breakfast). Dinner at Die Warmflasche Restaurant was spectacular! Highly recommended! 24/6/11 We continued on to Weissenbach over easy bike trails. In Weissenbach we found good lodging at the Gasthof Goldenes Lamm Hotel--the hotel was full but the owner let us stay in a guest home (Oma's room) Forcach had no lodging available.
|
7h00 |
27.4 km
|
716 m
|
1583 m
Favourites, criticisms ? Make your personal comments on this stage. For more general notes please use the comments section of the page Over to the Via Alpinists.