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Discover Alpine lakes on the Watercourse Route – Allgäu hiking trilogy

© Allgäu GmbH, Erika Spengler

Discover Alpine lakes on the Watercourse Route – Allgäu hiking trilogy

Hiking Collection by Allgäu

35

Tours

163:11 h

326 mi

50,875 ft

Gushing waterfalls plunging into dizzying depths, mirror-like lakes reflecting the surrounding mountains and mysterious moors where cotton grass and plants thrive – the Watercourse Route of the Allgäu hiking trilogy guides you through the picturesque Alpine foothills, over gentle hills and the magnificent mountains of the Alps.

The hiking trilogy in Allgäu combines three routes through the diverse landscapes and culture of the region. All three routes are signposted with the same mark in different colours. The Meadow Walker’s Route follows green signs through the picturesque northern Allgäu. The Watercourse Route follows blue signs along rivers to wonderful lakes through the Alpine foothills. The Route to the Top follows red signs as it climbs up to the high peaks of the Allgäu Alps where you can enjoy incredible views over the mountains. The routes overlap with one another so some individual stages are part of two different routes.

The Watercourse Route is a medium altitude hike that runs for 248 miles (406 km) through spectacular scenery. At the end of each stage, you arrive in a place with overnight accommodation. Between the towns of Halblech and Füssen and Gunzesried and Immenstadt, you spend the night in a wonderful hut on the mountain. This wonderful accommodation needs to be booked in advance as beds are limited. It’s also a good idea to reserve your overnight stays in the towns and villages, especially during high season in summer.

In our Collection, the circular Watercourse Route runs clockwise through the hilly Alpine foothills before climbing the edge of the Allgäu Alps. The route is divided into 26 stages with some additional so-called “connections”. The connections take you to a village with a train station so you can use them as an alternative start and end point if you only want to walk part of the route. Many of the stages also end in a town with public transport connections so you can easily choose to just hike for a few days.

If you would like to walk part of the route, you can reach most of these start and end points by train:
– 6 days from Marktoberdorf to Füssen
– 6 days from Füssen to Sonthofen
– 5 days from Sonthofen to Oberstaufen
– 5/6 days from Lindenberg/Scheidegg to Durach

You can reach Lindenberg and Scheidegg by bus from the Röthenbach, Hergatz and Lindau train stations. Alternatively, you can get off at Heimenkirch station and walk west to Meckatz which brings you to the middle of stage 19. Durach has regional train connections.

The hiking trilogy in the Allgäu is a wonderful long-distance hike to walk bit by bit or in one go. Peaceful lakes, majestic waterfalls and mighty rivers await you.

For more information on the other hiking trilogy routes, see:
Meadow Walkers’ Route: komoot.de/collection/1179423
Route to the Top: komoot.de/collection/1143903

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Allgäuer Wandertrilogie: Wasserläufer

253 mi

38,350 ft

38,350 ft

Last updated: February 6, 2023

Tours & Highlights

  • Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

    Wasserläufer Etappe 1: Von Marktoberdorf nach Stötten am Auerberg – Wandertrilogie Allgäu

    Intermediate
    03:04
    7.13 mi
    2.3 mph
    425 ft
    400 ft
    Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

    At the beginning of the first stage you go to the eastern edge of Marktoberdorf, where the imposing St. Martin Church is. Take your time here and take a look around. The way today is not that far. Then you go east, where the path soon turns into Kurfürstenallee. It is flanked by old linden trees that

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  • Intermediate
    04:09
    8.37 mi
    2.0 mph
    1,200 ft
    1,250 ft
    Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

    The name of the place where the stage begins reveals where it is going today: namely from Stötten am Auerberg to the Auerberg. This mountain can arouse your anticipation, because it offers a wonderful view from a little over 1,000 meters. The foot of its elongated back reaches almost to the southern

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  • Intermediate
    03:36
    8.46 mi
    2.4 mph
    550 ft
    200 ft
    Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

    It is difficult to get enough of the green of the Allgäu, but today you can still look forward to a blue change. Because on this day the water of two rivers determines your day. To the south you first follow the banks of the Lech. You cross the first bridge and enjoy the beautiful paths through the meadow

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  • Intermediate
    04:11
    8.66 mi
    2.1 mph
    2,025 ft
    525 ft
    Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

    On this and also on the next stages, the water striders and heavenly climbers on the Allgäu hiking trilogy share their path. You can also see this from the marking: Here it is highlighted in blue and red. While the water striders have come a long way, the sky-strikers begin their journey on this day

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  • Expert
    05:38
    6.39 mi
    1.1 mph
    2,600 ft
    1,300 ft
    Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

    Today it's going to be alpine. This means that there are wonderful mountain paths and great views, but also a few more meters in altitude on the program. The day begins with a crisp ascent to the Kenzensattel, where you are immediately rewarded with a view of mighty rock peaks. After a short break on

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  • Expert
    06:36
    8.50 mi
    1.3 mph
    3,575 ft
    2,325 ft
    Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

    If you fancy an alpine ridge hike, choose this variant from the Kenzenhütte to the Tegelberg via the Hochplatte. To do this, climb left up towards the Lösertaljoch, but do not hike all the way up, but cross the slopes to the right to ascend to the ridge of the Hochplatte.

    

    Where it gets rocky, it gets

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  • Intermediate
    04:07
    7.17 mi
    1.7 mph
    500 ft
    3,425 ft
    Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

    Stage 6 is a special day of hiking that is peppered with many highlights. First you master the descent from Tegelberg over exciting paths. On the way you can already see what you still have in front of you: the royal castles of Füssen. Up here on the mountain, it's best to stop again and enjoy the view

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  • Expert
    06:09
    10.8 mi
    1.8 mph
    2,325 ft
    2,125 ft
    Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

    Today there is another breathtaking stage on the program. You leave Füssen between the High Castle and the St. Mang Monastery. In a westerly direction you hike on the Kobelweg on a wooded ridge to the beautiful Alatsee, in which the mountain peaks are reflected in calm weather.

    

    You follow the lakeshore

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  • Intermediate
    03:24
    6.61 mi
    1.9 mph
    2,150 ft
    2,000 ft
    Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

    You leave Pfronten to the west in order to marvel at many waterfalls on your way today. When you reach the foot of the mountains, you first bypass them towards the north. At the Kappel district, turn left into the forest and walk through the impressive Höllschlucht gorge. After you have carefully examined

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  • Expert
    05:14
    8.85 mi
    1.7 mph
    2,300 ft
    2,225 ft
    Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

    Stage 9 begins like the previous one left off. You climb the Alpspitze via the waterfall path. Even today you have the opportunity to replace this route with a train ride. Or you choose one of the other variants on Nesselwang's local mountain. Passing the mountain station, you will have reached the summit

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  • Expert
    06:59
    14.9 mi
    2.1 mph
    1,825 ft
    2,200 ft
    Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

    Today's stage takes you through the lovely landscape of the foothills of the Alps. Green hills and meadows as well as a beautiful view of the Alpine chain determine the landscape. From Oy you climb via Mittelberg to the Burgkranzegger Horn. From there it goes through a small ravine path down to Petersthal

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  • Expert
    06:50
    10.9 mi
    1.6 mph
    3,125 ft
    3,300 ft
    Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

    You have probably already examined the mountain that you are going to climb today extensively in the last few days. The Grünten, the so-called Guardian of the Allgäu, rises directly southeast of Rettenberg. For many people from the Allgäu, it is a popular destination and also the mountain of choice for

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  • Expert
    06:10
    10.8 mi
    1.7 mph
    3,225 ft
    875 ft
    Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

    Today you will discover the Nagelfluhkette, which extends beyond the Austrian border. It got its name from the typical Nagelfluh rock. This is a conglomerate, so it consists of many individual, small stones that are connected by another rock.

    

    First you leave Burgberg and hike along the Starzlach to Sonthofen

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  • Expert
    07:28
    14.0 mi
    1.9 mph
    2,575 ft
    2,675 ft
    Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

    From Burgberg you can also hike straight to Immenstadt and skip a night on the Alpe Gund. This saves you a day. An even more direct route to Immenstadt would lead through the Illertal. But this route leads you on beautiful and panoramic paths through a ravine and over the Mittagberg.

    

    From Burgberg you

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  • Easy
    02:00
    4.87 mi
    2.4 mph
    75 ft
    100 ft
    Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

    This stage is like a day off. It's not far to Sonthofen - you can already see the neighboring town on the outskirts of Burgberg - and you don't even feel the few meters of altitude today. The stage is also suitable if you only want to walk part of the hiking trilogy and want to go to Sonthofen train

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  • Intermediate
    02:42
    5.96 mi
    2.2 mph
    625 ft
    200 ft
    Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

    This connection takes you from Burgberg to Gunzensried, where you can start the ninth stage again the next day. On your way you cross the Illertal and then explore the mountains to the west of Sonthofen.

    

    First you hike out of Burgberg to the banks of the Starzlach. The river accompanies you to its confluence

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  • Intermediate
    03:24
    6.36 mi
    1.9 mph
    400 ft
    2,825 ft
    Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

    Today, most of the route is relaxed downhill through the valley. With a beautiful view you follow the route to the northeast. To your right you can see the ridge that you hiked along yesterday. Towards the end of the valley path you have the opportunity to go right through the beautiful Steigbachtobel

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  • Expert
    05:42
    12.0 mi
    2.1 mph
    1,925 ft
    1,725 ft
    Expert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

    Today is a really hearty stage - but you will be spoiled with wonderful views of the foothills of the Alps and the Allgäu Alps. On the east bank of the Großer Alpsee, you hike north, cross the tracks and immediately start the ascent towards Zaumberg. You have enough time to enjoy the view over the water

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  • Intermediate
    02:56
    6.14 mi
    2.1 mph
    1,100 ft
    700 ft
    Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

    If the eleventh stage of almost 20 kilometers is too long for you, you can alternatively split the route into two days. In addition, on the first day you hike on this leisurely stage with wonderful views. On the east bank of the Großer Alpsee, you hike north, cross the tracks and immediately start the

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  • Intermediate
    04:56
    10.4 mi
    2.1 mph
    1,475 ft
    1,650 ft
    Intermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

    This connection is the "Route of Heights". This is the name of the elevations along the ridge that you are migrating today. Many viewpoints invite you to take short breaks along the way. From Missen-Wilhams it goes back up to the Pfarralpe and then always along the ridge to the west. This is how you

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Collection Stats

  • Tours
    35
  • Distance
    326 mi
  • Duration
    163:11 h
  • Elevation
    50,875 ft

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