Peaks, lakes and royal castles – the Königsalpen Route in Bavaria’s Ostallgäu
Hiking Collection by Schlosspark im Allgäu
9
Tours
40:20 h
75.8 mi
12,575 ft
This hike is a multi-day circular adventure through the Ostallgäu in southern Germany. From alpine peaks to wonderful lakes, through wide meadows and dense forests, and over panoramic hilltops, this route leads through fairytale landscapes. At the end of the nine stages, you reach the beautiful Neuschwanstein Castle.
The Königsalpen Route reveals the many sides of the Ostallgäu, starting and finishing in the beautiful old town of Füssen. From there, the trail takes you along mountain paths with sweeping views of some of the northernmost Alpine peaks. It then takes you to heavenly lakes, over mountain ridges and through the picturesque foothills of the Alps. You'll discover the idyllic banks of the mighty Lech River and several small gorges through which mountain streams carve their paths.
On the last stage, you hike down from the Tegelberg in the direction of the spectacular Neuschwanstein Castle, a highlight of the route. Enjoy views of this fairytale castle from afar as it rises from Füssen’s lake landscapes.
The paths are gentle throughout this adventure. In the mountains, the route is well-maintained but still requires surefootedness and some metres of climbing to reach the best views. In the foothills of the Alps, you follow leisurely forest and field tracks, lakeshores and rivers.
This adventure is ideal for the warmer months of the year, from spring to autumn. It’s worth packing swimming gear, especially in summer, as the route passes several beautiful lakes. The starting point in Füssen is easy to reach by train. Several other stage towns also have rail connections so you can complete some of the hikes as day Tours.
Each stage ends in a town with accommodation or at a mountain hut. It’s best to book in advance. Luggage transport is also available at the end of the Königsalpen Route, so you can enjoy hiking with a light daypack.
The Königsalpen Route is only one of three stage trails in the Allgäu Castle Park. The three routes each form their own circular adventure. You can explore the Idyllegarten Route in the flat foothills of the Alps, the Logenplatz Route at the foot of the mountains and the Königsalpen Route which follows narrow paths into the magnificent mountain world. You can see the other two routes here:
Idyllegarten-Route: komoot.de/collection/1371412
Box seat route: komoot.de/collection/1371414
On The Map
Do it yourself
Ready to get going? Create and customize your own version of this adventure using the full Tour below as a template.
Last updated: May 2, 2023
Tours & Highlights
- Expert06:2211.2 mi1.8 mph2,450 ft2,250 ftExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
The first stage is a wonderful prelude to the Königsalpen route: It leads you to a picturesque mountain lake, over a summit with foresight to the Zugspitze and the highest castle ruins in Germany.
You start in the middle of the old town of Füssen. So it is worth arriving a day before the start of your…
- Intermediate03:326.94 mi2.0 mph2,175 ft2,050 ftIntermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
On the second stage, you can expect beautiful views and two refreshing paths along mountain streams. Uphill you hike through the Höllschlucht with its beautiful paths and cascades. Downhill you climb the so-called waterfall path, which lives up to its name.
You leave Pfronten to the west to hike along…
Sign Up To Discover Places Like This
Get recommendations on the best single tracks, peaks, & plenty of other exciting outdoor places.
- Intermediate04:019.27 mi2.3 mph525 ft800 ftIntermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
You can take the third stage at a leisurely pace, because you only have a few meters ahead of you. So you can take a long break at the two lakes along the way and enjoy the landscape. There is also a lot to discover at the destination in Seeg, including an adventure beekeeping.
The path starts towards…
- Intermediate04:058.61 mi2.1 mph1,350 ft1,350 ftIntermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
On the fourth stage you hike over a mountain range from Seeg to Roßhaupten. A moderate number of meters in altitude brings you to beautiful views that extend as far as the royal castles near Füssen.
You leave Seeg to the south, where you can already see the saddleback. You start your ascent at its western…
- Intermediate04:029.28 mi2.3 mph450 ft750 ftIntermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
For this stage, it is best to stock up on provisions in Roßhaupten in the morning, because there are no places to stop for refreshments on this section. So you start your hike, which will lead you to several idyllic waters, well prepared.
At the beginning you climb the small elevation in the south of…
- Intermediate03:328.31 mi2.4 mph550 ft200 ftIntermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
On this stage, too, it is worthwhile to have a snack in your backpack, because when you arrive at Gasthof Lechaue, the only place to stop for refreshments on the way, you have only hiked about a quarter of the way. So it is more suitable for a short break or a second breakfast.
Lechbruck is the northernmost…
- Intermediate05:008.62 mi1.7 mph2,025 ft525 ftIntermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
This stage is back up into the mountains, which is why there are a few more meters of altitude on the program than on the days before. You will be accompanied by several mountain streams that make their way through narrow valleys. You hike along wooded slopes and through a gorge to three idyllic lakes…
- Expert05:406.46 mi1.1 mph2,575 ft1,325 ftExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
This is the most alpine stage of the Königsalpen route - a stage of superlatives. It leads you from one mountain hut to the next between rocky peaks. This makes it the most remote, because you don't descend back into the valley that day, but stay high up in the mountains. With almost 800 meters of altitude…
- Intermediate04:077.11 mi1.7 mph500 ft3,425 ftIntermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
For the finale it's downhill today to Neuschwanstein Castle. Already on the way down you can enjoy wonderful views of the fairytale towers and bay windows. The views of the Füssen lakes are also beautiful. Once at the bottom, you will walk very close to the castle.
One highlight follows the other: Shortly…
Like this Collection?
Collection Stats
- Tours9
- Distance75.8 mi
- Duration40:20 h
- Elevation12,575 ft
You Might Also Like
Hiking Collection by adidas TERREX
Hiking Collection by Schöffel Sportbekleidung
Hiking Collection by Philipp Hesse
Hiking Collection by Fränkisches Weinland