The Hohe Ifen Massif is one of the most striking and fascinating mountain ranges in the Allgäu Alps. With its characteristic, widely projecting rock face and striking steep cliff, the Hohe Ifen (2,230 m) resembles a giant stone table, towering majestically above the Kleinwalsertal and Bregenzerwald valleys.
Geologically, the massif consists predominantly of limestone, formed over millennia by erosion, frost heave, and water. This created a unique karst landscape with sinkholes, crevices, and caves – most notably the famous Gottesacker Plateau, a bizarrely rugged plateau north of the summit. This area is a true natural wonder, and with its barren, stony surface, it is almost reminiscent of a lunar landscape.
The Hohe Ifen lies on the border between Vorarlberg (Austria) and Bavaria (Germany). It is bordered by the Schwarzwassertal valley to the west and the Kleinwalsertal valley to the east. Especially from the village of Hirschegg there is an impressive view of the almost vertical south face, which makes the Ifen a striking landmark in the region.