Lechtal: Wild River, Trails and Tyrolean Traditions

Lechtal combines an impressive wild river landscape with unusual nature experiences, diverse trails and vibrant Tyrolean traditions. Near Lechleiten, a district of the municipality of Steeg, the Lech reaches Tyrolean territory for the first time at an elevation of around 1,270 metres and leaves Tyrol again approximately 65 kilometres downstream, heading towards the Danube. When choosing your accommodation, it is therefore important to consider which side of the valley and which experiences should shape your holiday.

The Lech as a Defining Landscape

Near Forchach, the Lech displays the character of a wild river, with extensive gravel banks and areas of sediment redistribution. Between the Allgäu and Lechtal Alps, the Lech’s alpine wild river landscape is considered internationally significant due to its size and formation. The river and its floodplain forests provide a refuge for numerous plant and animal species associated with wild river landscapes.

Those who would like to learn more about the special features of the Lech can find vivid insights into dry gravel banks, floodplain forests, side valleys and the animals and plants found there at the “Der letzte Wilde” nature park centre. Near Elmen, the Klimmbrücke Nature Park House is also located on a bridge over the Lech. Its “Wild River Adventure” exhibition offers another way to explore the landscape. Central Europe’s largest lady’s-slipper orchid area is also located near Elmen; this rare orchid species is strictly protected.

Hiking, Cycling and Special Trails

The Lechweg trail provides clear guidance for longer hiking trips: The trail is 125 kilometres long and can be hiked from as early as mid-May in a shortened spring version from Steeg in Lechtal to Füssen in the Allgäu. For planning your stages, a Lechweg shuttle can conveniently transport your luggage to the next accommodation. This is particularly useful if you would like to combine several sections.

A shorter, thematically distinctive tour leads for around eight kilometres through the Hölltal Gorge. Along the route, local artists present their own texts and sculptures, Bible verses and depictions of local traditions. Near Gramais, a circular hiking trail leads through forests and meadows, along a mountain stream and past carved wooden figures. The Lech Cycle Path runs in five stages from Marxheim to Steeg, covering 52 kilometres through the Tyrolean Lechtal.

The Jöchelspitzbahn cable car also opens up a variety of mountain days. The modern gondola lift travels from Stockach up to an elevation of 1,800 metres. From there, both relaxed family hikes and more challenging mountain tours of varying difficulty levels are accessible. Those looking for accommodation for an active holiday can therefore choose between a trip with long stages, shorter themed trails or mountain tours.

Water Experiences and Seasonal Highlights

The Lech is navigable for water sports between Steeg and Weißenbach. Commercial rafting on the Lech can be booked from 1 May to 30 September. The FUN RAFTING white-water sports school is located in the Lech floodplains near Häselgehr, directly on the Lech Cycle Path. From there, experienced guides set off on rafting tours on the wild Lech.

An extraordinary natural phenomenon is the Doser Waterfall in the hamlet of Luxnach. It dries up every year on St Martin’s Day, 11 November, and begins flowing again on St George’s Day, 23 April. Seasonal destinations such as these give a trip to Lechtal a special rhythm, without every holiday week having to focus on the same theme.

Craftsmanship, Stages and Regional Cuisine

Elbigenalp is home to two woodcarving schools, including a technical school for arts and crafts, as well as several carving workshops that preserve this traditional craft. The open-air theatre in the Bernhardstal Gorge in Elbigenalp attracts thousands of visitors every year. Throughout the Tyrolean Lechtal, traditions and inherited knowledge are passed down and preserved from one generation to the next.

Regional cuisine is a perfect complement to a hike or excursion: More than 50 alpine pastures and mountain huts in the Allgäu and Lechtal Alps serve traditional Tyrolean cuisine.

Lechtal in Winter

There are also various options during the colder months. Holzgau has its own ski lift with a ski school, as well as access to the extensive Lechtal cross-country skiing network. The Holzgau suspension bridge connects the Simms Waterfall, the adventure via ferrata of the same name, the Lechweg trail, Gföllberg and Schiggenberg. This allows your search for a holiday apartment in Lechtal to be tailored to the desired balance between winter sports, landscapes and excursions.

For further travel planning, you can also view Arlberg, Alpbachtal, Paznauntal, Schwaz, Innsbruck-Land, Brixental, Kufstein and Lienz.

To the overarching travel overview: Tyrol.