Hinterhornbach: Hiking, the Hornbach and Alpine Culture

Hinterhornbach lies in the only inhabited left-side valley of the Lech Valley in the Allgäu Alps. The village combines a distinctive river valley with hiking trails, historical traces and a village centre whose parish church is a cultural destination in its own right. Those looking for a holiday apartment in Hinterhornbach can therefore plan their stay around nature experiences, mountain tours and a quiet insight into the history of the valley.

The Hornbach and Trails Through the Valley

The Hornbach has carved out a natural and very broad riverbed in the side valley. From its source to the Lech, it flows for more than 17 kilometres. This landscape can be experienced along various routes. The Große-Drähütten-Runde leads into the Hornbach Valley and back to Hinterhornbach. The Kleine-Drähütten-Runde follows the original course of the Hornbach and offers views of the Hochvogel as well as the village setting of Hinterhornbach.

Another route leads from Hinterhornbach to the Petersbergalm. It passes over flower meadows, through shady sections of woodland and sunny clearings before reaching the Drähütten. Cyclists are welcome on the easy farm track to the Petersbergalm.

Winter Hike, Mountain Tour and Special Places

The winter hike along the Hornbach begins at the western end of Hinterhornbach and reaches the unattended Drähütten after approximately 3.9 kilometres. Anyone planning this route should take its approximate length into account when organising the day. Another notable destination is the Kaufbeurer Haus, a self-catering hut in Category I. From Hinterhornbach, it can be reached in around 2.5 hours.

For more demanding outings, the ascent to the Bretterspitze begins at a small car park in Hinterhornbach. The ski tour to the Bretterspitze is challenging and requires very stable conditions. In summer, hikers ascend from Hinterhornbach to the Hochvogel and its smaller neighbouring peaks in the Allgäu Alps. This means that different types of trip can be combined: a winter hike along the stream, a summer mountain tour or a demanding tour under suitable conditions.

A more tranquil destination is the “Am Anger” power spot. It lies above the municipality of Hinterhornbach and can be reached via a meadow path. Benches stand beside a small stream that flows past the Rigglerhof, allowing visitors to dangle their feet in the water. Such varied day-trip destinations are helpful when planning a trip for a group in which not every day is meant to be equally active.

Church and History of Hinterhornbach

Hinterhornbach was settled from Germany, or the Allgäu, via the Hornbachjoch. The paths once used by smugglers are also part of the valley’s history. Today, they are signposted and developed as hiking trails. The paths thus connect a present-day hiking experience with a historical background, without equating their former use with their current purpose.

The village is home to the parish church of “Our Lady of Good Counsel”, built between 1761 and 1764. It is a uniform Baroque building with a single-bay choir and a north tower. The painting on the high altar depicts Mary of Good Counsel. In the past, pilgrims frequently travelled from the Lech Valley to see this image. For travellers interested in culture, the church complements the nature experiences with a concrete insight into the religious and architectural history of the village.

Getting There and Other Places for Comparison

The road to Hinterhornbach ends at the car park in front of the Jochbach bridge. This local orientation is just as helpful when planning the day as knowing the various starting points for trails and mountain tours. If you would like to compare several places for your holiday apartment, the same selection also includes Elmen, Boden, Häselgehr, Tannheim, Schattwald, Kaisers, Bach and Grän. This allows Hinterhornbach to be deliberately weighed against other options as a base for river scenery, hiking trails, mountain destinations and village culture.

For the overarching travel overview: Reutte.