Lechweg
Lechweg: Relaxed Alpine River Walking from Austria to Germany
The Lechweg is a 125 km point-to-point trail following the wild River Lech from Formarinsee near Lech am Arlberg in Vorarlberg to the Lechfall at Fussen in Bavaria. The classic itinerary takes 7 days and is moderate: mostly valley walking on natural paths, gravel riverside tracks and forest sections, with distance rather than exposure as the main effort. It suits fit first-time alpine hikers who want inn-to-inn walking, luggage-transfer options and a cross-border Austria-to-Germany finish. See more Austria hiking routes.
Route Overview
The route starts at Formarinsee, reached by hiking bus from Lech, then follows the Lech downstream through Vorarlberg, Tyrol and into the Allgau. The classic 7-day line links Lech, Warth/Lechleiten, Holzgau, Elbigenalp, Stanzach, Wangle and finally Fussen, finishing at the Lechfall. It is a point-to-point walk with a net downhill profile from about 1,793 m to roughly 800 m, though the total ascent still adds up over the week. Compared with high-level Austrian routes such as the Eagle Walk or Carnic High Trail, the Lechweg stays valley-based and non-technical.
How the Lechweg Became a Cross-Border Alpine Trail
The Lechweg opened in June 2012 as a joint project across Vorarlberg, Tyrol and the Allgau. It was designed as the first relaxed, valley-based long-distance walking route in this part of the Alps, avoiding the need for alpine experience. In 2012 it also became the first cross-border route certified as a Leading Quality Trail - Best of Europe by the European Ramblers' Association, based on criteria including waymarking, scenery and trail experience.
Notable highlights
Formarinsee and the source of the Lech: The trail begins at this clear mountain lake at about 1,793 m beneath the Rote Wand, close to where the River Lech rises. It is the high point of the route before the long downstream journey.
Holzgau suspension bridge: A short loop from Holzgau reaches Austria's highest and longest free pedestrian suspension bridge, 200.5 m long and 110 m high, over the Hohenbach gorge near the Simms waterfall.
Doser Waterfall: Near Haselgehr, this waterfall is known for a local tradition that it dries up on St Martin's Day and flows again on St George's Day. The legend names a dragon; scientists suspect a snow-fed underground reservoir.
Lechtal/Reutte Nature Park: The Tyrolean Lech here is one of the last near-natural wild river landscapes in the Northern Alps, with braided gravel banks and floodplain habitats beside the walking route.
Lechfall and Fussen: The finish is the Lechfall, where the river drops through a rocky gorge at Fussen. The Bavarian royal castles of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau are within sight of the area.
Challenges to expect
The Lechweg is not technically alpine, but the daily distances are real: the final classic stage to Fussen is 24.6 km. Expect mixed natural paths, gravel tracks, forest sections, occasional rocky ground and some tarmac through villages. Early summer snow can linger on the high opening section near Formarinsee, so June starts need checking. For a similarly approachable Austrian valley option, compare the Brandnertal Valley Trails; for a longer inn-to-inn journey, see the Alpe-Adria Trail.
Austria - Mountainous
- Forest
- Dirt
- Gravel
- Rocky
- Hotels
- Guesthouses
- Huts
- Family Friendly
- Pet Friendly
- Restrooms
- Water Sources
- Shelters
- Picnic Areas
Start at Formarinsee near the source of the Lech, reached by hiking bus from Lech, and follow the upper river down to Lech am Arlberg.
Continue through the upper Lech valley from Lech towards Warth and Lechleiten, staying on the downstream line of the river route.
Walk from Warth into the Tyrolean Lech valley, finishing in Holzgau, where the well-known suspension bridge can be visited on a short loop.
A shorter classic stage linking Holzgau and Elbigenalp through the valley villages and riverside landscape of the Lech.
Follow the Lech downstream through Haselgehr and Elmen towards Stanzach, with access to the wild river landscapes of the Lechtal/Reutte Nature Park.
A longer valley stage from Stanzach towards Wangle, passing through the lower Tyrolean Lech area near Reutte.
The longest classic stage crosses into Bavaria and finishes at the Lechfall waterfall in Fussen, the official end of the Lechweg.