Thematic Trail
Panoramic hike: hike along the border on Fellhorn ridge
Photo: Peter Freiberger
Photo: Peter Freiberger
Photo: Hartmut Wimmer
Photo: Hartmut Wimmer
Photo: Peter Freiberger
Photo: Peter Freiberger
Photo: Hartmut Wimmer
Photo: Hartmut Wimmer
Photo: Helmut Düringer
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Höhenprofil
On a panoramic hike on Fellhorn ridge
This hike along the border runs on a broad ridge between the Kleinwalsertal and the Allgäu. Under such conditions, there is nothing to block a great panorama.
Rigde walk, border tour – this is how the hike beginning in Oberstdorf and ending in Riezlern in the Kleinwalsertal can be best described. Nobody needs to be afraid of crossing the Fellhorn ridge as it is actually a meadowed back of a mountain with quite narrow sections. The 2025 m high Fellhorn with the summit cross on top as part of the ridge is the icing on the cake. Those who are basically free from giddiness at least should not have any problems. The use of the Söllereckbahn and the Kanzelwandbahn spares hikers some unnecessary meters in altitude to climb so that the enjoyment can come to the fore. High above the Kleinwalsertal and the practically parallel running Stillachtal, the term “enjoyment” in any case includes a great panorama. Already during the ascent to the Söllereck, looking northwards, you have a view into flat lands. This creates a wonderful contrast to the variable charming and rough alpine world which awaits us in respect of view on this tour. On Söllerkopf, at an altitude of 1927 m, the hiking tour shows for the first time what it has to offer when it comes to panorama. In the north the flat Allgäu, Oberstdorf at your feet, and in the west below us, we can see the Kleinwalsertal. The Hoher Ifen with the exceptional Gottesacker plateau beyond the Kleinwalsertal appears in the scene. Rugged mountain faces and peaks rise in the east – what a contrast to the meadowed ridge on which we are hiking. Far in the south, snow-covered summits enhance the contrast even more. This view accompanies us practically during the whole tour. Just before the Fellhorn, a glance back over the ridge will pay off: A section of the ridge looks like the gable of a green roof. Finally, you can look forward to a view into the depths while riding in the Kanzelwand cable car.
It is necessary to be basically free from giddiness. Wonderful alpine roses grow in the meadow above the Sölleralpe. Delicious berries can be found in the meadow, too.
Author: Peter Freiberger -
Difficulty: mittel Technique: Condition: Experience: Landscape: Altitude: Best season: JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC Safety instructions: EMERGENCY CALL:
140 Alpine emergencies throughout Austria
144 Alpine emergencies Vorarlberg
112 Euro-emergency call (works with any cell phone/phone network)
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Directions
From Oberstdorf/Kornau with Söllereck cable car to the summit station (1358 m). After the summit station and further along the way, we follow the sign for “Fellhorn”. First, a partly asphalted path in a light forest leads occasionally uphill quite quickly. The route turns into a moderately ascending or flat cart and transport path which runs to the Sölleralpe (1522 m). Then, a path leads in serpentines on a steep slope up to a grass-covered ridge and from there to the border between Austria and Germany. After that, the path runs on the broad ridge to the southwest, initially slightly uphill and then a bit more steeply (integrated steps, not really necessary ropes to hold on to). Finally, there is an easy ascent along the currently very broad grass-covered ridge up to the Söllerkopf (1927 m). From there, you can orientate towards “Fellhorn Gipfel” and follow the ascending and descending ridge along the border. Just before the Fellhorn peak with the summit cross, which one can already easily recognize from the distance, there are wooden sleepers integrated in the path in order to facilitate steeper sections. From the peak, we follow the signs towards “Kanzelwandbahn”, the trail goes downhill alongside the ridge. Shortly afterwards on the left-hand side, we have the possibility to take a detour to the summit restaurant of the Fellhorn cable car (1967 m), just a little off our route. From there, we go back and further towards “Kanzelwandbahn”. The summit station of the Kanzelwand cable car can already be seen clearly now. The path (steps were recently integrated) leads in constant direction down the ever-broadening ridge to an altitude of 1800 m. Here are two signposts to the “Kanzelwand” – we take the 30-minute route. The trail goes uphill again, at a split shortly before reaching the destination, we keep left. In the very last section, a driveway leads us to the top station of the Kanzelwand cable car (1957 m). The gondolas take us finally down into the valley to Riezlern and by bus (line Walserbus 1), we get back to the valley station of the Söllereck cable car.
Waypoints
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Public transportation:
Approach:
Rail connection from Lindau via Immenstadt to Oberstdorf (D).
Return to Oberstdorf by bus (line Walserbus 1) to the valley station of the Söllereckbahn. Walserbus
Line 1 – Kleinwalsertal-Oberstdorf (Free use of the Walserbus on presentation of the Kleinwalsertaler Gästekarte, from the border station Walserschanz against payment).
Route PlannerPark:
Valley station Söllereckbahn (serviced hut)