Oberstdorf and Kleinwalsertal

The hiking regions of Oberstdorf and Kleinwalsertal straddle the border between Bavaria (Germany) and Vorarlberg (Austria). Together, they form a massive, interconnected network of over 200 kilometers of trails if not more. You’ll find everything from serene valley walks to mid- and high-altitude mountain routes. For my wife and me, it’s currently the absolute best hiking area around. It offers trails at every imaginable elevation, as well as via ferratas (Klettersteige) though we avoid those like the devil avoids holy water.

Bonus: It’s practically a stone's throw from Munich. Even using Deutsche Bahn, you can reach Oberstdorf in just over two hours. Well... assuming the train actually runs. And assuming it doesn't get canceled halfway through. But hey, that's a whole other comedy show.

Oberstdorf and Kleinwalsertal have trails for every season. In winter, snow seems to be relatively guaranteed, so skiing is supposedly smooth sailing. But we don't ski. My wife does enjoy drinking Skiwasser (a classic local raspberry-lemon drink), which is about as close to winter sports as we get. Being a native of Munich, I’m much more devoted to football.

Specifically, I’m an 1860 Munich fan, which means my football life is one continuous path of suffering.

Pretty much like some of the hiking trails in the Oberstdorf-Kleinwalsertal region: depending on where you trek, they will wreck you.

On the bright side, the public bus network in the area is extraordinarily good and reliable, meaning you really don't need a car. Unless, of course, you feel like you do. Far be it from me to tell you how to live your life.

If you want to explore the trails and cable cars in advance, I highly recommend checking out the OK Bergbahnen website:

# https://www.ok-bergbahnen.com/wandergebiete/wanderpanoramen/

For accommodations, I recommend this site:

# https://www.oberstdorfer-bergwelt.de/ferienwohnungen/

We exclusively stay in Oberstdorf, so I can’t tell you much about places to sleep over in Kleinwalsertal.

Anyone visiting this region can look forward to genuine hospitality, delicious food, great beer, epic hiking trails, and incredible wildlife. Oh, and plenty of rain. Though, to be fair, in recent years we’ve been battling heatwaves more than downpours.

Our personal top highlights include the Großer Widderstein, Wildental, Hoher Ifen, Fellhorn, and Kanzelwand, and the high-altitude trails on the Nebelhorn. My personal favorite, purely because of the hilarious name, is the Höchster Kackenkopf (which roughly translates to "Highest Poop Head"). But the Rappenalp, Oy, and Schwarzwasser valleys are also breathtaking spots for a hike. And there is so much more.

If you enjoy standing on top of ski jumping ramps, check out the Heini-Klopfer Ski Flying ramp in the Stillach Valley. In the summer, beautiful mountain lakes, cool gorges like the Breitachklamm, and, once again, fantastic local beer are waiting for you.

How long should you stay?

Great question. Since there’s so much to do, spending a full 3-week vacation here is an absolute breeze for us. If you’re traveling from further away, it might also be worth combining your trip with a stop in Munich or Salzburg (okay, Salzburg is a bit further out, but depending on where you're coming from, it might just be a hop, skip, and a jump).

Attached are a few photos from over the years. Taken with various cameras, all polished up.

And to wrap this up: Up the Lions! Long live TSV 1860 München!