Hike Through Hochgrat in the Allgaeu Alps and Capture the Nagelfluhkette Nature Park

The highest points of a mountain group Nagelfluhkette seem so far away but are within your reach. With Mountain Moments and our hiking guidance, photography tips and tricks, and workshops, you can visit wild rock ridges, gentle alpine pastures, mysterious mountain forests, and see numerous plants and animals that have become rare.

Nagelfluhkette Nature Park is more than just a mountain ridge with great views, so stay a bit longer with us and learn more about directions, stops, and read other important route information. Also, take a glimpse of our photos and be inspired to create your own memorable photo gallery.

What awaits you on this exciting Hochgrat hiking trail?

The most popular tour on the Hochgrat takes us directly over the ridge of the Nagelfluhkette. The upstream mountain chain is the first prominent peak in the Alps from the north – it offers almost endless views of the hilly foothills of the Alps.

From the Säntis in Switzerland to the Allgäu, the steep Alpine peaks line up like a string of pearls.

The tour described requires some logistical advance planning because the start and endpoints are different.

Directions! This is how your Hochgrat adventure looks like on a map

The hike starts at the Hochgrat mountain station. Climb one of the two paths to the Hochgrat summit (1832m, photo spot). From here, with some ups and downs, always keep along the crest of the summit.

First you go over the Brunnenauscharte, then over the Rindalphorn (1821m, photo spot), Gündleskopf, Buralpkopf (1772m) to Stuiben (1749m).

From here we tend to hike downhill over the Bärenköpfle (1463m) to the mountain station of the Mittagbahn. With gondola or on foot now downhill.

After 400 meters through Immenstadt, you reach the train station. We return by train to the starting point in Oberstaufen center.

Tip: It is best to plan the tour using the ÖN, as it can be walked in both directions. This 14 km route can be covered in 5.5 hours.

Alternatives

If you only want to go to the photo spot on the Hochgrat, you can use the Hochgratbahn and go a short but crisp climb along the mountain railway – or, even better, choose the route via the Brunnenauscharte.

The tour becomes sporty when the ascent to the Hochgrat is mastered on your own (950m in addition). A start in Oberstaufen is also conceivable (approx. 35km, 2250m elevation gain).

Photography tips that will make your Instagram pop – Hochgrap summit, Bavarian foothills and rock ridges

The photography focus point of this tour is without question the 360° all-round view from the peaks along the tour, especially from the Hochgrat summit.

In the north, you can marvel at the views of the Bavarian foothills of the Alps. In the south, on the other hand, the imposing Alpine peaks line up one after the other and offer hundreds of motifs if you use a telephoto lens.

Mountain Moments Photo Workshops provide Photo Tours for everybody, Alpine Experience for beginners and intermediate-level photographers with 3 to 6-hour routes, as well as Summit Experience for more advanced photographers and hikers. We have private workshops and group classes.

The deep views and the structures of the rock faces and rock ridges – such as the view from the Hochgrat summit to the Rindalphorn – let us pull out the camera and get creative!

A little further away from this tour, the Buchenegger waterfalls are a bad weather alternative where we can play with the camera.

Attention: Nature reserve – please stay strictly on the path.

More information about your adventure in the Allgaeu Alps

Arrival: From the west via the A96 and B308, from the east via the A7 Kempten and via Immenstadt (B19) and B308 to the center of Oberstaufen. Back to the starting point by public transport (train or bus 39 from Immenstadt).

Public transport: By train to Oberstaufen train station. From here bus 95 to the Steibis Hochgratbahn. From Immenstadt by train or bus no. 39 back to Oberstaufen.

Difficulty: medium

Duration: 5.5 hours, 14 km

Ascent/descent: 1015hm/1310hm

Highest/lowest point: 1832m/1400m

Refreshments available: Hochgratbahn summit station, Staufner Haus, Mittagbahn, Immenstadt, Oberstaufen

Start/finish: Hochgratbahn mountain station (coordinates: geogr. 47.492203, 10.072695)

Particular dangers: Observe the logistic and time planning of the mountain railways and the ÖN.

Tips: Nature reserve! Please stay on the paths. The circular tour can also be done from the Gunzesrieder Tal (road/parking lots subject to a fee). Strictly observe the parking times here: night parking is prohibited in the entire nature reserve (from 9 p.m.).

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