TOP-5 Prime Telephoto Locations in German Alps

For nature enthusiasts who enjoy hiking, a camera is an important asset, because all of us want to capture and preserve the sights our eyes see and enjoy in real-time. However, there are levels in nature photography, as some do it with a click of a button, and some think about tripods, ISO settings, shutter speed, and other advanced tools and methods.

Here on Mountain Moments we will cover five locations in the German Alps – which are featured in German Alps eBook – where your telephoto lenses will flourish the most.

As you probably know, telephoto lenses are used often by nature and wildlife photographers. In most cases, they have a focal length between 70 and 200mm, and with their amazing reach, you can photograph far-away objects almost as if you are doing close-range photography. They are not to be mistaken with wide-angle lenses, which have a longer depth of field and some distortion as they more closely mimic human sight.

To conclude, telephoto lenses provide focus on distant objects/areas.

What will you learn from this blog?

We will share with you five hiking routes in the German Alps where telephoto lenses are often used.
We will show you the map for every trail, which gives you a sneak peek at our eBook dedicated to German Alps
We will sprinkle everything with a few nuggets of wisdom about telephoto photography

Let’s begin with our list!

Destination 1: Hochgrat in the Allgaeu Alps and the Nagelfluhkette Nature Park

Rock ridges and hilly foothills of the Alps, gentle alpine pastures, mountain forests, plants, and animals can be found in the Nagelfluhkette Nature Park on the Hochgrat hike in the Allgaeu Alps.

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.
Taken from Mountain Moments’ eBook dedicated to German Alps

Hochgratbahn mountain station is the start and finish point. This 14 km route can be covered in 5.5 hours.

Destination 2: The Fellhorn Summit Near Oberstdorf

2,039 meters above sea level, on your way to Fellhorn Summit, you can find steep grassy slopes, grassy meadows between Söllereck and the Fellhorn summit, and amazing views of Oberstdorf.

Telephoto shots of the opposite slopes in the direction of the Nebelhorn and Heilbronner Weg can be amazing, and wide-angle shots of the ridge itself are a great photo opportunity, as well.
Taken from Mountain Moments’ eBook dedicated to German Alps

Refreshments stops available on this route are Berghaus Schönblick and Berghaus am Söller. This 6-kilometer trail can be covered in under 3 hours. This tour starts at the mountain station of the Söllereckbahn.

Destination 3: Fairytale-like Neuschwanstein Castle

Neuschwanstein Castle provides one of the most beautiful sights in the Bavarian Alps. With a detour through the Pöllat Gorge and a circumnavigation of Swan lake, photographs get even more amazing and versatile.

Less known and also difficult to reach is the detour to the Homburg. A telephoto lens is worthwhile here. Not too highly frequented also is the Pöllatschlucht (Pöllat Gorge), located directly under the castle.
Taken from Mountain Moments’ eBook dedicated to German Alps

This 20-kilometer adventure starts at the parking lot Tegelbergbahn/Schwangau, and it’s not suited for beginners.

Find more details in this article:

Pinch Me Moment! Take This Neuschwanstein Dreamlike Hike Around the Fairytale Castle

Destination 4: Herzogstand – Munich’s Most Beautiful Local Mountain

Karwendel Mountain walls on the south, Bavarian alpine foothills on the north, and Lake Walchen and Lake Kochel in between. This is just a part of the sights Herzogstand awards you with on one special and difficult 14.2-kilometer hiking trail.

The summit cross is located a few meters below the summit. The view from Heimgarten is no less impressive, with a magnificent panorama. As soon as the sun sets, it is advisable to also let your gaze wander towards the mountain peaks of the Karwendel (south) and to use a telephoto lens.
Taken from Mountain Moments’ eBook dedicated to German Alps

The circular trail you see on this map can be covered in under 7 hours by experienced hikers.

Destination 5: Hochfelln Hike in the Chiemgau Alps

The views of the Chiemgau Alps, meadows, and small hills are prime subjects for telephoto lens on the Hochfelln Hike in the Chiemgau Alps, with its exciting foggy visuals and sparkling Lake Chiemsee in the distance.

In summer, photos are particularly good at sunrise and sunset: on the Hochfelln we are higher than the surrounding mountains and can experiment with the play of light for a long time.
Taken from Mountain Moments’ eBook dedicated to German Alps

This 16-kilometer route can be covered in under 6 hours. Refreshment stops are various: Hochfelln House, Bründling Alm, Steinberg Alm, and Ruhpolding.

Conclusion!

All these locations need hiking – as you need to get up the mountain somehow. For less experienced, choose some location with a gondola/lift to the top. But note: You will miss sunrise and sunset as operational times of the gondolas are usually only during daylight. Also, in telephoto photography, it’s important to consider tripods because of the issues even the smallest movements of the camera create, and it’s essential to understand shutter speed, framing techniques, depth of field and much more. If you have any dilemmas, Mountain Moments Photography Workshops can help resolve them.

Marius

Hi, i am Marius, i love exploring the mountains and nature. Friends say, i know the mountains better than most locals, but actually i get lost all the time while photographing ;). Read more about the Mountain Moments Team.