A hike in the mountains walks the soul back home
Rolling green hills, dramatic alpine peaks and crystal-clear lakes — the Allgäu region in Bavaria feels like a fairytale brought to life. Even better? You don’t have to be an expert hiker to experience its beauty. Whether you’re looking for peaceful strolls through meadows, scenic lake walks or gentle mountain trails with epic views, the Allgäu has plenty of easy hikes that are as breathtaking as they are accessible. In this guide, I’ll share 10 of the best easy hikes in the Allgäu — perfect for nature lovers, families, and anyone eager to soak in Bavaria’s stunning landscapes without tackling strenuous climbs.
The best base for hikes around the Allgäu
What is the best place to base yourself if you’re up for some hikes in the Allgäu? That totally depends on what kind of experience you are looking for. If you want to get the traditional and locals vibes, it is best if you stay in one of the smaller villages around the Allgäu. Most of them offer pretty hotels and guest houses with stunning views as well. Nice places are Oberstdorf, Bad Hindelang, Pfronten, Wertach or Nesselwang.
And if you are looking for a mixture of hiking, sightseeing and some city activities, consider finding a base in Kempten. Kempten is the biggest city in the area and most of the best places to hike can be reached within 30 minutes. At the same time, Kempten is perfect for shopping, sightseeing and enjoying a drink at night.
Another option is to base yourself directly on the mountains. Actually, this is a must-do experience in the Allgäu. Spend one night in a mountain hut and get as close to nature as possible. You can see the sunset and the sunrise in the mountains, do some hikes and simply enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. If you are travelling during the high season, make sure to book this stay in advance as this is a quite popular thing to do in the Allgäu.
A beautiful hike with a spaceous summit: Reuterwanne
A popular and yet breathtaking and easy hike in the Allgäu is the Reuterwanne. Depending from where you are starting, you should consider up to two hours until you reach the top. This is by the way as well a great hike during the winter times. The hike starts close to Wertach, a small village about 25 minutes from Kempten.
What most people love here is the summit which consists of a large grass hill. It offers plenty of space for every hiker and you can even relax for a bit in the grass and enjoy the view. Another bonus is that you can hike up to the Reuterwanne during any season. It is also a popular winter hike and even if there is quite a lot of snow you can reach the summit and sleigh down the road for a bit. Huge fun and definitely recommended!
If you are looking for a fairly easy hike to watch the sun set over the Bavarian alps, this is also a place for you. It is quite popular, so don’t expect to be alone but it is totally worth it for amazing views!
The easiest hike on this list: the Stoffelberg
This hike really is an easy one. You could argue about the difficulty of the summits below, but this really is for everyone. It is not located in the alps directly, but closer to the city of Kempten. And yet, it offers some beautiful views on the way up. You can see over the Lake Niedersonthofen and the Grünten (which is the so-called “guardian of the Allgäu”).
The summit itself is not as pretty as the way up, so you might want to consider taking a break somewhere else with a better view. The Stoffelberg is perfect if you are not looking for a long hike but still want to get some nice views. It can be done within two hours retun and you will have plenty of time to have a break on the way and enjoy the area. But be aware: this is NOT a regular hike directly in the mountains. But it offers you a view of the alp panorama from some distance.
An easy hike with stunning views is through the Oytal in Oberstdorf
This hike is rather a long walk. You do not hike up a mountain but walk along in the valley, which makes it doable for almost any fitness level. The Oytal is located in Oberstdorf, the most Southern village of Germany. You start at the famous ski jumping hill (which you might recognize from television). The way follows all through a beautiful mountain scenery on the left and the right. The views are absolutely breathtaking and at the end, a small restaurant awaits you. It takes approximately two hours until you reach the hut where you can have your break before going back.
The Oytal is perfect for almost any traveller. It is easy to walk through and you could even rent a bike for a different experience. Definitely put that place on your list and see it with your own eyes. Plus, if you want to go mountain biking, this is also a popular route.
Perfect for a sunrise hike: Wertacher Hörnle
One of the most beautiful experience in the mountains is watching the sun rise between the summits. Seeing the world waking up from above really is a moment to remember. And yet, a sunrise hike requires quite a lot of determination. Getting up at around four in the morning and hike up in complete darkness is all but enjoyable. But remember: it is totally worth it.
A mountain which is fairly easy for a sunrise hike in the Allgäu is the Wertacher Hörnle. It is located about 30 minutes outside of Kempten and offers stunning views over the alps. The hike takes you about two hours maximum and leads all the way up on a street (which is safe to walk on in the darkness).
Do not forget your flash lights and warm clothes, because even during the summer months it is quite cold in the mountains if you are up early.
But not only for sunrise is the Wertacher Hörnle wort a hike. You can hike up to the summit in the morning as well. But be aware that this is quite a popular destination for families, so it gets busy from midday on. The view from the summit and especially over the Hörnle See is unbeatable.
Hiking up through the forest to the Hirschberg
Another one of the breathtaking easy hikes in the Allgäu is the Hirschberg. The mountain is located close to the stunning village of Bad Hindelang, which is mainly known for the pretty Christmas market. The Hirschberg offers amazing views over the alps and is still a more or less easy hike.
Most of the way leads you through the forest and the first time you get to enjoy the view is at the summit. The view over the valley with the villages and the mountains on the other side is one for the books. This is as well a great hike to do during the sunset when the light hits the area and turns it into a golden paradise. The hike to the summit takes around two to three hours.
Choose one of the summits of the Nagelfluhkette for the best views
The Nagelfluhkette is a “chain” of different summits all connected to each other. The motivated hikers start at one end and hike up to seven hours to the other end. But don´t worry, this isn’t the only way to explore the area.
You can as well do every mountain for itself, without having to hike for seven hours. Each of them alone is definitely easier and you can enjoy the stunning view from above. If this sounds too hard for you, you can as well take the gondola from the Mittag or the Hochgrat and drive up the mountain. This will definitely save you quite a lot of sweating and exhaustion. On the top, you can hike to the next summit and then the way back down or go back to the gondola.
One of the best summits in the Nagelfluhkette are the Steineberg or the Stuiben. Make sure to put them on your list for some of the most breathtaking views you’ll see in the Allgäu.
Short but still with stunning views: Ofterschwanger Horn
This really is an easy hike. Especially if you choose to take the gondola. The Ofterschwanger Horn is well-known due to its skiing competition. It can easily be reached from multiple locations all around the Allgäu and is popular among tourists and travellers.
With a hut serving delicious food on the way up, this is a pretty spot for lunch as well. But still: Consider going up to the top and getting the reward afterwards! It will take you around one and a half hours to reach the top of the Ofterschwanger Horn.
Enjoy a beautiful lake view from the Immenstädter Horn
And next on the list of the breathtaking easy hikes in the Allgäu is the Immenstädter Horn. It is located close to the city of Immenstadt and the stunning Lake Alpsee. The hike starts with quite a steep way up the hill but becomes easier once you reach the forest. It leads you through forests, along a small rippling stream. This really is one of the most idyllic and stunning easy hikes in the area and takes around two hours
The summit is big so everybody can find its space and relax after the hike up. You can enjoy the views over the lake and the hills on the horizon. And if you still got some energy left, you can climb up the next summit. The Gschwender Horn is right next door and is not that far to go. Two summits in one day – if that isn’t a good traveller’s story to tell!
If you are unsure of the length of the hike and the difficulty, the website Komoot is a good option to get all the details. They also have a list of some more beautiful hikes in the Allgäu (if you can’t get enough).
A hike with some fun: the Alpspitze
Who’s in to connect a hike with some fun at the end? The Alpspitze is located in the village of Nesselwang and mainly known as a base for fun activities. After hiking to the summit (first things first, of course), you could do the zipline down the mountain or the toboggan. Both guarantees the ultimate adrenaline kick and a lot of fun.
Driving or sliding down the mountain with some speed definitely pays off the exhaustion of walking to the summit. This is a great acitivity if you are looking for something different and are travelling with a group of friends.
But of course, it’s not only about the fun activities. The views are not to be forgotten. You can see the Austrian Alps in the distance and enjoy a amazing view over the Allgäu.
