Halblech: Lakes, Hiking Trails and Mountain Views

Halblech brings together mountain scenery, lakes and an extensive network of hiking trails. Between the Ammergebirge Nature Reserve, quiet lakeshores and viewpoints, you can choose a wide variety of ways to spend your vacation days.

Lakes, Nature Reserve and Alpine Pastures

Bannwaldsee lies at the foot of the Ammergebirge. Reeds and wet meadows surround almost the entire lake; the lake and its surroundings are part of a nature reserve. The shores are nesting grounds for rare bird species. Hegratsrieder See offers a different kind of lake experience: it is a small bathing lake near Greith, a district of Halblech.

A striking feature of the landscape is Wankerfleck, a high-altitude pasture dotted with many ancient maple trees and offering views of Geiselstein. Bockstallsee lies just before the pasture on the hiking trail through Lobental to Kenzen Hut. Along this route, you’ll encounter a variety of landscapes: a lake, open pasture and views of the distinctive peak.

Hikes for Different Time Frames

The municipality of Halblech has 200 kilometers of well-marked hiking trails: 80 kilometers run through the valley and 120 kilometers through the mountains. Several long-distance hiking trails also pass through Halblech: Wandertrilogie Allgäu, König-Ludwig-Weg, Lechhöhenweg, Maximiliansweg and Via Alpina. The options range from valley paths to longer routes through the mountain landscape.

One specific multi-day hike is the first stage of the Himmelsstürmer Route on the Wandertrilogie Allgäu. It starts at the Kenzen parking area, leads through the Röthenbach Valley, past Bockstallsee and Wankerfleck, and ends at Kenzen Hut. If you’d rather plan a circular hike, there’s a four-hour panoramic loop: from the Kenzen parking area, the route passes Mariengrotte to Trauchgau and returns to the starting point via the St. Peter viewpoint.

The Bachweg trail to Buchenbergalm offers a different time commitment: you can reach the mountain hut on Buchenberg in about an hour; from there, views stretch across the valley and its many lakes. The time estimates for this trail and the four-hour panoramic loop give you two concrete reference points for planning your day, though the routes do not share the same destinations or trails.

Mountain Views and Water Activities

The Buchenbergbahn is a double chairlift in Buching, a district of Halblech, and takes you to an elevation of 1,142 meters. From there, you can look out over the valley around Lake Forggensee and eleven other lakes. Lake Forggensee is also a destination for activities on the water: in summer, you can swim and enjoy water sports such as sailing, stand-up paddleboarding, pedal boating and kayaking. Within the municipality of Halblech, the lake lies near Illasbergsee.

The Buchenbergbahn and the valley trails offer different perspectives: one gives you views from above of Lake Forggensee and other lakes, while the other takes you hiking through the valley and mountains. This distinction can help when choosing your accommodation: consider which outings would best shape the kind of vacation day you’re looking for. Check the current timetable for specific trips on the hiking bus.

Kenzen Hut and Halblech Craftsmanship

Kenzen Hut sits at an elevation of 1,300 meters in the Ammergebirge Nature Reserve and is a popular destination in Halblech. You can get there by hiking bus, mountain bike or on foot along an easy trail. The hut serves regional specialties. If you’d like to combine the hike with a stop for a meal, plan both as part of your outing.

The history of the area also has a link to traditional craftsmanship: distinctive limestone slabs were quarried in Halblech and used to make sharpening stones. This glimpse into local history complements the nature experiences with an insight into how materials sourced locally were put to use.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Pforzen, Unterthingau, Lamerdingen, Lechbruck Am See, Buchloe, Füssen, Kaufbeuren, Schwangau.

Back to the main travel overview: Ostallgäu.