Discover Scheidegg

Scheidegg Between Forests and Waterfalls

Above Scheidegg in the Allgäu, at an altitude of around 1,000 metres, is the “Skywalk” treetop walk at Waldwelt Skywalk Allgäu. The forest park also offers a glimpse of the diversity of trees: more than 30 different species grow there, with silver fir the most common. Around Scheidegg, the high altitude and forest themes meet a distinctive landscape of waterfalls.

The Scheidegg Waterfalls are about a 20-minute walk from the town centre. The signposted hiking trail leaves the town centre along Bräuhausstraße and passes through the district of Rickenbach to the entrance. The waterfalls are among Bavaria’s “100 most beautiful geological sites” and are therefore one of the Free State’s special natural treasures.

As you descend to the waterfalls, views open up over the Rohrach Gorge, which is cut up to 200 metres deep. It enjoys special protection as the largest nature reserve in the district of Lindau. The waterfalls and gorge give the excursion a different focus from the treetop walk and the tree species of the forest park.

Wildlife at the Reptile Zoo

The reptile zoo reveals another side of Scheidegg. More than 50 naturalistic terrariums are home to crocodiles, lizards, monitor lizards, venomous and non-venomous snakes, as well as spiders and scorpions. Visitors can explore the tropical house and outdoor enclosure. The zoo has been privately run since it opened in 1973.

The indoor and outdoor areas of the reptile zoo are fully accessible. When planning your visit, you can choose between different themes: the forest and treetop walk, the waterfalls and gorge, or the zoo’s wildlife. If you are travelling with varied interests, you can weigh up these options without combining them into a single experience.

More perspectives in the wider Lindau destination

The wider Lindau destination also offers other landscape and cultural themes. In Lindau, the New Lighthouse is 33 metres high and can be reached by climbing 139 steps. On Lindau Island, the Thieves’ Tower, built in 1380, long marked the western end of the town’s fortifications. Each of the two buildings has its own distinctive character: the lighthouse with its height and steps, the Thieves’ Tower with its former role in the fortifications.

In the Eistobel nature reserve, the waters of the Upper Argen plunge down over several waterfalls along a three-kilometre hiking trail. In Maierhöfen, a circular trail of about five kilometres passes 17 sculptures and 12 text panels. Artists created the works at a symposium and left them in Maierhöfen for permanent display. This places nature walks and outdoor art side by side as different interests.

Seasonal activities are also among the possible themes in the wider Lindau destination: Gestratz has a total of eight kilometres of groomed trails for Nordic skiing. Conditions can vary from one winter to the next; if you plan to take advantage of this option, check the latest information before your visit. The range therefore extends from hiking and landscape experiences to culture and winter sports, without all interests being tied to the same place or type of excursion.

Choose Scheidegg as Your Base

For the waterfalls, the town centre provides a practical reference point: from there, the signposted trail leads to the entrance in about 20 minutes. The Skywalk is above the town at an altitude of around 1,000 metres; the reptile zoo offers a different focus, with its tropical house and outdoor enclosure. These differences can guide your choice of base and help you plan your stay in Scheidegg.

Discover more destinations: Stiefenhofen, Opfenbach, Wasserburg, Lindenberg im Allgäu, Lindau, Weißensberg, Sigmarszell, Heimenkirch.

Back to the wider travel overview: Lindau.