Nature Reserve Guide
Hoher Ifen, a nature reserve straddling the border between Germany and Austria, is characterized by its distinctive geological formations and alpine landscapes. The area features the flat, table-mountain shape of the Hoher Ifen massif, the deeply furrowed karst landscape of the Gottesacker Plateau, and the green Schwarzwassertal valley. This diverse terrain provides opportunities for several sports like hiking, mountain biking, gravel biking, touring cycling, and more.
The Hoher Ifen nature reserve offers more than…
196
Routes
4.6
(7177)
Average rating
35292
People visited

4.8
(762)
3,882
hikers
4.02km
01:15
150m
160m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.4
(311)
1,247
hikers
12.4km
03:31
270m
280m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.8
(1124)
4,557
hikers
16.5km
04:52
460m
460m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.9
(159)
726
hikers
22.4km
09:39
1,510m
1,510m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
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4.8
(442)
1,746
riders
48.6km
03:49
1,150m
1,150m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.8
(106)
451
riders
28.5km
02:34
700m
700m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.3
(25)
87
riders
25.8km
03:04
1,400m
1,400m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

3.8
(5)
26
riders
17.7km
02:12
860m
860m
Hard mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.
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8
riders
24.7km
03:04
740m
740m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

4.8
(12)
52
riders
29.1km
02:18
890m
890m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.8
(17)
105
riders
37.6km
02:06
360m
360m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.4
(14)
44
riders
36.8km
02:47
990m
990m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.8
(159)
832
riders
36.6km
02:34
650m
650m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(54)
322
riders
45.0km
03:59
1,110m
1,110m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.4
(30)
232
riders
17.6km
01:21
400m
400m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.7
(12)
121
riders
21.4km
01:42
550m
550m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.8
(9)
41
hikers
12.8km
04:55
570m
570m
Moderate mountaineering route. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

4.9
(33)
219
hikers
17.0km
07:07
1,030m
1,030m
Hard mountaineering route. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

4.9
(20)
105
hikers
17.5km
07:05
1,030m
1,030m
Hard mountaineering route. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

4.8
(9)
90
hikers
14.7km
06:18
1,120m
1,120m
Hard mountaineering route. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
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4.6
(10)
448
riders
50.8km
02:39
840m
840m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4.5
(2)
176
riders
41.2km
02:14
800m
800m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

5.0
(2)
86
riders
35.4km
01:50
600m
600m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4.0
(2)
67
riders
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
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5.0
(1)
86
runners
11.3km
01:43
850m
860m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(3)
73
runners
18.1km
03:20
1,150m
1,150m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

62
runners
20.9km
03:19
1,040m
1,040m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

4.5
(2)
61
runners
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Hoher Ifen is a nature reserve located on the border between Germany and Austria, known for its distinctive geological formations. It features the flat, table-mountain shape of the Hoher Ifen massif and the deeply furrowed karst landscape of the Gottesacker Plateau. The reserve is part of the Europe-wide Natura 2000 network, covering approximately 12,148 acres (4,916 hectares).
Hoher Ifen offers a variety of outdoor activities, including Hiking, Mountain biking, Gravel biking, Touring cycling, Mountaineering, Road cycling, and Jogging. The reserve features more than 100 routes for various skill levels. Visitors have rated routes in Hoher Ifen an average of 4.6 out of 5 stars.
One of the most popular hiking trails is the Breitachklamm Loop Trail, a 2.5-mile (4 km) easy route. Other popular options include the Subersach Gorge Waterfall – Krähenberg Chapel loop, a 9-mile (14.5 km) moderate hike. For more options, explore Hiking in Hoher Ifen.
Yes, Hoher Ifen offers easy hiking routes suitable for various fitness levels. The Ifenbahn cable car provides access to the middle station, from where easy panoramic trails lead to viewpoints. The Easy hikes in Hoher Ifen guide provides specific recommendations.
Popular mountain biking trails include the Stillach and Rappenalp Valleys loop, a challenging 30-mile (48.5 km) route. The Bärguntal Valley – Path Along the Breitach loop is a moderate 17.7-mile (28.4 km) option. More trails are available in the MTB Trails in Hoher Ifen guide.
Yes, Hoher Ifen features several gravel biking routes. The Sibratsgfäll | Gravel bike | Vorderwald route is a challenging 15.3-mile (24.7 km) option. Another route is the Mittelberg High Trail – Bärguntal Valley loop, spanning 18 miles (29 km). Find more options in the Gravel biking in Hoher Ifen guide.
Touring cyclists can explore routes such as the Rohrmoos Valley loop, a challenging 22.7-mile (36.5 km) route. The Herzsee (Heart Lake) – Melköde Alp loop is a difficult 28-mile (45 km) option. Additional routes are listed in the Cycling in Hoher Ifen guide.
Hoher Ifen is characterized by the flat-topped Hoher Ifen massif, standing at 7,316 feet (2,230 meters). The Gottesacker Plateau is a unique karst landscape with deep furrows and crevices. The Schwarzwassertal valley features green landscapes and moors. The area also includes waterfalls, caves, and gorges.
Yes, Hoher Ifen offers winter hiking opportunities. The area transforms into a landscape of snow dunes, with dedicated winter hiking trails available at approximately 6,500 feet (2,000 meters). The Schwarzwassertal valley also provides routes for winter hikers, and snowshoe hiking is popular.
Yes, Hoher Ifen offers demanding alpine circular routes for experienced mountaineers. These routes traverse varied terrain, including the rugged Gottesacker Plateau via the moderately difficult Karst Circular Trail. The Mountain Hikes in Hoher Ifen guide provides options for more strenuous ascents.
Key attractions include the Hoher Ifen massif itself, offering panoramic views of the Allgäu Alps. The Gottesacker Plateau is a protected karst landscape with unique geological formations. The Schwarzwassertal valley, with its moors and streams, is another notable feature. The reserve also contains various huts, summits, waterfalls, and caves.
Hoher Ifen is a popular destination on komoot, with more than 19,000 visitors having shared their experiences. The routes in the region have an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars from over 3,400 ratings. There are 148 total routes available for various sports.
Komoot offers several guides for Hoher Ifen, including Hiking in Hoher Ifen, MTB Trails in Hoher Ifen, and Gravel biking in Hoher Ifen. Other guides cover Easy hikes, Mountain Hikes, Waterfall hikes, Cycling, Road Cycling, Running Trails, and Attractions in the area.

