Nature Reserve Guide
Europaschutzgebiet Bangs-Matschels is a Natura 2000 protected area situated in Feldkirch, Vorarlberg, Austria, within the border triangle of Austria, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland. This nature reserve features a diverse landscape of wetlands, extensive reed beds, wet meadows, alluvial forests, and the largest continuous forest area on the Alpine Rhine valley floor. Its relatively flat terrain and well-maintained paths make it suitable for several sports like hiking, mountain biking, road cycling, touring cycling, and more.
The…
187
Routes
4.6
(953)
Average rating
8206
People visited

4.9
(7)
21
hikers
8.21km
02:05
20m
20m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.5
(19)
46
hikers
5.66km
01:47
230m
230m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.7
(18)
111
hikers
15.5km
05:20
790m
790m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

4.9
(15)
49
hikers
5.29km
01:35
160m
160m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?

4.8
(4)
31
riders
32.0km
02:29
300m
300m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(11)
67
riders
49.2km
03:18
970m
970m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.7
(3)
55
riders
109km
06:53
1,790m
1,790m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(2)
65
riders
47.7km
02:20
100m
100m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?

4.7
(132)
478
riders
31.3km
03:24
1,140m
1,140m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.

4.5
(63)
215
riders
24.4km
02:14
600m
600m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

4.4
(26)
130
riders
33.2km
01:54
220m
220m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.7
(29)
57
riders
23.3km
02:17
870m
870m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?

4.9
(21)
481
riders
39.9km
02:18
930m
930m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

4.8
(10)
407
riders
47.3km
02:24
790m
790m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4.9
(34)
218
riders
40.1km
02:11
790m
790m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4.3
(3)
176
riders
41.2km
02:00
600m
600m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?

4.9
(30)
215
riders
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.6
(22)
160
riders
80.9km
05:04
720m
720m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.5
(25)
218
riders
21.4km
01:32
60m
60m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.1
(7)
187
riders
17.6km
01:17
40m
40m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?

5.0
(4)
42
hikers
18.6km
07:13
1,050m
1,050m
Hard mountaineering route. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

5.0
(5)
52
hikers
17.5km
07:46
1,280m
1,280m
Hard mountaineering route. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

4.6
(7)
21
hikers
8.10km
03:18
390m
400m
Moderate mountaineering route. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

27
hikers
12.3km
04:50
830m
830m
Moderate mountaineering route. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?

13
runners
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

18
runners
5.24km
00:33
10m
10m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

12
runners
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

3.5
(2)
11
runners
6.76km
00:43
20m
20m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?
Europaschutzgebiet Bangs-Matschels offers a variety of outdoor activities including Hiking, Mountain biking, Road cycling, Touring cycling, Mountaineering, Gravel biking, and Jogging. The area features over 120 routes, providing options for different skill levels and interests. These activities allow visitors to explore the reserve's diverse natural landscapes.
Popular hiking routes include the Bangs-Matschels Irises loop, which is 5.1 miles (8.2 km) long and rated moderate. Another option is the Morschkeer Waterfall – Tree with Exposed Roots loop from Zwischenwasser, an easy 3.5-mile (5.6 km) route. For more options, consult the Hiking in Europaschutzgebiet Bangs-Matschels guide.
Yes, Europaschutzgebiet Bangs-Matschels offers easy hiking trails suitable for families. An example is the Morschkeer Waterfall – Tree with Exposed Roots loop from Zwischenwasser, which is 3.5 miles (5.6 km) long and rated easy. More easy options can be found in the Easy hikes in Europaschutzgebiet Bangs-Matschels guide.
The reserve is known for its Siberian iris meadows, which bloom with bluish-purple flowers in early summer. Other significant features include diverse wetlands, extensive reed beds, alluvial forests, and an extensive raised bog. The Morschkeer Waterfall is also a notable natural landmark within the area.
Mountain biking routes include the difficult Vorderälpele – Hinterälpele Mountain Hut loop from Gisingen, spanning 19.5 miles (31.3 km). A moderate option is the Drei Eichen – Glath Viewpoint loop from Gisingen, which is 15.2 miles (24.4 km) long. Further routes are detailed in the MTB Trails in Europaschutzgebiet Bangs-Matschels guide.
Due to the sensitive ecosystem and the presence of endangered species, visitors are required to keep dogs on a leash. This regulation helps protect the rare plant and animal life within the nature reserve. Adhering to this rule ensures the preservation of the area's biodiversity.
Komoot offers several guides for the area, including Hiking in Europaschutzgebiet Bangs-Matschels, MTB Trails in Europaschutzgebiet Bangs-Matschels, and Cycling in Europaschutzgebiet Bangs-Matschels. Other guides cover specific interests like easy hikes, waterfall hikes, mountain hikes, running trails, gravel biking, and attractions.
Europaschutzgebiet Bangs-Matschels is a popular destination on komoot, with more than 7,000 visitors having shared their experiences. Activities in the area have an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars. This high rating reflects the quality and appeal of the routes and natural environment.
Road cycling routes include the difficult View of Gurtisspitz – Black Lake loop from Gisingen, which is 24.8 miles (39.8 km) long. A moderate option is the Faller Lake – Church of Thūringerberg loop from Gisingen, covering 29.4 miles (47.3 km). More routes are available in the Road Cycling Routes in Europaschutzgebiet Bangs-Matschels guide.
The best time to visit for nature observation, particularly to see the Siberian irises, is in early summer. During this period, the iris meadows transform into a landscape of bluish-purple flowers. This season also offers optimal conditions for observing the diverse flora and fauna.
For inquiries related to the Europaschutzgebiet Bangs-Matschels, contact UMG Umweltbüro Grabher. They can be reached by phone at +43 (0)55572 40745 or via email at office@umg.at. General tourism inquiries for the region can be directed to Bodensee-Vorarlberg Tourismus at +43 (5574) 43443-0.
Yes, gravel biking routes are available. An example is the Paspelssee Brederis – Old Rhine at Diepoldsau loop from Gisingen, a moderate 29.0-mile (46.7 km) route. Another option is the Old Rhine Bridge at Vaduz – Rheindamm Cycle Path loop from Gisingen, a moderate 39.2-mile (63.0 km) route. More information is in the Gravel biking in Europaschutzgebiet Bangs-Matschels guide.
Europaschutzgebiet Bangs-Matschels is a biodiversity hotspot, home to a variety of rare species. Visitors may observe over 1,100 species of butterflies, including the Scarce Fritillary and Large Blue. The reserve also provides habitat for amphibians like the Yellow-bellied toad and rare bird species such as the Corn Crake and Red-backed Shrike.

