Nature Reserve Guide
Hohe Kugel - Hoher Freschen - Mellental is a nature reserve in Vorarlberg, Austria, encompassing approximately 7,668 hectares within the Bregenzerwaldgebirge. This protected area features diverse landscapes, ranging from the edge of the Rhine Valley plain to alpine peaks like Hohe Kugel and Hoher Freschen. The terrain includes forests, lakes such as Sünser See, and gorges like Örflaschlucht, providing varied environments for several sports like hiking, mountain biking, touring cycling, road cycling, and more. It is recognized for its largely…
201
Routes
4.6
(2709)
Average rating
20182
People visited

4.8
(81)
387
hikers
3.55km
01:19
120m
120m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.9
(253)
1,214
hikers
10.2km
04:04
450m
450m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

4.7
(209)
911
hikers
Hard hike. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

4.8
(65)
372
hikers
5.02km
02:49
510m
510m
Hard hike. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
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4.8
(12)
114
riders
55.9km
05:46
1,180m
1,180m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.7
(10)
50
riders
53.0km
03:30
1,010m
1,010m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

12
riders
112km
09:37
2,180m
2,180m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

4.8
(5)
40
riders
18.5km
02:42
720m
720m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.7
(160)
555
riders
25.6km
02:46
1,040m
1,040m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.8
(131)
519
riders
44.7km
04:08
1,220m
1,220m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

4.8
(177)
573
riders
37.8km
03:53
1,380m
1,380m
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
(38)
237
riders
20.3km
02:04
790m
790m
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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4.8
(61)
726
riders
53.5km
04:11
1,000m
1,000m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.7
(92)
600
riders
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.7
(79)
626
riders
59.5km
03:25
100m
100m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.7
(41)
486
riders
57.8km
03:17
100m
100m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.5
(27)
732
riders
86.2km
03:30
180m
180m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

4.7
(19)
345
riders
52.6km
03:14
1,390m
1,390m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4.5
(6)
268
riders
58.5km
02:52
860m
860m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4.3
(12)
313
riders
58.2km
02:20
90m
90m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
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5.0
(10)
55
hikers
10.2km
04:04
450m
450m
Moderate mountaineering route. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

37
hikers
11.4km
04:32
750m
750m
Moderate mountaineering route. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

4.5
(2)
29
hikers
14.9km
06:07
840m
840m
Hard mountaineering route. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

4.5
(4)
24
hikers
8.11km
03:32
590m
590m
Hard mountaineering route. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
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5.0
(1)
57
runners
6.06km
00:40
40m
40m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
46
runners
6.96km
00:44
70m
70m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

37
runners
15.7km
01:38
20m
20m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.7
(3)
31
runners
9.87km
01:10
270m
270m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Hohe Kugel - Hoher Freschen - Mellental offers a wide range of outdoor activities, including Hiking, Mountain biking, Touring cycling, Road cycling, Mountaineering, Jogging, and Gravel biking. The region features more than 140 routes, with an average rating of 4.7 stars from over 2,200 reviews. More than 17,000 visitors have explored the area using komoot.
Popular hiking trails include the "View of Sünser Lake – Ascent to Sünserspitze loop from Furkajoch," a moderate route of about 6.3 miles (10.2 km). The "Örflaschlucht natural beauty – where the Emmebach finds its way" offers an easy 2.2-mile (3.5 km) experience. For more options, consult the Hiking in Hohe Kugel - Hoher Freschen - Mellental guide.
Yes, the nature reserve offers mountain biking trails, many of which are rated difficult. An example is the "Emser Hut – Alpe Schöner Mann loop from Altach," spanning approximately 15.9 miles (25.6 km). Another option is the "View of the Rhine Valley loop from Klaus in Vorarlberg," a challenging 27.8-mile (44.7 km) route. More details are available in the MTB Trails in Hohe Kugel - Hoher Freschen - Mellental guide.
The reserve features diverse landscapes, including alpine peaks like Hohe Kugel and Hoher Freschen. Notable natural features include the Felsbeckensee (rock basin lake) of Sünser See and the Örflaschlucht (gorge) of the Emmebach, known for its natural forests and waterfalls. The area also contains various huts, summits, and mountain passes.
Yes, there are easy hiking options suitable for beginners. The "Örflaschlucht natural beauty – where the Emmebach finds its way" is an easy 2.2-mile (3.5 km) route. For a broader selection of less strenuous paths, refer to the Easy hikes in Hohe Kugel - Hoher Freschen - Mellental guide.
Komoot offers several guides for the region, including guides for Hiking, Cycling, MTB Trails, Road Cycling Routes, and Waterfall hikes. There are also specific guides for Easy hikes, Running Trails, Mountain Hikes, Gravel biking, and Peaks. These guides provide detailed information and route suggestions for various activities.
Road cycling routes are available, often featuring paved surfaces. The "Rhine Embankment Cycle Path – Old Rhine Bridge at Vaduz loop from Altach" is a moderate 53.7-mile (86.4 km) route. Another option is the "View of the Mountain Valley – Furkajoch Pass loop from Klaus in Vorarlberg," a difficult 32.2-mile (51.9 km) route. Find more routes in the Road Cycling Routes in Hohe Kugel - Hoher Freschen - Mellental guide.
The nature reserve includes mountaineering routes, often with moderate to difficult ratings. Examples include the "Portlahorn Ridge – Sünser Spitze loop from Furkajoch," a moderate 6.4-mile (10.2 km) route. The "Hoher Freschen Summit loop from Bad Laterns" is a difficult 9.1-mile (14.7 km) ascent. Consult the Mountain Hikes in Hohe Kugel - Hoher Freschen - Mellental guide for more information.
The official website providing information and guidelines for the Hohe Kugel - Hoher Freschen - Mellental nature reserve is respektiere-deine-grenzen.at/schutzgebiete/hohe-kugel-hoher-freschen-mellental. This resource offers details on nature protection and regulations within the area.
Yes, waterfalls are present within the Örflaschlucht (gorge) of the Emmebach, which is part of the nature reserve. This gorge is known for its natural, species-rich deciduous mixed forests and high humidity. A dedicated Waterfall hikes in Hohe Kugel - Hoher Freschen - Mellental guide is available.
The Hohe Kugel - Hoher Freschen - Mellental nature reserve encompasses approximately 7,668 hectares (about 29.6 square miles). This makes it the largest nature reserve in Vorarlberg, Austria. It was established in 2013 to protect its diverse landscapes and high biodiversity.
Hohe Kugel - Hoher Freschen - Mellental is a popular destination on komoot, with over 17,000 visitors having explored the area. The region's routes have received more than 2,200 ratings, averaging 4.7 out of 5 stars. This indicates a high level of satisfaction among users.

