Lech to Formarinsee

The rainy weather made the tour above the tree line sometimes a slide, as it had rained for days. But the views with clouds have their very special charms ...

The Lech is known as the last wild river in the northern Alps. The Lechweg runs approx. 125km from the source at the Formarinsee in Vorarlberg through Tyrol to the Lechfall near Füssen in Allgäu. To stage 2 -> https://www.komoot.de/tour/407588645 From Lech am Arlberg you have to take a bus to the starting point at the Formarinsee. Before the actual Lechweg there is traditionally the walk to or around the Formarinsee. The Lech - at the beginning still in the form of the Formarinbach - runs quite arbitrarily at the beginning over rocky meadows that hikers still have to share with all kinds of cows. The brook becomes wider and at the confluence with the Spullerbach, the Lech officially emerges. The rough landscape, the loneliness and the wet and cloudy weather create a wonderfully mystical atmosphere. Running over rocks and muddy paths is much more strenuous than expected. This turns the easy initial stage into a hearty hike. Shortly before Lech am Arlberg, the Lechweg runs over a golf course, as there is little space in the valley. An all-round successful start to this long-distance hike.

At the start (10:00 a.m.) of the first stage at the Formarinsee bus parking lot, it was 10 degrees with light rain. Petrus thought to himself that if you weren't in church at that time on a Sunday, there wouldn't be a mix of sun and clouds for the hike. Before starting the Lechweg, I ran a short warm-up lap around the Formarinsee up to the Freiburger Hütte. Then on the "via ferrata" back to the start of the tour. According to the sign, only experienced climbers should use the via ferrata. In my opinion, good shoes and sure-footedness should be available (which is actually a prerequisite for the entire Lechweg) and the via ferrata should prove to be walkable. Due to the rain and the low-lying clouds, the whole scenery around the lake looks quite spectacular. After the round the "official" start. Since it is my first long-distance hike, I divided the 125 km into 8 stages. First along the Formarinbach, which later merges with the Spullerbach to form the Lech. The Lech meanders through fir forests. After ~19 km, today's stage ends at Rüfiplatz in Lech (bus stop to get to Formarinsee).

After I did the 2nd stage from Lechweg yesterday, I tackled the 1st stage today - then the other way around 🤔. After initially going astray in Lech (I tried to find a given Komoot route) I made it on the right path. It's best to just follow the curved "L". Most Lechweg hikers take the bus up to the Formarinsee and walk down the river. But if you look at the large number of people at the bus stop, you might also think of walking upwards. About the route itself: the simplest hiking trails, easy mountain hiking trails with no significant difficulties in a fantastically beautiful landscape, especially a section after the "Älpele" has what it takes for calendar pages. You hardly notice that the road to the lake runs a few meters next to the stream and route, if it weren't for the almost absurd-looking double-decker buses that you know from cities and some cyclists.

Lt. Google maps the bus stop "Rüfiplatz" is closed. That's why we parked at the "Schlosskopf". But info from google maps is wrong! With the line 7 (blue bus) it goes for 20 €/pers. In less than half an hour to the lake. It had to drive 2 🚌 at half past nine this morning, so many people wanted to get in. So I was afraid that we would have to hike down to the valley in a caravan. Luckily it wasn't like that. Most of them seem to stay at the lake and at the Freiburger Hütte. It was a totally relaxed and beautiful hike for us, which deepened our desire to hike the entire Lechweg. A project for 2024 - in 2023 I already have so many plans.

Purchased! After 8 days and a little more than 125 kilometers we arrived at the end of the Lechweg Early in the morning nature was still covered with a layer of frost. But soon the sun came over the mountains ☀️ The last stage became more beautiful with the meter. Forest paths were interspersed with wooden decking paths, narrow mountain roads and pebble paths. The Lech was always close by 💦 Just before we reach the Formarinsee we suddenly hear nothing anymore. We have passed the source of the Lech. The Lechweg officially ends at the bus stop. We continue walking above the Formarinsee to the Freiburger Hütte 🏞️ We made it!

On the way around Lake Formarin from the Freiburger Hütte back to the bus stop, I unfortunately got off the path and almost climbed down an old waterfall... please DO NOT follow!!! 🫣 When I climbed back up, I found the right path. 🤗😇

Check out Stage 1 - Formarinsee to Lech am Arlberg on Relive! https://www.relive.cc/view/vmqX38x1Ro6