Hinterhornbach lies in the only inhabited left-hand side valley of the Lech Valley in the Allgäu Alps. Its river landscape, hiking trails, and local history offer different ways to shape your stay. When planning, it’s worth considering the time of year: summer is all about mountain ascents, while winter hiking and ski touring bring their own conditions.
The Hornbach and the Valley
In the side valley, the Hornbach has carved out a natural, very wide riverbed. It flows for more than 17 kilometers from its source to the Lech. This makes the river a defining feature of the landscape and a reference point for several of the routes described here. The road to Hinterhornbach ends at the parking lot before the Jochbach Bridge, providing a clear landmark for your drive.
Hiking Trails and Destinations
The winter hike along the Hornbach begins at the western end of the village and reaches the unstaffed Drähütten after about 3.9 kilometers. The Kleine-Drähütten loop follows the original course of the Hornbach and, when visibility is good, offers views of the Hochvogel and Hinterhornbach’s village scenery. The Große-Drähütten loop leads into the Hornbach Valley and back to Hinterhornbach. The routes therefore have different focuses: the river and views on the one hand, and the trail into the valley and back on the other.
Another route leads from Hinterhornbach to the Petersbergalm, across flower meadows, through shady patches of woodland and sunny clearings, and on to the Drähütten. Cyclists are welcome on the easy farm track from Hinterhornbach to the Petersbergalm. Vegetation and trail conditions vary with the seasons, so take the current conditions on the trails into account when planning.
Summer and Winter in the Mountains
In summer, hikers climb from Hinterhornbach to the Hochvogel and its smaller neighboring peaks in the Allgäu Alps. The ski tour to the Bretterspitze starts at a small parking lot in Hinterhornbach. It is considered challenging and requires very stable conditions. Check conditions again before setting out. Summer mountain ascents, a winter hike along the river, and this challenging ski tour are different undertakings; choose your travel dates according to the activity you have planned.
The Church and the Village’s History
The parish church “Our Lady of Good Counsel” was built between 1761 and 1764. It is a uniformly Baroque building with a single-bay choir and a north tower. The painting on the high altar depicts Mary of Good Counsel. In the past, pilgrims from the Lech Valley often came to see this image—a historical tradition, not a statement that regular pilgrimages take place today.
The history of settlement is also linked to a route: Hinterhornbach was settled from Germany, or the Allgäu, via the Hornbachjoch. The paths once used by smugglers are now signposted and developed as hiking trails. If you plan to use these trails, check the current conditions.
More Places to Visit During Your Stay
Above the municipality lies the “Am Anger” place of power, accessible via a meadow path. A small stream flows past the Rigglerhof, where benches by the water allow visitors to dangle their feet in the stream. As paths and facilities may change, it’s advisable to check that they are currently accessible before visiting. The Kaufbeurer Haus is a Category I self-catering hut and can be reached from Hinterhornbach in about 2.5 hours.
If you’re looking for a hotel in Hinterhornbach, the time of year can be a useful first filter: summer summit ascents, a winter hike, and a challenging ski tour make for different kinds of stays. So first consider which activity will be the main focus of your trip.
Discover more destinations: Ehrwald, Lähn, Pflach, Zöblen, Plansee, Forchach, Breitenwang, Boden.
Go to the main travel overview: Reutte.
