If you choose Kiefersfelden as a destination for your stay, you’ll find two clear options for spending time outdoors: trails through Gießenbach Gorge and along the Kieferbach, as well as an energy trail with stops explaining the local use of water, forest resources and solar energy. The Inn ferry adds a connection to Ebbs/Eichelwang in Tyrol. These themes give you a concrete basis for deciding whether you’d like to focus your stay on nature trails, the history of technology, or both.

Hiking Between the Gorge and Hydropower

The Kiefersfelden–Gießenbach Gorge–Schopperalm hiking trail leads from the town center along the Kieferbach, past Bavaria’s largest waterwheel and through Gießenbach Gorge to Schopperalm. The stream, waterwheel and gorge form a series of specific points along the trail. When planning your trip, bear in mind that Gießenbach Gorge is closed seasonally; check whether this section is accessible when you plan to visit.

The Kiefersfelden Energy Trail shows hikers and walkers how energy generation is integrated into the local natural environment. Its 23 stops explore how the spa town of Kiefersfelden has responsibly and sustainably used its abundant water, forest resources and solar energy for more than 500 years. The blue section contains Kiefersfelden’s smallest, largest and oldest hydropower plants, each using a different technology. This brings three different technical solutions together along one section.

Adults and children can discover energy snails, hidden channels, power plant turbines, weirs, a surge tank and a water playground along the Energy Trail. Bavaria’s largest waterwheel and Gießenbach Gorge are also among the trail’s features. These two places connect the energy theme with the hiking trail to Schopperalm, which also passes the waterwheel and runs through the gorge.

Take the Inn Ferry to Tyrol

The Inn ferry offers a different perspective on Kiefersfelden: since May 2023, it has connected the town with Ebbs/Eichelwang in Tyrol. Made from larch wood using traditional craftsmanship, the boat is 11 m long and 2.80 m wide; it can carry 12 passengers and bicycles. Unlike the hiking trails, the ferry connects two places and also carries bicycles. Its availability may vary, so it’s advisable to check whether it’s operating before making specific plans.

More to Explore in the Wider Rosenheim Destination

The wider Rosenheim destination has its own cultural and landscape highlights in Amerang and between Amerang and Halfing. The museum at Amerang Castle offers insights into the castle’s architecture and the history of the noble family. The Amerang Farmhouse Museum, run by the District of Upper Bavaria, features farmhouses, craft buildings and technical facilities from the Chiemgau region.

The Amerang Open-Air Museum offers private guided tours and programs for groups. These offerings may change, and advance arrangements may be required. The Moor Nature Trail, created in 2010, runs between Amerang and Halfing. It explores how the moorland formed after the Ice Age, as well as the local flora and fauna. Castle history, farm buildings and moorland offer different themes from the hiking and energy trails in Kiefersfelden.

Explore More Destinations

Explore more destinations: Mühlbach, Schechen, Ramerberg, Aschau im Chiemgau, Lake Chiemsee, Gstadt am Chiemsee, Brannenburg, Pfaffing.

Back to the main travel guide: Rosenheim.