A popular destination for a leisurely hike is the Osterseen, a group of bodies of water south of Lake Starnberg in the Weilheim-Schongau district. Anyone visiting the Easter Lakes can experience one of the most beautiful Bavarian geotopes here and learn interesting facts about ice decay landscapes at the same time.

Tour profile

Difficulty level: easy
Route length: approx. 12 km
ascents: 50 meters
descents: 50 meters

Today I'm going to Osterseen with my mother to go on a leisurely spring hike with her. The circular hiking trail around the Osterseen lakes is perfect for my mother (75 years) because it is flat and is not too long with a walking time of around 2:30 hours. We drive from Grainau to Iffeldorf to the hiking car park at the Osterseen lakes. Here we pack our backpack (we always have something to drink and a snack with us) and set off. Right at the start, an information board provides information about the special features of the Easter lakes.

For example, the Osterseen area is considered one of the best preserved ice decay landscapes in Bavaria. Large dead ice masses from the Isar Loisach Glacier and several generations of meltwater rivers that deposited their rock cargo formed this landscape over 10,000 years ago. The Easter lakes are a special feature. In the late glacial period, even before the entire foothills of the Alps were ice-free, the area around the Easter lakes was cut off from the large drainage network of the Alps. As a result, only small amounts of sediment were added. In contrast to many other post-glacial pre-alpine lakes, the Easter lakes are therefore barely silted up; the original ice decay landscape with the numerous dead ice holes, ice rim terraces, Kames and Osern has been preserved.

It takes a bit of the way before we get our first beautiful view of the lake, but the meadows covered with spring flowers are also a real treat for the eyes. A pair of gray goose and their young are currently grazing at the lake, delighting all day trippers who are currently sharing the trail with us.

The trail moves away from the lake again and again, but offers a few views of the water again and again. Sections of forest and meadows determine the rest of the route. The route climbs slightly up to a private clinic. Here we turn right to continue walking along the lakeside. There are always beautiful views of the lake, the meadows in front of it glowing in the bright yellow of spring flowers.

After a short stretch of road, the circular trail branches off the paved road to the right again. Now in May, the hiking trail here offers a special highlight. The meadows to the right and left of the trail form an excellent breeding ground for spotted orchid, a type of orchid that is now blooming in the meadows by the hundreds at this time of year. A true delight and eye candy for every orchid lover.

Once again through a stretch of forest, we soon walk parallel to the railway line. After a while, we leave it again, reach a few houses, but then keep ourselves parallel to the shore again. There is a swimming area here, which invites you to enjoy a cool swim in Lake Ostersee in summer. Now in spring, the lake's temperatures are still too cool. Nonetheless, there are a few cold-resistant people who are venturing into the lake despite the still cool water temperatures. After all, the temperature outside is very pleasant today, so you can warm up on land again. We take advantage of the bank for a short break, something to drink and a snack. The warm rays of sunshine on your skin and the alpine panorama that opens up behind the lake are a real treat.

We will continue our hike after we have enjoyed the rest to the fullest. The lake is moving away from our point of view again and we now follow the path through the forest until we reach about the level of Lake Staltach. There are different routes here, depending on whether you continue left, straight ahead or right. We take the left path that leads us to Iffelsdorf. Passing by Gut Staltach and the sports ground, we can soon see the town's distinctive church in the distance.

Passing by the church, we soon reached our starting point and starting point of the hike again. From the elevation in Iffeldorf, we once again have a last beautiful view of Lake Seng and Fohn and then it is only a few steps away from our car. Once again, it was a fantastic hike that you can do at any time of the year. We are now looking forward to a culinary stop to end the hiking day with pleasure.

Tips & info:

length: approx. 12 km
perpetuity: approx. 2:30 - 3 hours

How to get there: From Hotel am Badersee, drive via Garmisch-Partenkirchen on the B23 and B2 to Oberau and continue on the 95 motorway to the Iffeldorf-Penzberg exit. From here, simply follow the signs. (approx. 48.5 km/42 min driving time)

parking: There is a large, paid car park in Iffeldorf. There is also a small kiosk for snacks and drinks and a toilet at the car park. Alternatively, there are parking spaces at Lake Fohn or in the area of Torfwerk Staltach, at the sports field in Iffeldorf or at the campsite near Lake Fohn.

Places to stop for refreshments: At the campsite in Fohnsee, there is the Restaurant Waldhaus am Fohnsee with a beer garden and Gut Aiderbichl also offers a restaurant.

Bathing spots: At Oster and Fohnsee, there are several designated swimming spots for a dip in the water. Please only use these areas. These are excellent on the menu.

Additional tips for trips in the area: A visit to the Osterseen lakes can be combined with a visit to Lake Starnberg. Here is the option that Buchheim Museum or even the memorial of King Ludwig II near Berg, who drowned in Lake Starnberg. Also nearby is the Benediktbeuren Abbey, which has a nice beer garden and a good restaurant. This offers something very special Gut Aiderbichl near Iffeldorf. The estate is dedicated to caring for rescued animals and houses 300 animals. Visitors are very welcome, there is a large program of events and it is a special highlight for children. From the hiking trail, you can easily make a detour to Gut Aiderbichl.

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