My mother is currently vacationing in Bavaria and this means that we are once again exploring the region. At 75 years old, my mother is still doing quite well, but ascents are too difficult. Accordingly, we choose a hiking trail that is mostly flat and takes 3 to 4 hours of running time. After leafing through several hiking guides, we find what we were looking for: It should be a hike to Ferchensee!

Tour profile

Difficulty level: easy
Route length: approx. 11 km
ascents: 240 meters
descents: 240 meters

The weather is wonderfully sunny in the morning and promises a great alpine panorama. The temperatures are also pleasant for today's hiking day and so we're ready to go after breakfast. Take the car to the car park at the Kranzberg chairlift above Mittenwald (Kärtner-Alm car park), which is still quite empty at 10:00 a.m. I tie up my hiking backpack with the drinks and pick up my camera. Today certainly offers wonderful landscape pictures again.

Even at the car park, you have a beautiful view of the famous town of Mittenwald, which is known in particular for its brightly painted houses and its history of making violins. The Karwendel Mountains spread out behind it. We start at the western end of the car park and follow the signs towards Lautersee. It passes a small chapel and an imposing Jesus Cross. Shortly after the chapel, we leave the last houses and dive into nature. Our hiking trail now starts with an ascent that goes up the mountain over several bends. We warmed up quickly, the circulation gets going, but the climb offers nice stops to enjoy the view or look at the spring flowers along the way. Some benches also invite you to sit down briefly when needed.

Once we reach the altitude, we follow the geological trail. Along the way, there are numerous educational boards on the formation of the landscape between Mittenwald, Krün and Wallgau, as well as imposing rocks, mostly glacial finds from the region, but also from Austria, including gneiss, marble, limestone and other rocks. The educational trail forms its own small hiking trail, which is particularly suitable for families and can be walked even with a stroller.

We continue straight ahead and after about 30 minutes we come to a small stream and the Klausnergraben on the stray meadow, the so-called “Bödele”. Here, for the first time, the forest opens completely and the view sweeps over to the lofty “Wettersteinspitze”. Continuing straight ahead, our path leads through the forest again and then the view opens before our eyes again. We have a wonderful panorama with the Wetterstein peak and a small sweet chapel in front of it. This view immediately makes the heart beat faster. Oh you beautiful mountain scenery, how much you enchant us again with your face.

A short trip to the chapel is a must and then we'll also have a glimpse of Lake Lautersee, the first of two lakes on this tour. Turquoise green is spreading before our eyes. The lake is also home to the Lautersee beach, which normally opens its doors in May. Construction is already underway. We treat ourselves to a first ice cream at the kiosk and enjoy the beautiful view of the lake for a few moments.

Like Ferchensee, Lautersee is a glacial lake. During the last cold period, approximately 115,000 to 11,500 years ago, the entire area around the Kranzberg was covered by the massive ice masses of the Isar-Loisach glacier. On its way to the foothills of the Alps, he not only rounded off the mountain peaks up to altitudes of 2,000 m, but also excavated the valleys into wide trough tubs. Lautersee and Ferchensee are parts of such troughs that filled with meltwater after the glacial ice melted about 10,000 years ago. In the foothills of the Alps, they are called tongue basin lakes due to their shape. There are numerous lakes of this type of lake in the foothills of the Alps, including Lake Ammersee, Lake Starnberg and Lake Constance. The Lautersee is approx. 12 ha in size and 19 m deep at its deepest point. The lake was owned by the Mittenwald brewery, which harvested ice there to cool beer. Even back then, a lot of beer had to be refrigerated.

Shortly after the beach, the trail branches off and we follow the path that climbs uphill on the right. This is the second climb on this hike, but it is also easy to climb. We pass a meadow where, at present, the gentian is turning the meadow into a sea of blue flowers over large areas. A feast for the eyes of any flower lover. We continue straight up the path and reach a junction where we continue to follow the signs to Ferchensee. There we reach a road, which we cross to stay on the footpath. Although the road also leads to Ferchensee, it is reserved for cyclists who explore this beautiful landscape by bike.

Just a few more bends and then it's already in front of us, the picturesque Ferchensee at 1,059 m. The lake is slightly larger than Lake Lautersee and is fed by small mountain streams. The Ferchenbach flows off to the north-northwest. In summer, the lake reaches a temperature of 20 degrees and the water is very clean. So it's no wonder that Ferchensee is also a popular swimming lake for locals. In the vernacular, it is called “Zum Idakniagln”, i.e. beautiful to kneel down. And it's true, the turquoise-blue water simply invites you to bathe, but it's still too cool right now, brrr. It's just a glacial lake, it needs time to warm up. So it's no wonder that the meadows around the lake are also still quite empty. We circle the lake once and pass the Gasthaus Ferchensee, where there is even a bus stop, for all those who are a bit lazy on foot or legs, or simply can't. Both here and at Lautersee, you would have two restaurants to stop off at. I've been told that the trout dishes are to die for. We'll be back, I promise.

Once back at the end of the circular trail around the lake, it's the same route back to the road. Behind the road at the Enzian meadow, we then take the right path, which also leads down to Lake Lautersee. However, we did not expect the steep bends down. It's good that we didn't take this route for the climb, it would have been a lot more difficult. We arrive behind the Lautersee Hotel and from here circle Lake Lautersee until we reach the bridge that is next to the beach.

From here, take the same route back to the car park at the Kärtner-Alm. What a lovely hike that was again. My mother was extremely satisfied with the hike and that is perfect when you can make the visit happy and show the beauty of the local region.

Information & tips:

• This tour can also be easily organized by public transport. From Hotel am Badersee, take the Zugspitzbahn or the Eibseebus to Garmisch-Partenkirchen station and then board the regional train to Mittenwald. From there, bus no. 4608 goes to the Karwendel Railway.
• From Hotel am Badersee, follow the route to Mittenwald by car. In Mittenwald Nord, follow the signs to the Kranzberglift. Below the Kranzberg chairlift is the car park (chargeable), GPS: Kranzbergstraße 21, 82481 Mittenwald.
• Walking time: 3.00 hours, distance: 8.9 km, difference in altitude: 200 m
• There are benches all along the route where you can rest when needed.
• Places to stop for refreshments: Kärtner Alm at the chairlift, Lautersee-Alm, Gasthaus Ferchensee. Observe seasonal closing times.
• Bathing opportunities: The best swimming spots are located at the southeastern end of Lake Lautersee and on the south side of Lake Ferchen. Both lakes offer boat rentals.
• The trails are also cleared in winter.
• Bus service to the lake from mid-May to mid-October between 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., every hour from Mittenwald train station. Information under 08823/8310.
• Lautersee and Ferchensee are also popular cycling destinations. Depending on your stamina and fitness level, the bike tour can start directly from the hotel on Lake Badersee and lead via Klais and Elmau. If necessary, you can then travel back by train.
  

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