The Lechweg Trail (Lechway) – guide, accommodation and stages
- Christian Sommer
- 6 days ago
- 10 min read
On the Lechweg trail, you follow Europe's last wild river: it leads from Lake Formarin in Vorarlberg to the Lechfall in Füssen. Over a distance of around 125 kilometres, you hike through alpine valleys, over suspension bridges, past rushing rapids and quiet moors. The trail is an interplay of natural forces and gentle tranquillity, between mountain romance and cultural traces. When you walk the Lechweg, you not only experience a landscape, but also follow the rhythm of a river that has been carving its way through nature for centuries.
Content
1. Journey
2. Route
3. Accommodation
4. Weather and best time to travel
5. Further information
6. Recommended stages
7. Packing list
8. GPX and map information
9. Conclusion
Lechweg (Lechway)
The Lechweg (Lechway) is a long-distance hiking trail approximately 125 kilometres long, leading you from Lake Formarin near Lech am Arlberg in Vorarlberg to the Lechfall waterfall in Füssen in the Allgäu region. On this route, you will accompany one of Europe's last wild rivers – the Lech – through an impressive and diverse natural landscape. The spectrum ranges from alpine high plateaus to deep gorges and extensive riparian forests.
The trail is divided into seven to eight stages and is suitable for both experienced long-distance hikers and beginners. Many highlights await you along the way: the spectacular suspension bridge near Holzgau, the Lechfall natural monument, the Geierwally open-air theatre in Elbigenalp and the historic old town streets of Füssen.
The Lechweg is well marked throughout, easily accessible and offers numerous places to stop for refreshments and overnight stays. It not only connects two countries and three regions, but also combines nature with culture.
Waymarking on the Lechweg trail
Lechweg arrival
Flight: If you are travelling by plane, I would primarily recommend Innsbruck Airport (INN). You can also fly to Friedrichshafen Airport (FDH) or Zurich Airport (ZRH). To find cheap flights, I highly recommend Skyscanner – a first-class app that gives you a quick overview of the best flight deals.
Train: From Innsbruck Airport, you can take the train to Innsbruck Central Station (15 minutes) and then change trains to continue on to Langen am Arlberg. From there, take the bus to Lech. The total journey time is around 2 hours. I highly recommend the OMIO app for booking bus and train tickets.
Bus: It is also possible to travel by Flixbus. Again, I highly recommend the OMIO app for this.
Taxi: You can take a taxi directly from the airport to the starting point of the Lechweg trail at Formarinsee.
Note: You can also start the Lechweg trail in Füssen, but you will then have to walk slightly uphill for the entire length of the trail.
Remember to insure your trip well – because a fall or other typical hiking injury can quickly result in high rescue costs. Auras Insurance offers you worldwide hiking and trekking insurance, specially designed for active travellers.
Use the discount code HIKINGFEX to get 10% off your insurance.
Lechweg stages
The Lechweg is an impressive hike that leads through the varied landscape of Vorarlberg in several stages. Each stage offers unique views of the mountains, valleys and the wild Lech river. The difficulty varies only slightly depending on the length of the route:
Classic variant:
Stage 1: Formarinsee - Lech am Arlberg (14.4 km and 50 m ascent)
Stage 2: Lech am Arlberg - Warth (10.6 km and 290 m ascent)
Stage 3: Warth/Lechleiten - Holzgau (20 km and 220 m ascent)
Stage 4: Holzgau - Elbigenalp (14 km and 350 m ascent)
Stage 5: Elbigenalp – Stanzach (20 km and 290 m ascent)
Stage 6: Stanzach – Wängle (19.4 km and 60 m ascent)
Stage 7: Wängle – Füssen im Allgäu (25 km and 590 m ascent)
Leisurely option:
Stage 1: Formarinsee – Lech am Arlberg (14.4 km)
Stage 2: Lech am Arlberg – Warth (10.6 km)
Stage 3: Warth – Steeg (15.4 km)
Stage 4: Steeg – Bach (15.4 km)
Stage 5: Bach – Elmen (14.9 km)
Stage 6: Elmen – Weißenbach (20 km)
Stage 7: Weißenbach – Pflach (19 km)
Stage 8: Pflach – Füssen im Allgäu (15.3 km)
Lechweg accommodation
There is a wide range of accommodation along the Lechweg, from charming guesthouses and hotels to B&Bs. You can book your accommodation directly here via my partner platform ‘Booking.com’ using the links below. It won't cost you a penny more.
Stage 1: Lech am Arlberg
Stage 2: Warth am Arlberg
Stage 3: Holzgau
Stage 4: Elbigenalp
Stage 5: Stanzach
Stage6: Wängle/Höfen
Stage 7: Füssen
Basically, you are on the safe side if you book your accommodation in advance. July and August are peak season in all locations along the Lechweg trail. I therefore recommend booking in advance.
Lechweg weather and best time to travel
On the Lechweg, as is typical in Austria, you can expect varied weather conditions, often characterised by a mix of sun, wind and clouds. Temperatures usually range between 18 and 30 degrees Celsius. July and August see the least rainfall and are therefore ideal for hiking along the Lechweg. April, May, June, September and November are also ideal months.
Hiking the Lechweg without luggage
Hiking the Lechweg is best done without luggage on your shoulders.
The Lechweg shuttle service provided by Feuerstein GmbH will transport your luggage to your next accommodation. It is best to book the transport directly with the company before you start your hiking holiday. Direct bookings can be made up to two days before transport. You can find the contact details here: https://www.feuerstein-bus.at/uploads/iosfBA31/LechwegGepcktransport.pdf
(In the early season until the beginning of June and in the late season until mid-September, Feuerstein charges per piece of luggage per stage. This means that the price of EUR 12.00 cannot be guaranteed. We kindly ask you to contact Feuerstein directly before booking).
Lechweg hike – further information
Here you can find further information about the Lechweg hike! If you would like more information about the route, tips or planning assistance, I will be happy to help!
Money: ATMs and credit cards are accepted in many places. However, you should still take enough cash with you on your trip.
Lechweg with children: The Lechweg is a beautiful hiking route that is also suitable for children, provided you plan your tour accordingly.
Tent: Along the Lechweg, there are only camping and caravan sites in Häselgehr, Vorderhornbach, Reutte and Füssen.
Dogs: The Lechweg is also accessible with a dog. Look for dog-friendly hosts when booking.
Don't forget to take an emergency bivouac with you. It consists of an emergency blanket that is cold-resistant, a whistle and a mini compass. It should be in your rucksack on every hike anyway.
As the old Scottish saying goes: "There's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes!"
Tourist offices:
Lech Zürs Tourismus GmbH, www.lechzuers.com
Warth-Schröcken Tourismus, www.warth-schroecken.com
Lechtal Tourismus, www.lechtal.at
Naturparkregion Reutte, www.reutte.com
Füssen Tourismus und Marketing, www.fuessen.de
Lechweg difficulty
The Lechweg trail is easy, offers varied landscapes and is family-friendly. The real difficulty is that a few stages require a good level of fitness. However, there are no significant elevation gains to overcome.
The most beautiful stage of the Lechweg
For many, the most beautiful stage of the Lechweg is the last one, from Lech to Füssen, with breathtaking views of the Alps and the Lech River. The first stage with Lake Formarin is also breathtaking.
Lechweg suspension bridge
The suspension bridge on the Lechweg is an impressive attraction that takes you across the Lech River and provides a special experience. It offers a great view of the surrounding nature and makes your hike even more varied.
Hiking the Lechweg alone
Hiking the Lechweg alone can be a wonderful and peaceful experience. It gives you the opportunity to enjoy nature at your own pace, to relax and to concentrate fully on your surroundings. It is important that you are well prepared. If you enjoy travelling alone, the Lechweg is a great choice for experiencing nature and tranquillity.
Lechweg packing list
Here I recommend the most important hiking equipment that I own, have tested myself and have also bought myself. I pay a lot of attention to the weight and quality of my equipment. The equipment should simply feel good on longer tours and also be light. I can recommend the equipment for women because my wife uses it and it is basically the same as the equipment for men.
Note: Please keep in mind that the packing list is general and you will have to adapt it depending on the season and your needs!
Advertising note: These product links are affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, I will receive a small commission without you having to pay more. This is for the maintenance of my blog and you support me with my project, for which I am very grateful. Thank you very much!
Clothes
Hiking boots
Hiking shorts
Long hiking pants
Functional shirt
Hybridjacket
Fleece-jacket
Rain jacket
Functional underwear
Hiking socks
Other hiking equipment:
• Sun cap
Hiking backback (approx. 60 litres or as required)
by EXPED - unfortunately not available on Amazon.
• Backback - Ospray (was my old one and is also good)
Technology and orientation:
• Compass
• Headlamp
• GPS device or GPS watch if necessary
• Binoculars if necessary
Catering:
• Sweets to keep up morale :)
Health & first Aid:
• First Aid (small and light)
• Tape
• Bivouac
• Toilet paper
Other:
• Passport/Insurance certificate
• cash
• Gas cartridge
Film equipment:
• Camera
• Drone
• Tripod
• Clip
To prepare yourself optimally for your hikes, I recommend the workouts on my YouTube channel.
Long-distance hiking trails in Europe: 90 routes, all countries
Safety advice
Lechweg elevation profile
Here you will find an overview of the elevation profile that awaits you on the Lechweg. If you start the Lechweg at Formarinsee, you will be walking slightly downhill the entire way.
Lechweg map
Here you will find a map of the Lechweg, which you can use to get a rough overview for planning purposes. For more detailed planning, I would recommend the maps from Outdooractive and Komoot.
Outdooractive:
Komoot:
Lechweg Trail – conclusion
The Lechweg Trail is a beautiful hiking route that leads through impressive nature and varied landscapes. It offers a perfect mix of tranquillity, nature experiences and cultural highlights. The route is well signposted and also suitable for hikers of average fitness, whereby you can individually adjust the stages depending on their length and elevation profile. I wish you a wonderful time and every success.
As always, I would be very happy to receive feedback via one of my channels.
You are also welcome to leave me a comment here.
Hello, I am Christian, the chief globetrotter of this Site and an enthusiastic adventurer, hiker and filmmaker. I love to explore new paths and inspire people with them, and I love to share my hiking knowledge with you! You can also find my videos on YouTube! On my blog you can find tips for beginners and professionals on the greatest and most beautiful hiking tours there are. I want to encourage people to explore the world as a hiker, whether in the countryside, through the forest or in the mountains. True to the motto: If you haven't hiked, you haven't seen the world,
On my blog, I also write about hiking gear, the right summit training and nature conservation, as well as tips and information about hiking.