Hermann-von-Barth-Hütte

Leaving from the village of Elbigenalp in the middle of the Lechtal Valley, this circular hike leads up to one of the most popular huts in the region: the Hermann-von-Barth-Hütte (2,131 metres). It is the highest mountain refuge in the Allgäu Alps and offers fine views of the Lechtal Valley and the smaller Bernhardstal Valley, including the craggy peaks of the Kreuzkarspitze (2,587 metres) and the Wolfebnerspitze (2,432 metres) as well as the Lechtal Alps to the south. There is plenty of rock-climbing near the hut, with most routes rated intermediate or difficult.
Leaving from the "Geierwally" carpark in Elbigenalp, take the wide trail along the banks of the Bernhardsbach stream until you reach the final few houses on the mountain slopes. From there, things get steeper. The trail leads up over the Ölberg, where the Ölbergkapelle was erected in 1766, and on to the Kasermandlhütte hut (1,410 metres). It is here that the paths become narrower and more mountainous. Head into the forest, past the Balschtenhütten huts and across the Balschtebach stream onto the left-hand bank. By the time you reach this point you will have completed around half of the total ascent. The adventure continues across rolling terrain dotted with rocks and grassy outcrops, winding its way via a series of switchback corners to a ridge knoen as the Wolfebnerkar. High above you will be able to see the eye-catching peaks of the Ilfen, Plattenspitze and Wolfebnerspitze. The trail heads left, past a mountain spring, to the Hermann-von-Barth-Hütte (2,131 metres). The hut is named after Hermann von Barth, who was one of the first to establish trails and huts in the Karwendel Mountains, Allgäu Alps and Lechtal Alps. Chances are that he stood atop pretty much every single one of the numerous peaks you can see from the hut.