If you’re looking for spectacular landscapes, you’ll always find them in Bavaria. Whether it’s roaring waterfalls, towering mountain peaks, or deep gorges, nature lovers are sure to find something to their liking here. If you’d like a little bit of everything, you should take a tour through the Hölltobel near Oberstdorf. Deep crevices, roaring waterfalls, and a wonderful view are all waiting to be discovered by you.
Over Hill and Valley
The Hölltobel is anything but hellish: rather, a heavenly landscape awaits you here, shaped by the Dietersbach through erosion. After leaving the Dietersbach Valley, the stream enters the gorge, which leads you up over 400 meters in elevation to the mountain village of Gerstruben. As you hike up the mountain, the stream babbles alongside you, gliding over small steps again and again to form pretty cascades. Along the way, you’ll repeatedly catch sight of deep crevices in the rock, from which water shoots out powerfully in some places. The trail itself is rocky, so you’ll definitely need sturdy footwear.
After a while, you’ll reach the first of the two large waterfalls. From a viewing platform, you can look down at the stream as it plunges over 10 meters into a pool. Even more spectacular is the second waterfall, which awaits you a bit further up. There’s also a viewing platform here, located at the top of the fall. From there, you can look 20 meters down into the so-called “Gemsengrab” (Chamois Grave). Legend has it that a chamois shot by a hunter fell down here. The platform itself brings you quite close to the waterfall, so that the spray splashes your face and you can truly feel the forces of nature.
Through the Hölltobel to Gerstruben
After you’ve also left the upper waterfall behind, the trail continues uphill for a while. At the top, you’ll enjoy a breathtaking view of the gorge and the Dietersbach. Finally, you’ll leave the Hölltobel and reach Gerstruben, a mountain village with just four houses that has stood up here for 400 to 500 years. At an elevation of 1,155 meters, it’s considered one of the highest-altitude villages in Germany. Up here, you can marvel at the view of the surrounding mountains and refuel with a snack before heading back.
The Hölltobel has been accessible to hikers since the 19th century. The two viewing platforms at the waterfalls were also built during that time , though they were originally made of wood. Today, they’re made of steel and are clearly the highlight of the hike. If you want to visit the Hölltobel, you should do so in the spring or summer, as it closes for the winter. From Oberstdorf’s main train station, you can take the bus to Christelssee , which is the starting point of your hike. This means you can completely do without a car for this trip.
