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Hiking to Unterer Gaisalpsee — A Cool Escape in the Allgäu Alps
Hiking to Unterer Gaisalpsee · Germany
- Time
- ~2 h up, 1.5 h down
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Season
- May–October
- Water
- Carry 1 L per person; refill only at the lake
- Parking
- Car park near the start, Paid, 47.447969, 10.29625
In short
The Unterer Gaisalpsee hike starts in Reichenbach near Oberstdorf and follows a 10.9 km loop with 724 m of ascent. It is a moderate hike, taking about 2 hours up and 1.5 hours down. The best season is May to October; carry 1 L of water per person and refill only at the lake.
The route
- Distance
- 10.9 km
- Ascent
- +724 m
- Descent
- −724 m
- High point
- 1,508 m
- Lowest point
- 861 m
A Reichenbach: 47.44815, 10.29667▲ Unterer Gaisalpsee: 47.42856, 10.32412
Walking time, without breaks
- Relaxed6 h 30 min
- Average5 h 15 min
- Fast4 h 10 min
How steep
- Under 8% 3.1 km
- 8 to 15% 2.9 km
- 15 to 25% 3.0 km
- Over 25% 1.3 km
In two parts
- Up to Unterer Gaisalpsee 5.5 km · +687 m
- Back down to Reichenbach 4.8 km · −663 m
What to pack
Every hike
- Water: about 2 litres (half a litre an hour)
- Food and snacks for the day
- Rain jacket
- A warm layer (fleece or light down)
- Sun cap, sunglasses and sun cream
- Boots or trail shoes with good grip
- Phone with the map offline, and a power bank
- Small first aid kit
- Headlamp, in case it gets late
- Some cash and your ID
Water and sun
- Swimsuit and a quick-dry towel, if you fancy a dip
The guide
There are days when you don’t want a summit — just a quiet lake, cold water, and a long breath of alpine air.
Unterer Gaisalpsee, hidden above the village of Reichenbach near Oberstdorf, delivers exactly that: a two-hour climb ending at one of Bavaria’s most inviting mountain lakes.
The Setting
The Allgäu Alps are Bavaria’s softer side — green meadows, wood huts, waterfalls, and steep peaks that still feel wild.
The trail to Unterer Gaisalpsee (1’508 m) follows this rhythm perfectly: waterfalls, forest, flowers, and finally a cold blue lake framed by Rubihorn’s rocky slopes.
From the parking lot in Reichenbach (860 m), you follow signs marked Gaisalp. Two paths start the journey — take the one that climbs through the narrow Reichenbachtobel gorge. It’s steeper and wetter but far more scenic, a series of small cascades and bridges tucked between moss-covered walls.
After half an hour, the gorge opens into pastures and the real climb begins — a narrow alpine trail winding through roots and stone, occasionally giving views back over the Iller valley.
And then the forest thins, the light changes, and the lake appears: green grass, clear water, quiet wind.
Trail Data
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Distance: | 10.9 km (loop) |
| Elevation gain/loss: | 724 m |
| Max elevation: | 1’508 m/alt |
| Min elevation: | 860 m |
| Difficulty: | Moderate |
| Time: | ~2 h up, 1.5 h down |
| Trail type: | Loop |
The path is stony but never exposed — ideal for confident beginners or anyone after a half-day alpine hike with a clear goal and a reward at the top.
The Lake
Unterer Gaisalpsee is one of those lakes that looks gentle but stays cold all year. Even in July, the water rarely passes 10 °C. Still, on a hot day, there’s no better swim.
The shore is wide enough for everyone to find their own patch of grass. Sit, eat, or watch reflections shift with the clouds.
The ambitious can continue another hour to Rubihorn (1,957 m) or Geißfußsattel, gaining full views over Oberstdorf and the Nebelhorn ridge. But most people stop here — and they’re right to.
Getting There
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Start: Village of Reichenbach (near Oberstdorf, Allgäu)
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Parking: Two lots before the village — one large paid, one small free.
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Public transport: Train to Oberstdorf → Bus to Reichenbach (stop “Reichenbach bei Oberstdorf”).
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Season: May–October. The gorge path can be slippery after rain; avoid in winter.
Notes for Hikers
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Footwear: Sturdy hiking shoes — roots and wet rock.
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Water: Carry 1 L per person; refill only at the lake.
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Swimming: Allowed; water is cold but clean.
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Best light: Morning sun hits the lake from the east; afternoon brings reflections.
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Families: Good for fit kids 10 +.
Reflections
Some hikes challenge; others reset. Unterer Gaisalpsee does the second.
It’s a small pocket of alpine calm — waterfalls at the start, mountain air at the top, and a lake that forces you to slow down because it’s too cold to rush in.
The Allgäu doesn’t shout. It whispers — and this hike is one of its clearest sentences.