Ferchensee & Lautersee: The Easy Lake Tour
This weekly series features mountain hikes that showcase the diverse landscapes between the Wetterstein and Karwendel ranges. Today, we’re heading to Ferchensee and Lautersee.
There are places where you don’t have to look far to find beauty. Around Schloss Elmau, it begins almost casually. Nestled between the Wetterstein, Karwendel, and the quieter heights above the Elmau Valley lie hiking trails that feel less like strenuous hikes and more like little journeys into different alpine atmospheres. If you set out from here, you can choose a different atmosphere every day. Today, we’re taking a leisurely hike to Ferchensee and Lautersee.
Source: Will Essig
Ferchensee | 3.5 km from Schloss Elmau
Ferchensee & Lautersee: The Easy Lake Tour
This hike offers the gentlest introduction to the Elmau landscape. From the hotel, the trail first leads along the Ferchenbach stream out of the valley, accompanied by the sound of the water and the cool shade of the forest. After a few kilometers, Ferchensee comes into view: framed by the forest and possessing that effortless beauty one often expects to find in the Alps only after climbing many meters in elevation.
If you just want to take a short walk, stay at Ferchensee, walk around the shore, and return along a similar route. If you want to hike further, follow the trail toward Lautersee. There are swimming areas and places to stop for refreshments at both lakes. From Lautersee, you can catch a glimpse of Mittenwald and, above it, the familiar limestone cliffs. It is precisely this combination that makes the tour so appealing. It’s not a summit hike, but rather a leisurely journey through streams, forests, and lakes. Ideal for the first day, for families, or for an afternoon when you’d rather take in the scenery than push yourself too hard.
Source: Kriner/Weiermann
Lautersee | 6 km from Schloss Elmau
