Hiking: Buchenberg circuit
The family-friendly and 4,5 kilometer-long Buchenberg circuit delights hiking enthusiasts with wonderful viewpoints and wonderful natural impressions. It leads to the popular Buchenberg in Buching, which attracts those seeking relaxation, nature lovers and recreational athletes all year round.
There is no strenuous mountain climbing to be expected on the Buchenberg circuit, but thanks to a varied route, great views over the foothills of the Alps and, in places, quite steep climbs, this hiking tour is never boring. It is suitable for families with children and the Buchenberg Alm offers a cozy place to stop for a break. Hiking enthusiasts with little fitness or families with very small children have the option of taking the Buchenbergbahn to the summit and only completing the return journey downhill on foot. The starting and finishing point of the Buchenberg circuit is the valley station of the Buchenbergbahn in Buching. You can get there by car if you take the A7 or the federal highways B16 or B310 to Füssen and from there follow the B17 to Schwangau and Buching. If you arrive by public transport, you can take the 73 bus from the Füssen train station to Buching.
The Buchenberg in Buching offers numerous wonderful leisure activities all year round. Numerous best hiking trails lead from here into the Ammergebirge nature reserve, the largest nature reserve in Bavaria, which impresses with picturesque mixed mountain forests, Ice Age moors and a diverse range of flora and fauna. Mountain bikers will find varied routes on Buchenberg and hang gliders and paragliders take off from here for unforgettable flights over the Allgäuer Königswinkel. In the cold season, Buchenberg attracts winter sports fans with its family ski area, which offers a variety of slopes for every level and beautiful cross-country trails that run through a picturesque snowy landscape. On the Buchenberg circuit you first go up the mountain on the cultural path, which leads over picturesque meadows and through small forests.
The forest path, which is slippery in places, climbs quite steeply in serpentines and only noticeably levels off shortly before the summit. At an altitude of 1142 meters stands the cozy Buchenberg Alm, a beautiful mountain hut that invites you to take a break. Before that, however, it is advisable to hike on the Buchenberg circular trail, which leads over alpine meadows and through small forests on a plateau around the mountain. You are always offered wonderful views over the vast foothills of the Alps. On the terrace of the Buchenberg Alm you can also enjoy beautiful views over the castles, mountains and lakes of the Königswinkel while you fortify yourself with a delicious Bavarian snack or Allgäuer hut dishes. Meanwhile, the children can let off steam to their heart's content in an adjacent playground.
When the weather conditions are good, hang gliders and paragliders take off next to the Alm for their sightseeing flights over the Allgäu. If you would like to take part in such a flight, you can be accompanied by an experienced pilot and jump in tandem. A little hidden west of the Buchenberg Alm is the “Sechs-Seen-Blick” viewing point, which you shouldn’t miss when you’re here.
The descent from Buchenberg takes place via the stream path. However, there is also a flatter variant for the descent, which runs over the Alpe Ebene and is recommended for families with very small children. Of course, the Buchenbergbahn can also take you down into the valley if you want. The stream path leads steeply downhill along a meadow to a stream over which a wooden bridge leads. Now the path winds steeply down into the valley, where it slowly becomes more level. There are always beautiful views of the surrounding landscape along the way. Shortly before Buching you walk on a gravel path that turns into a tar road and leads into the town. At the third junction, turn right to get back to the Buchenbergbahn valley station. The Buchenberg circuit can of course be extended at the summit as desired. As already chosen, numerous best paths lead into the surrounding mountains and the Ammergebirge nature reserve.
A delightful hiking tour from Buchenberg leads, for example, to Bannwaldsee and then on to the royal castles in Schwangau. If you fancy a challenging mountain hike, you can get from Buchenberg via the Vordere Mühlberger Älpele to the 1703 meter high Schönleitenschrofen, which offers a magnificent all-round view of the Allgäu. The Buchenberg in Buching is undoubtedly one of the most popular mountains in the Ostallgäu hiking region and we can only recommend a trip to it during your holiday here.
The family-friendly Buchenberg circuit offers wonderful natural impressions along picturesque alpine meadows and wonderful views over the Allgäuer Königswinkel with its peaks, castles and numerous lakes. This hiking tour is interesting for both adults and children and will never be boring. In the cozy Buchenberg Alm you can indulge in delicious Allgäuer delicacies every now and then, so that culinary delights are not neglected on this hiking tour.
