Hinanger Waterfall

Sonthofen / Hinang / Oberallgau District, Bavaria (Bayern), Germany

About Hinanger Waterfall


Hiking Distance: 1.2km round trip
Suggested Time: 1 hour

Date first visited: 2018-06-24
Date last visited: 2018-06-24

Waterfall Latitude: 47.47625
Waterfall Longitude: 10.30116

Waterfall Safety and Common Sense

The Hinanger Waterfall was an eccentric karstic limestone type waterfall featuing some interesting weeping rocks as well as a small natural arch.

Those additional features were what made this one of the most scenic waterfalls of the Allgäu Region.

Hinanger_Waterfall_113_06242018 - The Hinanger Waterfall
The Hinanger Waterfall

While its main drop was said to be on the order of 12m or so, there was a long series of cascades (maybe 25m in height or so) throughout the stair-filled hike to get up to the main drop.

Beyond the waterfall, the trail skirted along some impressive overhanging cliffs, which was quite atmospheric.

Personally, I felt the extra scenery and exertion to be well worth the time and effort in addition to just the waterfall itself.

For nomenclature’s sake, I’ve referred to this waterfall as the Hinanger Waterfall (as opposed to the Hinang Waterfall).

Hinanger_Waterfall_048_06242018 - A surprise natural arch fronting the Hinanger Waterfall
A surprise natural arch fronting the Hinanger Waterfall

That’s because it seemed to be most commonly referred to by its German genitive form of Hinanger Wasserfall.

Hinanger Waterfall Trail Description – ascending to the waterfall

From the parallel parking spots by the trailhead (see directions below), we followed a fairly obvious path towards some mill before crossing a bridge over the Hinangerbach.

Beyond the bridge, the trail would then climb and zig-zag its way across the creek a few times.

Along the way, the trail allowed us a chance to check out several intermediate cascades and waterfalls along the way.

Hinanger_Waterfall_021_06242018 - The Hinanger Waterfall Trail ascending steps alongside the waterfall's cascading sections downstream of its main drop
The Hinanger Waterfall Trail ascending steps alongside the waterfall’s cascading sections downstream of its main drop

There was no obvious way to take pictures that would convey the extensiveness of these percolating cascades over the limestone slope.

It really was one of those things where you were better off experiencing it in person than trying to take awkward pictures (though I did so anyways).

Eventually towards the top of the climb, the trail then fronted the main drop of the Hinanger Waterfall.

It was difficult even to capture its modest drop in its entirety because of how close the steel bridge was to the waterfall itself.

Hinanger_Waterfall_028_06242018 - Context of the Hinanger Waterfall Trail and its cascades further downstream of its main drop
Context of the Hinanger Waterfall Trail and its cascades further downstream of its main drop

While examining the immediate area around the base of the falls, we saw that there were percolating springs and weeping rocks around it.

We also noticed some hidden tiny alcoves and even a small natural arch!

Hinanger Waterfall Trail Description – beyond the waterfall

Beyond the Hinanger Waterfall, I continued hiking alongside the base of some impressive overhanging cliffs.

The trail continued its gradual ascent towards the end of the cliffs, where the scenery opened up.

Hinanger_Waterfall_042_06242018 - Context of the trail beyond the Hinanger Waterfall, which followed along these interesting limestone cliffs with alcoves and natural arches in them
Context of the trail beyond the Hinanger Waterfall, which followed along these interesting limestone cliffs with alcoves and natural arches in them

At this point, the trail joined up with other trails that appeared to pass through pastures and lightly forested terrain.

So that was my turnaround point of this out-and-back hike.

Overall, we spent about an hour away from the car.

According to my GPS logs, we hiked around 1.2km round trip.

Hinanger_Waterfall_120_06242018 - Looking back towards the village of Hinang on the way back to the trailhead parking after having visited the Hinanger Waterfall
Looking back towards the village of Hinang on the way back to the trailhead parking after having visited the Hinanger Waterfall

This did not include the added hike along the base of the cliffs beyond the waterfall, which added another 400m round trip.

Authorities

The Hinanger Waterfall resides near the town of Sonthofen in the state of Bavaria (Bayern), Germany. It may be administered by the Sonthofen government. For information or inquiries about the area as well as current conditions, you may try visiting their website.

Hinanger_Waterfall_006_06242018 - Right at the trailhead for the Hinanger Waterfall as we started the uphill walk to get there
Hinanger_Waterfall_007_06242018 - Looking back towards the village of Hinang at the start of the Hinanger Waterfall hike
Hinanger_Waterfall_008_06242018 - Walking past this barn or mill or something en route to the Hinanger Waterfall
Hinanger_Waterfall_009_06242018 - This is the part where the Hinanger Waterfall Trail went across a bridge before continuing on the other side of the stream
Hinanger_Waterfall_013_06242018 - After a brief section of the Hinanger Waterfall Trail leading to some mill, it then crossed a bridge over the Hinanger Bach before following the creek upstream
Hinanger_Waterfall_014_06242018 - The Hinanger Waterfall Trail climbing as it made its way up to the main drop of the waterfall
Hinanger_Waterfall_116_06242018 - The Hinanger Waterfall Trail started off gently sloping in an uphill trajectory
Hinanger_Waterfall_018_06242018 - It didn't take long before the Hinanger Waterfall Trail had to start climbing a lot of steps alongside the cascades downstream of the main Hinanger Waterfall
Hinanger_Waterfall_023_06242018 - Continuing on the uphill climb to get up to the Hinanger Waterfall
Hinanger_Waterfall_032_06242018 - Finally getting close to the Hinanger Waterfall
Hinanger_Waterfall_036_06242018 - It was difficult to get a clean and satisfying photo of just the Hinanger Waterfall because the steel bridge passed so close to its base
Hinanger_Waterfall_044_06242018 - Looking up towards the top of the Hinanger Waterfall as it continued to cut into the limestone
Hinanger_Waterfall_069_06242018 - Direct partial look up at the Hinanger Waterfall from right at its base
Hinanger_Waterfall_054_06242018 - Beyond the Hinanger Waterfall, the trail continued along the base of these interesting limestone cliffs. Note the boulder chunks that have already flaked off and fell onto the trail. That is something you definitely don't want to land on top of you!
Hinanger_Waterfall_056_06242018 - Continuing along the base of the limestone cliffs as I continued to see what else was beyond the Hinanger Waterfall
Hinanger_Waterfall_057_06242018 - Going up some steps beyond the Hinanger Waterfall's base as I sought to explore what else there was to see here
Hinanger_Waterfall_060_06242018 - Passing beneath an overhang as I continued my exploration of what was beyond the Hinanger Waterfall
Hinanger_Waterfall_061_06242018 - Looking back at an interestingly-placed rest bench underneath an overhang along the trail beyond the Hinanger Waterfall
Hinanger_Waterfall_063_06242018 - After having seen the trail junctions and open pastures where the limestone cliffs petered out, I then headed back down towards the Hinanger Waterfall
Hinanger_Waterfall_067_06242018 - Returning to the base of the Hinanger Waterfall where there were some people checking it out when I got back
Hinanger_Waterfall_089_06242018 - Some slight rainbows were appearing at the base of some of the percolating parts of the Hinanger Waterfall
Hinanger_Waterfall_115_06242018 - Approaching a rest bench during the return hike from the Hinanger Waterfall
Hinanger_Waterfall_124_06242018 - Back at the parking area for the Hinanger Waterfall where some spots opened up as it was starting to get late in the afternoon


Since the Hinganger Waterfall was roughly half-way between Lindau and Füssen, I’ll describe the driving directions from both of those towns.

Getting to the trailhead gets pretty tricky once you get close because the maps will deceivingly make it seem like you can get there directly from one of the main roads.

However, it’s actually not possible because the trailhead parking access passes beneath a bridge that can only be accessed from the village of Hinang.

Driving from Lindau to the Hinang

Starting from Lindau Island turnoff, we headed east on the Bregenzerstraße towards the roundabout with the B12.

Then, we continued east at that roundabout (first exit) as we drove another 2.5km or so towards the A96 autobahn ramp (following the signs along the way).

We then took the A96 autobahn due north for about 4.5km to the exit 4 (Weißensberg) turning right to go east onto the B12.

Next, we followed the B12 for about 55km towards its junction with B19 near Waltenhofen.

We then headed south (exit 3 on the right) for the B19 due south for another 21km.

At the town of Sonthofen, we took the Oberstdorfer Straße exit, where we then kept right at the fork to head west on Oberstdorferstraße.

Then, we immediately turned left onto Sinwagstraße which then took us about 600m to Stadionweg.

Turning left onto Stadionweg, we then went another 50m to the Freibadstrasße at a roundabout.

Taking the first exit at this roundabout, we then went about another 200m before turning right to go south on Altstädterstraße.

This became Sonthofer Straße as we continued going south on this road.

After 3km (or 600m past Altstädten), we then kept right at a small fork where a narrow road led into the village of Hinang.

Navigating Hinang to the Hinanger Waterfall

Do not make the mistake we made by staying on the left to remain on the main road.

This is the tricky part I was talking about earlier.

Hinanger_Waterfall_002_06242018 - Looking up along the parallel-parked cars on the road fronting the trailhead for the Hinanger Waterfall
Looking up along the parallel-parked cars on the road fronting the trailhead for the Hinanger Waterfall

After following the narrow road into Hinang for about 500m, we then had to turn left on a very narrow street before the Kirche St Martin.

If you happen to cross the Hinanger Bach, then you missed the correct turnoff.

Use that as these as the landmarks because it’s not that obvious that you have to turn there.

Once on the correct turnoff, we then drove the remaining 400m to the parallel parking spots by the Hinanger Waterfall Trailhead.

This access road crosses under a bridge (that you would have been above if you didn’t go into Hinang).

Hinanger_Waterfall_004_06242018 - Looking back at the parallel parking situation for the Hinanger Waterfall. Note the road bridge traversing this access road, which was why you must access the village of Hinang in order to get here
Looking back at the parallel parking situation for the Hinanger Waterfall. Note the road bridge traversing this access road, which was why you must access the village of Hinang in order to get here

Parking was limited when we showed up, but if you do score a spot, there was no fee to park here as of June 2018 when we did this hike.

Overall, this drive took us 90 minutes.

Driving from Fussen to Sonthofen

Conversely, if we were coming from Füssen, we’d go west on the A7 autobahn for about 31km before heading west on the A980.

Then after another 5km on the A980, we’d take the offramp to get onto the B19.

Then, we’d follow the directions as above to get from the B19 to Sonthofen and beyond.

For geographical context, Sonthofen was about 64km (an hour drive) east of Lindau, and 61km (under 45 minutes drive) west of Füssen.

Find A Place To Stay

Examining the main waterfall along with the small natural arch and the surrounding alcoves and springs


Long video starting from near the base of the main section of the falls then working my way all the way to the bottom while periodically checking to see how the main falls looks along the way

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Tagged with: hinang, sonthofen, oberallgau, bavaria, germany, waterfall, hinangerbach, limestone



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Johnny Cheng

About Johnny Cheng

Johnny Cheng is the founder of the World of Waterfalls and author of the award-winning A Guide to New Zealand Waterfalls. Over the last 2 decades, he has visited thousands of waterfalls in over 40 countries around the world and nearly 40 states in the USA.
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