Hiking in Bavaria : Seebensee in Ehrwald, Austria

I´ve welcomed October this year with another early morning hike.I was grateful to have free days from work plus it was a long weekend because of celebration of German Unity Day so we grab our hiking boots and got moving.We drive in the direction of Munich, A9 and Garmisch-Partenkirchen, to the direction of Ehrwald in the Zugspitze region.We´ve been to this area many times before but just like any hike we did, it seems like its always a first time, alwaaaays.

I am always curious to see new things, new paths, new mountain, and new experience.

Let me share to you the photos I´ve made during this hike.Photos can say it all, no explanations needed.Nature by this time in this mountain is just splendid, with warm tones of Goldener Herbst (Golden October).Too bad the foliage are not yet that yet colorful, i mean the warmth of yellow and rosette reds and orange leaves, nevertheless, it was a beautiful day spent outdoors.Autobahn was still quiet and calm around 5.45-6.30 am.It was a smooth drive and I enjoyed the sceneries between fog, glowing mountains with pure excitement.

After a few hours,we arrived at the Cable car parking lot of Ehrwalder cable car.We were here as well when my daughter was only 3 yrs old.She doesn´t have a ny memories of it.For her, its just another hiking day with Mama & Papa.Good thing now that she´s almost big as me, we can be more in a relaxed pace and doesn´t need to always have a playground break! :-))

This hike is actually moderately -easy, but she calls it horror hike because you know, pre- teens prefer more “ chillin” time rather than burning your ass hiking in hihj altitudes.But as always, her mood changes as we go on.Nature is the best remedy for tantrums! We love the sights as we hike up, this hike took half of our day, i normally don´t wanna stress about the time but just taking our time to enjoy every step, nature stops, mindful of the natural cinema around us.There is a profound peace found in standing in the midst of a mountain, stepping on aged roots of trees in the forest, and wilderness.I noticed that this hike is quite popular since the path going to Seebensee and Drachensee is packed, quite a number of seniors and young kids as well.It always make me smile to see older people in groups walking and trekking.It´s just a happy sight to watch them–a full of life activity, smiling, full of vigour–a sign of longetivity.

A few kilometers, the path gets steeper and more rockier so its always best to wear sturdy footwear.On our day of hike its was pretty cold for early Fall, minus temps in the early morning so we came prepared bundled up warm.It was a lovely sunny day and the clean air was so refreshing up in the mountain.The reward after this tedious hike is the sight of the emerald blue, crystal clear blue waters of Seebensee lake.It is beautiful up there.With all the many alpine lakes I´ve seen, this one is quite picturesque.We hiked up around it and just enjoyed the stunning landscape in front of us.Watching the snowy mountain peaks makes it even more beautiful.

There´s another option to hike up further to Coburgerhütte to see Drachensee but we skip that since we had another agenda for the afternoon.I noticed that in this area, trail biking and running is quite popular and many are doing it.I was really envious of the people who did trailrunning in this loop.That could be epic and ambitious.Some even cycle up with normal bikes and i really find that crazy!

From time to time, we had glimpses of the peaks of the Zugspitze- the tallest of Germany , Ehrwaldersonnenspitze ,Wettersteine and the Mieminger mountains so its like we´re in the middle of these beauties, an endless show of natural paradise.Even in early fall, the scenery is like carved from a postcard.No doubt at all, we´re sure going to be back in this area once again…

A friend asked me why we are always in the mountain?

With hiking, It´s not all about the physical endurance and thrill, it´s more like enjoying simple natural remedies.The crisp, clean air, a good physical challenge to surprise ourselves or just pure wanderings and all, every hike has it all.Sometimes, the sights doens´t even need to always have the wow-factor, the mere fact that we finished what we´ve started, then that´s enough.Hiking is a great reason to get tired.

Whether enjoying a meal together after a tiring hike, or sipping a glass of Wildberry Lillet with a majestic view of the mountains, or enjoying a sumptious “Kaiserschmarrn “ , either way, well that can be priceless and I would love to keep that on-repeat!

Ehrwald is part of the Tiroler Zugspitz Arena, which consists of 7 small and beautiful towns on the Austrian- Bavarian border. At the foot of Germany’s tallest mountain you’ll find the little towns: Ehrwald, Lermoos, Berwang, Biberwier, Bichlbach, Heiterwang am See, and Namlos.Good thing about traveling with a car, it is quite easy to explore the neighbouring little towns within minutes.After a hike, my daughter tried the Rodelbahn in Biberwier and we got to do our small retail shopping and groceries in Lermoos.Plus its never boring because the towns are so quaint , really unique qith painted Tyrolean accents.

I need to mentioned that the Tirolerhaus up there in Ehrwalderalm is a gem.It´s a first class restaurant that we´ve enjoyed so far.The food is great and they also have the cleanest & modern bathrooms in this elevation.For my daughter, its a win-win since they have a trampoline and nice playground outside, with breathtaking views of the mountains of course.