Country:
City:
Ifenbahn valley station (Walserbus Line 5, Ifen stop). There is ample car parking at the valley station, but you will then need to take the bus back from Baad (from Baad, take Line 1 to Breitachbrücke, then change to Line 5 to Ifen – last departure from Breitachbrücke at 17:56)
(S) Our route begins at the foot of the steps; we walk past the toilet block, turn right at the end of the building, and the path climbs gently.
We follow the signs to Melköde or Schwarzwasserhütte slightly uphill to the left and walk slightly uphill along a wide forest track. We reach Herzsee, a reservoir created to supply water for snowmaking in the Ifen ski area, which we pass on the right. If you wish, you can walk around the lake on a narrow path. We stay on the forest track and ignore all the turnings; the path continues to climb gently. We eventually reach the forest; on the left, the Schwarzwasserbach babbles, but it then turns away and the landscape opens up to our left.
(1) We reach Alpe Melköde. After the large barn – that is, directly in front of the actual alpine pasture – our path turns sharply right and climbs relatively steeply. From here on, we walk along a typical unpaved alpine path, initially ascending alongside the Schwarzwasserbach stream. We are at the edge of the forest and the path initially flattens out slightly, then becomes steeper again.
(2) We pass a turnstile and come out onto a cow pasture, walking past grazing animals, steadily uphill.
(3) We come to a stone bench; anyone who wishes can take a short breather here at 1,500 metres.
(4) We leave the pasture through a gate and walk the final few metres, a short climb across grassy areas.
(5) We reach the next place to stop for refreshments at 1,620 m above sea level, the Schwarzwasserhütte. We pass the hut on our left, following the signs for the Ochsenfurter Scharte, which lead us left at the fork immediately after the hut. Directly ahead of us, we can already clearly make out the mountain ridge and the Scharte (the lowest point on the ridge). We pass the unmanned Schwarzwasseralpe, then continue straight on as the ascent begins. Initially following the slope, the path leads into bushy terrain with alpine roses. In high summer, you walk through a sea of pink-blooming alpine roses here. A few more short switchbacks and a gentle climb to exit the saddle, and we have reached the highest point of the tour at 1,815 metres.
(6) You must take care here at the Ochsenhofer Saddle: our path initially descends steeply and very awkwardly over scree from the signpost; an alp (the Starzelhütte) is clearly visible below us. After a few metres, however, our path turns left and we walk comfortably along the ridge, enjoying the view. The path continues gently downhill, and we cross several streams.
(7) At the next fork, it is advisable to take the right-hand path, as the left-hand path is very washed out. However, both paths rejoin after a short while.
(8) We reach a T-junction with a signpost and take the path to the left towards Äußere Stierhofalpe, continuing in the same direction.
(9) At the next fork, we keep to the right; the path now leads clearly down across the meadow and then into the woods. We leave the woods, turn right at the next junction – generally heading downhill – pass the Untere Lüchlealpe (unmanned), stay on the main path, walk briefly into the woods and then back out into the open countryside.
(10) The trail markings are unclear. We continue more or less straight ahead and take the path leading into the woods. The path continues downwards, at times quite steeply, and we cross the forest track.
(11) We finally reach a narrow road, the Starzelweg. Here we turn left, continuing downhill, and walk the last kilometre through Baad, with the bus stop and the roundabout already clearly visible down in the valley. At the junctions we stay on the road leading downwards (Baad), passing several places to stop for refreshments.
(E) We take the Walserbus Line 1 back out of the valley to our starting point.
Visorando Member
Easy 
Difficult 
