Lech Loop O - Between Source and Karst - Through the Steinerne Meer

The starting point of the route is Lech am Arlberg. You can reach the Formarinsee bus stop by the hiking bus (included in the Lech Card).

Passing the Alpe Formarin and the ibex monument (the bronze statue of the ibex stands here as a reminder of the reintroduction of alpine ibex in 1958), the path gently ascends through wide alpine meadows. Soon, you reach the first geological highlight: a small fossil coral reef – the precursor of the Steinerne Meer. Those who look closely will discover traces of prehistoric life: fossilized corals, shells, and ammonites – relics of a primeval sea that stretched here over 200 million years ago.

Now the landscape opens up more and more. The lush green meadows retreat and gradually turn into a barren plateau – the eponymous Steinerne Meer. Bizarre limestone rocks rise like petrified waves from the ground, between them yawning funnel-shaped dolines. The path winds over rough karst mounds and past crevices. At the western end of the Steinerne Meer, the path turns right and follows a gentle ups and downs beneath the Formaletsch. Optionally, you can take a detour from the path up to the Formaletsch (2,292 m) – a short, steep ascent rewarded with a magnificent panoramic view of the Rote Wand, Formarinsee, and the Steinerne Meer.

Even without the summit detour, after a few more bends, you reach the Freiburger Hut (1,931 m), which invites you to rest with regional dishes. After a refreshment, it goes comfortably back along the shore to the bus stop, where the hiking bus takes you back to Lech.