Außerfern: highline179, Plansee and the Fern Pass

Route description

From Füssen follow the B179 over the border to Reutte, about 15 km, the main town of the Außerfern district of Tyrol. The B179 is a federal road and needs no Austrian vignette. Just south of Reutte, the Ehrenberg castle ruins guard the valley, and the highline179 suspension bridge spans the road between them and Fort Claudia. Park at the Ehrenberg car park; the climb and crossing take about two hours.

Turn east at Reutte for the Plansee, a long, clear lake with only a few buildings on its shore. Stop at the lay-bys for a swim or a walk. If you want to return to Bavaria, the road continues through the Ammerwald to Linderhof Palace; otherwise double back and follow the B179 to Lermoos, where the Ehrwald basin opens under the Zugspitze wall.

South of Lermoos the B179 climbs to the Fern Pass at 1,216 m. The Blindsee, one of several turquoise forest lakes here, lies just below the road with a signed path down to it. On the southern side, the ruin of Sigmundsburg stands on an island in the Fernsteinsee. Descend to Nassereith and on to Imst, where the Rosengartenschlucht gorge begins right behind the parish church.

This short trip suits a weekend, but avoid the Fern Pass on summer Saturdays, when holiday traffic to Italy causes long queues. In peak periods Tyrol may close the side roads around Reutte to through traffic. The pass is open all year, but snow chains are sometimes needed in winter. From Imst the Inn valley motorway leads to Landeck or Innsbruck; that motorway needs a vignette.