Altes Bad Pfäfers to Pfäfers
Summary: This section of the hike takes us from Altes Bad Pfäfers, partially up the side of the canyon and then across on the Naturbrücke, up the remainder of the canyon wall and then along the top of the canyon to the village of Pfäfers.
From the signpost at Altes Bad Pfäfers, we walk along the righthand side of the buildings until we reach the point where the path turns back on itself.
At this point, if you follow the sign saying “Zur Quelle”, it will take you to the entrance to a grotto, where you can follow the river back to some hot springs, which provide the therapeutic waters for the local baths.
We follow the other path, which proceeds uphill. This zig-zag section of gravel path leads us up the side of the canyon and is the first real section of hiking on the walk, although not too strenuous. Eventually the trail levels out and we walk along the edge of the canyon until we reach a further signpost and a fork in the trails.
Following the route signposted to Pfäfers, we descend slightly as we follow the side of the canyon, until eventually, we reach the “Naturbrücke”, a small bridge across the canyon. From the center of the bridge, you get a view down between the jagged rocks, into the canyon below.
Having crossed the bridge, we now face the most strenuous part of the hike, up the remainder of the side of the canyon. Initially, we follow the small dirt trail that leads up to our right. The trail soon leads to a set of wooden stairs, and these lead us zig-zagging up the side of the canyon.
The side of the canyon is covered in trees, but between the leaves, you can just make out glimpses of the snow-covered mountain tops in the distance.
After what seems like an eternity of climbing stairs, we finally reach the top and a signpost again directing us towards Pfäfers. Here the path levels out and runs along the edge of the canyon, with rough fields to the other side of us. Looking across the canyon to our left, you can see the tree covered mountains, with buildings on their lower reaches.
As we continue our way, the trail enters a wooded area, and becomes more of a dirt track as it begins to gently climb, until it finally emerges next to the road to Pfäfers. The remainder of our journey to Pfäfers, will be alongside this road.
Initially, we walk along a wooden footway on the side of the road, which is separated from it, before we walk along the actual edge of the road itself. Eventually, on the other side of the road, a signpost directs us up a gravel trail.
With the trees thinning out, the full view across the gorge to the mountains beyond can now be seen.
Continuing our way along the gravel track, we eventually reach a collection of buildings and are directed to cross the road once again. Walking along the side of the road, we reach another path that is separated from the road by a barrier and then a stone wall. We continue walking alongside the road, until we reach the outskirts of Pfäfers, where the pathway finishes.
Care should be taken here as there is no pathway in places and the road is narrow with a number of bends.
We walk through the streets of Pfäfers until we reach the center of the village and the end of this section of the hike.
46,253 total views, 51 views today