Easy hikes and walks around Hechtsee

At the end of the gorge is the Gießenbach hydroelectric power plant, which has been in operation since the early 20th century. It harnesses the power of the Gießenbach River to generate environmentally friendly electricity. The plant is an example of how natural energy sources can be used sustainably without compromising the beauty of the landscape. Thus, the Gießenbach Gorge impressively combines nature and technological history.

Today's Sachs Bridge consists of two steel bridge sections that were placed on reinforced foundations by helicopter in 2019 to better protect and stabilize the bridge against weather and flood damage. Walking across the bridge offers impressive views of the dam and the small lake dammed above it, as well as back into the depths of the gorge with its rushing water and steep rock faces – a truly special experience on a hike through the Gießenbach Gorge.

The covered wooden bridge over the Gießenbach stream near the Schopperalm is a charming and characteristic feature on the hiking route through the Gießenbach Gorge – especially on the way back to the farms around the Trojerhof.

Those crossing this bridge experience a transition between two sections of the hike: from the alpine pasture and the open terrain back into the forest and up to the meadows and pastures surrounding the Trojerhof. The bridge marks not only a geographical location, but also a change of atmosphere – the sound of the stream beneath the planks, the wooden roofs overhead, the feeling of protection from rain or strong sun.

Beautiful viewpoint with a bench for a break above the historic Trojer mountain farm on the energy hiking trail from Kiefersfelden.

Great view of the Bavarian mountains above the historic Trojer mountain farm.

The Trojerhof, one of Bavaria's oldest mountain farms, is a place steeped in history, idyllic charm, and authenticity. About 5 kilometers outside Kiefersfelden, on a high plateau at an altitude of 656 meters near the German-Austrian border, it sits in a secluded location above the Inn Valley, nestled amidst meadows and forests, with sweeping views of the Wilder Kaiser. The history of the Trojerhof stretches back a long way. The field name "Troi" is of Celtic origin and means "cattle path"—there is evidence of settlements here as early as 500 BC. As early as 1140, the farm was mentioned in a ducal register of taxes as "ab dem Trayen," with tributes such as a measure of oats. Over the centuries, the main building has been altered several times: The current main building dates back to 1689, after the old farm burned down. In the meantime, an outbuilding (the so-called "Zuhaus") was built in 1742. The Marienkapelle (St. Mary's Chapel), a striking building on the farm, dates back to 1649 and has survived the ages. Today, the Trojerhof farm is a living monument to rural tradition. It is an organic mountain farm with an alpine atmosphere, with livestock (cows, sheep, etc.), forestry, and the preservation of the old farm structures. The location and access are also distinctive: an approximately 800-meter-long mountain road with gradients of up to 25% leads up. In winter, the path is difficult, and snow chains or four-wheel drive vehicles are often necessary.

The Wachtl quarry is located on the border between Tyrol and Bavaria, near Kiefersfelden (not Ruhpolding). For many decades, limestone and marl were mined here for the Kiefersfelden cement factory and transported down to the valley on the historic Wachtl Railway. Today, mining has largely ceased, and a small lake has formed in the former pits. Nature is slowly reclaiming the site—a silent testament to industrial history and the power of the landscape around Thiersee.