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The Full Story
Smugglers' Gorge
Info about the hike
Route:
Maria Kolbenstein Chapel - View point - Maria Kolbenstein Chapel
Distance:
Ca. 1,8 km (ca. 1.1 miles)
Metres/feet in altitude:
ca. 124m up/ 124m down (around 407 feet each)
For children:
Yes
For dogs:
Yes
Suitable for winter:
Yes
Ideal autumn hike
Shortly after Kössen, right by the Bavarian border, is the Smugglers' Gorge. As the name suggests, goods were smuggled across the border from here in the past. In addition, the gorge has beautiful rock formations that were formed by the glacial melt thousands of years ago.
This hike was discovered by my girlfriend. Since we were both just released from Corona quarantine and our fitness was not yet at its peak, we wanted to do a short but sweet loop.
This hike can be extended and is especially recommended in autumn. The many deciduous trees with the water make the atmosphere really special.
You can find a hiking map with all the photo spots at the end of the article.
The Maria Kolbenstein Chapel
The small but free car park is right next to the Maria Kolbenstein Chapel. Its yellow walls fit nicely into the picture and its wooden roof makes the whole thing really rustic.
If you don't go straight into the gorge, but turn left through the forest, you will find a great photo spot on the slopes where you can take a picture of yourself and a dog. But please be careful, as you can easily fall off here.
When you reach the water, you can take great pictures of the rock formations on the bridge and on the sandy beach.
A mountain stream with many photo spots
Shortly after the bridge, you will come to a mountain ridge, over which a small footbridge leads. With the many deciduous trees showing their red leaves on the branches and on the ground, as well as the moss-covered stones, the picture is wonderful.
Further up, you also pass a fallen tree with lots of moss, which is absolutely worth taking a photo of.
Then head towards the lookout point. Please be careful here with four-legged friends, as the edge of the path is very slippery and the slope very steep.
An idyllic vantage point
When you reach the vantage point, you get a wonderful view of the Maria Kolbenstein Chapel surrounded by autumn-coloured deciduous trees.
But it's also worth looking down into the gorge, because right in front of the vantage point you can see the cliffs that have taken on great shapes due to prehistoric glacial melt.
My advice here is to experiment a little with your camera. From panoramic pictures to close-ups of the cliffs and even individual forest passages, you can take all kinds of photos here.
Continue to the second suspension bridge
Then walk back along the path until it forks and you continue to the second suspension bridge.
Here you walk mostly through the forest, but you can always spot small photo spots.
A really great place to take photos is just before the second suspension bridge. Through the high grass, you can photograph into the gorge.
The red, yellow and orange deciduous trees with the steep rocks and the bluish mountain water offer an idyllic motif.
The bridge is also a good place to photograph people or, if your four-legged friend is comfortable, dogs.
Then it's back to the chapel and then to the car park. As I said, it is a short hike with many idyllic places. An autumn hike that has something to offer for young and old.
All photo spots for you at a glance
If you are planning to visit this wonderful place with all the photo spots I heartily recommend, I have marked all the points on the map for you.
If you have found other beautiful places to photograph, please feel free to send them to me via the contact form and I will add them to the map (with a mention, of course).
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