Vorderhornbach: Hiking, the Lechweg Trail and Nature Park

Vorderhornbach lies at the entrance to the Hornbach Valley, at the foot of the Grubachspitze and at an altitude of 974 m. Lech trails, protected landscapes and the Expositur Church on a rise in the middle of the village give the surroundings a variety of distinctive features. When planning your trip, you can consider nature trails, views and local history as separate highlights.

Landscape and views

Vorderhornbach is part of the Natura 2000 area in the Tiroler Lechtal Nature Park. Baichlstein offers a specific viewpoint: it lies on the edge of Stanzach, is part of the municipality of Vorderhornbach and is located in the nature park. From the viewpoint, you can see the Lech braid. At the highest point of the viewing mountain stands “Porta Alpinae,” a land art installation by artist Guenter Rauch.

An 18 m-high birdwatching tower is also among the natural features in the area around Vorderhornbach. It stands in a protected area. Its location is another point of reference for travelers who want to include the protected landscape in their orientation, as well as the routes themselves.

Hiking trails and the Lech Cycle Path

The Vorderhornbach–Elmen circular hiking trail starts in Vorderhornbach and heads towards Elmen via the Lech Cycle Path. The Lech Cycle Path itself runs right past the municipality, alongside the Lech. When choosing a route, you can distinguish this connection from the Lechweg Trail stage: on the stage to Stanzach, the Lechweg Trail passes through Vorderhornbach.

On the ninth stage of the Lechweg Trail, the route leads to the former mountain station of the Vorderhornbach ski lift. From there, you can enjoy panoramic views of Vorderhornbach and the Lech Valley. On the Vorderhornbach–Stanzach stage, shortly before the Lech bridge, a short detour leads uphill to Baichlstein in the municipality of Vorderhornbach. Thus, the described routes offer both views into the valley and a specific viewpoint as points of reference.

Nature experiences in the area

The Martinauer Au lady’s-slipper orchid area is located near the village, right on the Vorderhornbach–Elmen circular hiking trail. A visit there is recommended from mid-May to mid-June; the flowering period may vary slightly from year to year. If you plan to visit this natural attraction, the dates are therefore a useful guide, but they do not guarantee a particular stage of flowering.

Badino natural swimming pool is a family-friendly vitality pool fed by mountain spring water from the Grubachspitze. The Hornbach Valley also offers numerous nature and holiday activities, including options for hikers and mountaineers as well as families.

Church and local history

The Expositur Church of St. John the Baptist stands in the middle of the village on a small rise. Construction began in 1752, and the church was consecrated in the summer of 1782. Following a devastating fire in 1947, it was rebuilt. The current high altar, figures and interior frescoes date from after 1950. These dates distinguish the early construction history from the church’s later interior furnishings.

Travel by regional bus

Regional bus route 110 serves the “GH Kreuz” stop in Vorderhornbach. If you plan to travel by bus, check the timetable for your chosen day. This lets you include the stop in your travel plans without assuming a specific departure time.

Discover more destinations: Grän, Mitteregg, Weißenbach Am Lech, Heiterwang, Stanzach, Steeg, Häselgehr, Untergiblen.

Go to the main travel overview: Reutte.