Overview
 Riedberger Horn and Grauenstein |
Riedberger Horn (sometimes Riedbergerhorn) is the ighest summit of Hörnergruppe, one of the two prealpine subranges east of the Iller River in the Allgäu Alps. It is a grass mountain, popular at all times of the year. In winter it is known as one of the most excellent ski tour / snowshoe summits which can be easily reached from the small ski area of Grasgehren at its southern base. Riedberger Horn has been called Germany's most interesting ski mountain. The mountain can be reached from across any of its five ridges, which turn rather steep when closing in to the summit. The abundance of lesser (lower) summits in Riedberger Horn's vicinity offers good combination opportunities. Rarely will you ascend and decend Riedberger Horn using the same route.
Riedberger Horn, like all of its neighbours in Hörnergruppe as well as the northern Nagelfluhkette is composed of Flysch, a rapidly eroding kind of limestone. This at the same time accounts for the round top of the mountain as well as the abundance of alpine flowers which you'll find on its slopes in spring and early summer. Much like the mountains on the far side of the Iller River, which are composed from Mergel, on Riedberger Horn you can find Gentian, Stella Alpina, or rare mountain orchids.
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However, the biggest attraction about Riedberger Horn is the fact that it stands above its lower neighbours to the north of the main parts of the Allgäu Alps. It is doubtful whether there can be a better lookout summit. The complete range can be seen from its top and on clear days you can see as far as Lake Constance and the Rätikon Range in the south-east. Main attraction, however, are the local mountains, which form a 3/4 circle around Riedberger Horn, like a giant amphitheatre.
In winter, the ski tour to more than one of the summits of Hörnergruppe, mostly including Riedberger Horn is called Allgäuer Hörnertour and has been descibed in ski tour guidebooks. The tour is not marked, but often follows summer hiking trails.
360° Summit Panorama
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Getting There
Riedberger Horn and Grauenstein
Riedberger Horn can be reached from the dead end Iller Valey in the Allgäu Alps. The closest airports are at Stuttgart and Munich, both cities being connected by motorway A8.
- Take motorway A8 to the intersection Kreuz Ulm-Elchingen.
- Turn onto motorway A7 south, direction Kempten and Füssen.
- At the intersection Dreieck Allgäu switch to A980.
- A few km later turn onto B19, direction Oberstdorf.
- At Fischen turn onto OA9, direction Riedbergpass.
- In the saddle turn right into Grasgehren.
Red Tape
Summit cross and view to the west (Switzerland)
There's no red tape here. Riedberger Horn stands above the ski area of Grasgehren and there are very few restrictions. In winter stay clear of the ski runs, in summer also keep to the paths and tracks as the area is used for cattle grazing.
Accommodation
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You can choose between campgrounds, farm holidays, vacation homes and hotel rooms on most of the sites of the Allgäu villages. Good starting points for your search are:
Weather Conditions
Maps & Books
Maps
- Allgäuer Alpen / Kleinwalsertal
1:50000
Kompass Map WK 3
Kompass Verlag
ISBN: 3-85491-005-3
- Alpenvereinskarten : Allgäu-West
1:25000
Deutscher Alpenverein
ISBN: 3928777130
Books
- Allgäuer Alpen und Ammergauer Alpen Alpin
D. Seibert
Alpenvereinsführer
Rother Verlag
ISBN: 3-7633-1126-2
- Allgäu 1 - Oberallgäu und Kleinwalsertal
D. Seibert
Rother Verlag
ISBN: 3-7633-4289-3
Images
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