Vilsalpsee – Westliches Lachenjoch (1975m) – Kirchdachsatell (1918m) – Hintere Schafswane (1965m) – Vilsalpsee

We made this hike on one of the hottest days of the summer in 2017. So hot in fact, even the cows were paddling in the Alpine lakes! It is a beautiful hike passing 3 Alpine lakes and up and down over 3 Alpine Passes.

We parked the car at the Vilsalpsee. This is a breathtakingly beautiful lake in the north of Tirol (Austria), close to the German border.

We walked around the southern edge of this lake and then headed up hill to the second lake – the Traualpsee – around 400 height meters above the first.

Equally beautiful and amazingly blue water!

As a change from the usual Alpine cows, there were some Alpine llamas!

We then climbed higher again to the Westliches Lachenjoch. From here are fantastic views of Allgäu and the German Alps to the west.

We then continued to head west, down and then up again to the Kirchdachsatell on the Austrian / German border and enjoy views of the third lake – the Screcksee.

We head slightly downhill again and then once more and for the final time up again to the third pass – Hintere Schafswane. As usual, beautiful Alpine flowers!

It is then downhill for the final time back to the west end of the Vilsalpsee. It is then an easy, but very warm stroll back to the car. But not before a very welcoming milkshake at the restaurant by the car-park.

Even the cows are cooling off!