Starzlachklamm and the Alpe Topfen from Winkel

The walk starts at the walkers' car park in Winkel, on the edge of Sonthofen, and follows the Starzlach upstream by a gravel track and a path to the gorge entrance, where the entrance fee applies. The gorge path then climbs for about 450 m between rock walls, over wooden and metal bridges and rock steps, past waterfalls, with the Schleierfälle close to the entrance. Above the end of the gorge a path climbs steeply to the pasture of the Alpe Topfen and the Gasthof Alpenblick, with a view of the Grünten. The way back is the Nothalde path: it leaves the Alpenblick to the west, drops through forest with steps in places to the Starzlach, and crosses the bridge to the car park.

It is 5.0 km round with 237 m of ascent; allow about 2 hours. The grade is Moderate: the round is short, but the gorge is wet rock and bridges and the descent is steep. Allgäu GmbH rates the same round medium and gives 4.85 km, 236 m and 2 h 05.

The gorge path is not suitable for pushchairs or wheelchairs, dogs must be kept on a lead there, and bicycles are not allowed in the gorge. Parts are rocky and can be slippery, so wear boots with a good grip. The Alpsee Grünten tourist board's page for Sonthofen says the gorge is open daily from 9:00 to 17:00 until mid-November 2026, depending on the weather; the tourist board's own page for the gorge says it is normally open from May to October and can be closed for a time at high water or after heavy rain. An entrance fee is charged for the path, towards its upkeep.

The walkers' car park at Winkel is charged: OpenStreetMap tags it as fee-paying, and the Allgäu tourism page for the round lists parking as charged. The Klammwirt by the entrance, the Alpe Topfen and the Gasthof Alpenblick are on the way; they set their own opening days.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.