3-Lakes Tour in the Mieming Range

The hike from Ehrwald to Seebensee, Drachensee with the Coburger Hütte, Tajatörl, Brendlkar and Brendlsee offers diverse landscapes – from the lush summer alpine meadows near Ehrwald, the path leads through shady mountain forests up into sparser pine woods, past dark green mountain lakes and right up into the scree and rock landscapes of the high Mieming Range, where the last snowfields of winter still huddle. This popular circular tour can be completed in a day, but it’s worth planning a night at the Coburger Hütte to experience the much-celebrated evening view of the Wetterstein Massif. Additionally, there’s the lure of a summit tour or two on one of the challenging climbing routes or via ferratas, so you shouldn’t expect solitude on this trip.

When I parked the car at the Ehrwalder Almbahn car park, there was still a morning freshness in the valley. I took the path up to the lake via the Hoher Gang; the first section through the shady mountain forest was filled with birdsong. After a short stretch of scree, the climb begins into the steep bends, some of which are secured with steel cables, already in the bright sunlight with a view over the Ehrwald basin, behind which the Tuftlalm and the Daniel, which I climbed years ago on a late autumn tour. In a few minutes, I reach the still sleepy Seebensee, awaiting the coming crowds of visitors, set against the impressive rocky amphitheatre of the Ehrwalder Sonnenspitze, Drachenkopf, Grünstein and the Tajaköpfe. The climb to the Coburger Hütte is short but steep, and I rest for a while on the inviting hut terrace to enjoy the impressive view. The further ascent to the Tajatörl leads steeply through larch forests, meadows and later wide scree flanks, until just before the saddle, the detour to the Hinterer Tajakopf branches off to the left.

Arriving at the saddle, I see not only the magnificent panorama but also how numerous hikers on the other side are struggling up a wide snowfield in the Brendlkar. I can count myself lucky, as I’ll be able to descend quickly through the slushy snow later. The path continues to wind downhill past Brendlsee and back into the mountain forest, with a constant view of the towering Wetterstein south face with the Schneefernerkopf and Wetterspitzen. Now it’s time to decide – either the unspectacular path to the Ehrwalder Alm and back to Ehrwald by cable car to save the knees, or – for experienced mountain hikers – down the Immensteig. Either way, I return from an eventful and relaxing trail.