Panoramic hike from Mellau over the Kanisfluh to Au

Directions

From Mellau with the gondola cableway (Mellaubahn) to the summit station on the Alpe Roßstelle. Here, we orientate ourselves towards “Kanisfluh” and follow a broad footpath upwards, ascending in the light forest. Later, a brief section heads down. In a rocky cirque, bounded in the north, we follow the almost flat path until shortly before the Kanisalpe (cart path). From there, a carriage path continues practically at the same height or moderately ascending to the forest, where it leads gently uphill. In the forest, at the information board about the wildlife habitats around the Kanisfluh, we do not switch to the steep path marked with “Kanisfluh”, but stay along the carriage path towards „Wurzachalpe“. A little later, we arrive at the serviced Wurzachalpe. From here, the broad carriage path runs across open terrain for a few meters and up the saddle. At the highest point, we turn left (“Kanisfluh – 50 minutes“). We follow a carriage path for a short distance before a marked steep path climbs very directly up the steepening southern slope of the Kanisfluh. After that, the path winds up the steep slope less directly to the dip west and beneath the summit of the Kanisfluh (occasionally ropes). From the saddle, a broad grass-covered ridge leads eastwards up to the summit (2044 m) without difficulties.

At first, the descent follows the same route. Just before the saddle to the east of the Wurzachalpe, however, we turn left towards “Au” and walk downhill over gentle meadows (including almost flat sections). At the altitude of the Obere Alpe, we stay on the marked track. Afterwards, the steep path leads slightly downwards along a ridge and into the light forest. Near Alpengasthof Edelweiß, it leads into a carriage path. Here, we follow the sign for “Au über Ahornen” and walk down along the broad carriage path. Immediately afterwards, at a split, we orientate ourselves towards “Ahornenvorsäß”/ ”Au” and turn left onto another carriage path. It runs gently descending across open terrain and after the Alpe Feuerstein, it turns into a footpath which leads into the forest (later steep path). Having left the forest, we soon reach Ahornenvorsäß. We pass the houses along the carriage road towards “Au”, and turn left towards “Au über Argenstein” at the split. Finally, the route follows a steep path through a deciduous and mixed forest down to Argenstein in Au. We cross the Bregenzer Ache and take the bus line 40 (bus stop Jaghausen near the church) back to Mellau, or more precisely, to the starting point.

Public transportation:

Coming from Bregenz: bus line 35 (Bregenz – Bezau) + bus line 40 (Bezau – Mellau), bus stop Bergbahnen

Coming from Dornbirn: bus line 38 (Dornbirn – Bersbuch roundabout) + bus line 37 (Bersbuch roundabout – Mellau), bus stop Zentrum

Approach:

L200Bregenzerwaldstraße

Park:

Mellau cable car