Rappenalptal is Germany's southernmost valley, tucked away as a side valley of the Stillachtal near Oberstdorf in the Allgäu. It's a wild, high-alpine corner of the country where dramatic ridgelines mark the border with Austria and hikers can genuinely feel they've reached the edge of the map.

The valley is shaped by the rushing Rappenalpenbach stream, framed by steep peaks including the striking Biberkopf. In summer the meadows turn lush green and the valley fills with hikers heading to remote huts, while autumn and winter bring a quieter, more rugged atmosphere with snow often closing off the higher trails. The entire area lies within the Allgäuer Hochalpen nature reserve and a bird protection zone, making it a haven for alpine wildlife.

How to get there

• Oberstdorf - by road through the Birgsautal to Birgsau, then on foot into the valley, duration depends on the destination, difficulty: easy to moderate
• From the Fellhornbahn valley station, the road is closed to public traffic, so onward travel is on foot or by bike

Good to know

• Protected area - nature and bird conservation rules apply
• Popular hiking destinations include Fiderepasshütte, Mindelheimer Hütte, Enzianhütte and Rappenseehütte
• Via the Schrofenpass, the valley is a popular starting point for mountain bikers tackling the Transalp (Heckmair route, Joe route)

In 2022 the valley made headlines after unauthorized stream works damaged the protected area, but by autumn 2023 a full restoration had returned the Rappenalpenbach to its natural state.