The hike over the Neerenköpfe to the Stablalm impresses with beautiful viewpoints and challenging trail sections. It is a worthwhile pleasure tour for experienced hikers and mountaineers.
The starting point of the tour is the parking lot at the ski lift in Stanzach. At the beginning, the trail follows the slope straight up until you reach a forest road. The Stablalm is already marked here. Follow the forest road into the forest until you reach a hairpin bend. Here you can follow the signs further in the direction of Stablalm or take the more direct route (not marked here). We decide to take the direct route and follow the forest path (signposted in the direction of the Stanzach circular trail) further in a south-easterly direction. After about 5-10 minutes of walking, you reach the well-signposted turn-off "Neerengrat".
Here it is important to follow the two signs carefully and to pay attention to the (poorly visible) markings on the trees! Follow the signs and turn immediately LEFT into the forest! If you arrive after a short time at a hunting stand at a clearing, you are too far and should go back.
Once you have found the entrance to the deciduous forest, the rest of the trail is well marked. The further course leads steadily and partly steeply uphill through beautiful deciduous forest. At some clearings you have a fabulous view in the direction of Forchach and the Lech. Arrived at the first Neerenkopf, the steepest passages are already behind you. With a view of the second higher Neerenkopf, you first descend through mountain pines and coniferous forest for a few minutes until you reach the second Neerenkopf on a pleasant incline and scenically beautiful path. Especially between the first and the second Neerenkopf there are beautiful viewpoints with a view into the Hornbach valley and the Hochvogel.
After reaching the second Neerenkopf and thus the highest point of the tour (1,720 m), the trail first goes downhill through mountain pine forest. After a short time you reach rocky and gravel terrain. Here, surefootedness is especially necessary. In more difficult places there is a rope insurance. Once you have overcome this section, you reach a spring area with a hunting stand. From here it is only a few meters downhill through the forest until you reach the alpine pastures of the Stablalm. Once you arrive at the Stabalm, you are offered a unique view of the Lech valley. After a tasty stop for refreshments, you can take the road or the path down to the Stablalm parking lot in Elmen. From Elmen you can take the bus to Stanzach back to the starting point.
All in all, this is a scenic tour that nevertheless requires surefootedness. We recommend choosing the route in the described direction from Stanzach to the Stablalm and not the other way round, as steep parts can be overcome better this way. In wet conditions we advise against the tour, as the earthy forest and deciduous soil becomes soft and extremely slippery due to the wetness.
For the entire tour, a walking time of about 3 hours from Stanzach to Stablalm is to be expected.
