Whether you’re flying solo to enjoy the fresh mountain air and a slice or two of strudel, or bringing the whole clan for a week of action and adventure, Lech am Arlberg really does have it all. From hikes and bikes along beautiful mountain paths to delicious picnics with the valley at your feet and lazy afternoons cooling down beside the pool, we’ve picked out our favourites activities from the area surrounding the picturesque village…
– Free forest pool with tennis courts – tucked away in the forest, just a mile away from the village centre, the Forest Pool is a great spot to relax on a sunny summer’s day and free entry is included with your resort card. With a paddling pool for toddlers, a slide and a good size teaching pool for older children as well as a separate area for lane swimming, there is something for everyone. The pool complex also has plenty of space to relax by the poolside, have a family picnic, enjoy a game of Frisbee or play tennis at the adjacent tennis courts. There is a climbing frame and play area for youngsters, too.
– Kids Active Club – the holiday club offers a range of exciting activities for ages 4+ with a different theme each day including Sport (games & an afternoon to the Buxbaum play park), Water (a walk to Zug waterfall & Forest Pool), Culture (a visit to a local farm & the Huber-Hus workshop), Detective-Hiking (a tour on the Green Mystery-Ring) and Adventure (a trip up the Rüfikopf & BBQ lunch in the forest camp). All activities are free except for a small charge for daily lunch.
– Sport centre – sport.centre.lech is a must for anyone looking to keep fit & active and offers excellent facilities for a wide range of sports including tennis, badminton, volleyball, basketball, bowling, climbing and cycling. There’s also a modern café with free wifi and live sports broadcasts.
– Buxbaum family play park – open every afternoon the play park has plenty of activities for babies, toddlers and older children as well as a café for grown-ups. Why not enjoy a game of mini golf or pit-pat?
– Library hut – a little gem en route from Lech to Zürs, the library hut is a great place to enjoy your favourite read in the tranquil Austrian countryside. The hut has a selection of books for children and grown-ups (mostly in German and English) and judging by the comments in the visitors’ book, it is thoroughly enjoyed by bookworms from all over the world.
– Green Mystery-Ring – this fun puzzle walk is a new addition to the well-known Green Ring circuit trail and includes riddles and fun activities for the whole family. Follow the clues in the workbook and solve all the mysteries along the trail from Lech to the Rud-Alpe to become the Riddle King.
– Family fishing in Zug – follow the scenic riverside trail from Lech to Zug and put your fishing skills to the test at the local fishing pond. Then enjoy a well-earned rest at the adjacent restaurant while the chef prepares your freshly-caught fish for lunch.
– BBQ in the countryside – there’s nothing like a family barbecue on a sunny summer’s day and you will find plenty of free public barbecue areas dotted around the countryside in Lech. Each of them has a BBQ, table with seating and dry wood, so all you need to bring food & drink, some disposable tableware and a lighter/matches.
– Easy walks for youngsters – there are plenty of easy walks for all family to enjoy around Lech, from flat pushchair-friendly strolls along the river to more adventurous hikes on the Green Ring. Children will love searching for marmots which can often be spotted (and heard) on the higher trails either side of the valley. Make sure you pack a pair of binoculars! You can also venture further out by hopping on the walker’s bus or using the lifts to shorten the walking distance for youngsters (buses and lifts are free with the resort card). There are also plenty of mountain huts dotted around the area where you can enjoy delicious local food while the little ones explore the play area. Keep an eye out for the special Green Ring mailboxes which can be found along the Green Ring trails. Inside you will find free postcards – simply fill one in and pop it inside the mailbox (no stamp needed). At the end of the season, all the postcards will be collected and sent out so you (or your friends/family) will receive a lovely little surprise once you are back home.
Here are some ideas for family-friendly hikes:
- Green Mystery-Ring (approx. 15 mins) – hike up to the Rud-Alpe, solving the riddles along the way.
- Rüfikopf Geology trail (approx.1.5 hrs) – take the Rüfikopf gondola and follow the circular trail looking out for the incredible fossils dotted along the path. For a more adventurous hike, follow the Green Ring trail all the way to Zürs (below).
- Green Ring – 1st Leg – Rüfikopf to Zürs (approx. 3 hrs) – take the Rüfikopf gondola all the way to the summit and admire the incredible panoramic views. Hike past the pretty Monzabonsee to Zürs, stopping over at the Library Hut and taking the walkers’ bus back to Lech.
- Green Ring – 3rd Leg – Lech to Kriegerhorn (approx. 2 hrs) – Take the Bergbahn to Oberlech, then hop onto the Petersboden chairlift and hike towards the Kriegerhorn. Take a rest at the Kriegeralpe hut or have a picnic by the lake, next to the Lech Wall which is a wonderful celebration of Lech’s residents. Keep an eye out for the famous ‘iron man’ sculpture by Antony Gormley on the Kriegerhorn. From the summit, you could follow the trail back to the Petersboden chairlift (either taking the lift back or walking down to Lech), or for a more adventurous all-day hike – you could head towards Zug and catch the bus back to Lech.
- Spullersee to Zug or Lech (full day) – take the walkers’ bus all the way to Spullersee, then enjoy a leisurely stroll around the lake and across the dam before hiking up to the nearby Ravensburger Hütte. Follow the trail all the way to Lech or walk down to Zug (stopping over at the waterfall) and hop on the bus back to Lech.