Little waterfall by Stephan Scheffer

The Eistobel (Isdobl in the West Allgäu dialect) is a gorge carved out by the river Obere Argen in the West Allgäu region, situated between the village of Schüttentobel and the Argentobel Bridge, which connects the villages of Maierhöfen and Grünenbach. Over a distance of approximately three kilometres, flanked by rock faces up to 130 metres high, the waters of the Obere Argen plunge down through the valley in several stages, losing some 70 metres in elevation. The Eistobel takes its name from the waterfalls, which often remain frozen for months during winter.

The Eistobel Gorge was formed at the end of the last Ice Age, some 15,000 years ago, when a meltwater lake formed in the valley near Ebratshofen. The lake drained via a channel in the area of the present-day gorge. Erosion has gradually deepened the gorge. The channel probably formed earlier, during the Middle Pleistocene, some 380,000 years ago.

A footpath runs the entire length of the gorge. The walk through the Eistobel is popular with families and, with due care, is also suitable for young children aged four and above. The path through the gorge remains closed in winter.

At the northern entrance to the gorge, there is a small information centre where visitors can find out more about the gorge’s formation.

The following points of interest, amongst others, are marked along the route with information boards:

First waterfalls;
Large waterfall; the waters of the Upper Argen plunge 18 metres down into a deep pool.
Zwinger; here, the river winds its way through massive boulders;
High wall;
Waterfall at the ice bridge;
Reservoir and large conglomerate rock face; here, a vertical conglomerate rock face approximately 50 metres high rises from the River Argen, which has been dammed to form a lake.