A rare gem of nature, which is also interesting for photographers, is located in the Alpenpark Karwendel near the German-Austrian border. The “Großer Ahornboden” (Great Maple Ground) is considered to be Europe’s largest contiguous maple area, reminiscent of the famous Indian Summer in the north of the USA and Canada with its autumnal colors.
The alpine park Karwendel, with its 2,700 m high, impressive mountain massifs, is one of the most beautiful regions of the Alps for many mountain hikers. Also the Große Ahornboden and the Eng-Alm are no exception. And what is true for mountain hikers is, as in this case, often very appealing to the photographer. There you can find up to 600 years old stands of mountain ahorn trees at an altitude of approx. 1,200 m before the landscape, which are just as attractive as their gnarled forms, as well as by their autumn colors, which can be seen in Canada and the north of the USA As the famous Indian Summer.
It is surrounded by Sonnjoch (2.457 m), Lamsenspitze (2.508 m), Spritzkarspitze (2.605 m) and Gamsjoch (2.452 m). The large Ahornboden in the Engtal is that coming from Hinterriss to the Rißtal and in the Engergrund before the impressive Dreizinkenspitze (2.602 m) and the Grubenkarspitze (2.661 m) at a steeply rising rock face. All peaks, of course, are an excellent backdrop for the ancient maple trees with their gnarled, sometimes whimsical forms, the gray, rugged rocks form a dramatic contrast to the softly curved, lush green alpine meadows. Since in memory of the weather the memory cards are faster than you can watch.
A little peculiarity in the Engtal. There are almost no traffic signs and no overhead lines and masts for electricity or telephone lines! The reason: the few families living in Engtal live not insubstantially from tourism and want to show untouched nature, so they have jointly (and financed) that all the many small things that disturb photographers in nature so often Or buried in the ground. This should be an example for many German tourist resorts …
At the end of the Engtal is the Alpengasthof Eng, where you can live and eat well, the exhilaration of the rooms on the Alps panorama is outstanding. Living and eating can also be found in the Almdorf Engalm, there is something easier and cheaper too, but the hearty cuisine is also very tasty here. In the Almdorf Engalm there is also a farm shop, where you can buy products from the region in addition to the usual souvenirs. Right next door is the small cheese factory where cheese is produced for the shop. The large panoramic window allows a direct view into the cheese factory!
Various hiking trails lead to the surrounding mountains and various mountain huts. The shortest route leads to the Binsalm and the Binsalm hut, not far from the Alpengasthof Eng, only 300 m higher. The approximately one-hour hike there offers some new perspectives on the surrounding mountains and pastures, the troubles, reached above, in the mountain hut rewarded with cool drinks and delicious dishes.
From Germany you can reach the Engtal and the Grosser Ahornboden from Munich in two ways. Take the A8 southbound and leave the motorway at junction 97 in Holzkirchen and drive on the B13 via Bad Tölz and Lenggries to the Sylvenstein lake and turn right there on the B307 to Vorderrß. There turn left onto a small road that leads to Hinterriß. Shortly thereafter follows a toll station (open from April to October), the privately-financed road leads directly into the Engtal.
The second possibility is either on the B11 or the A95 from Munich from the south to Penzberg, then follow the B11 via Benediktbeurn and Kochel am See towards Wallgau. At the entrance to Wallgau, “Die Deutsche Alpenstraße” branches off to the left. This toll road also leads directly to Vorderriß, from there continue as described above.
