Lechweg emergency & health guide: hospitals, doctors and rescue numbers

Rescue numbers by country

The hospitals are in Reutte (Lechtal and Reutte basin), Füssen (last stage) and Bludenz (Lech and Warth, about 50 km by road over the Flexen pass); serious cases on the first stages are usually flown out by helicopter. EU, EEA, Swiss and UK visitors get public health care with an EHIC or GHIC card; a helicopter rescue in the Austrian mountains is usually charged to you, so carry insurance that covers mountain rescue.

Rules to know

• Season: the whole trail is walkable from about mid to late June until early October. In 2026 the full route from the Formarinsee opened on 18 June. In May there is still snow on the first two stages, the hotels in Lech and Warth are closed, and the Formarinsee hiking bus runs only from the third weekend in June; walk the shorter spring variant from Steeg to Füssen instead.
• Wild camping is not allowed. In Tyrol camping and bivouacking are permitted only at designated campsites; on the Lechweg these are in Häselgehr, Vorderhornbach, Reutte and Füssen.
• Naturpark Tiroler Lech (Steeg to the German border): from 1 April to 31 July keep off the gravel banks marked with yellow signs, where rare birds breed on the bare stones. Stay on the paths and keep dogs on a lead; the gravel banks near bridges stay open.
• Dogs: many hosts welcome them, but on the buses dogs must wear a muzzle and be on a lead. Keep dogs on a lead near grazing cattle on the alpine pastures of the first stages, and close gates behind you.
• The Lechweg is a footpath only: mountain bikes are not allowed on it. No permit or fee is needed to walk it, and the white-on-black L waymarks work in both directions.
• Guest cards: your host gives you the card of its region (Lech Card, Warth Card, Lechtal Aktiv Card, Aktiv Card Naturparkregion Reutte, Füssen Card). The Lech Card covers the bus into the Zug valley to the Formarinsee; without it, buy a ticket at the Dorfhus tourist office in Lech or on the bus.
• Bags: the Lechweg shuttle of Feuerstein GmbH (Steeg, +43 5633 5633) carries luggage to your next host for €13 per bag and stage when booked at least two days ahead; before early June and after mid-September ask for the price.

Before you set off, the tourist offices help with rooms and buses: Lech Zürs (+43 5583 2161-0), Warth-Schröcken (+43 5583 3515-0), Lechtal (+43 5634 5315), Naturparkregion Reutte (+43 5672 62336) and Füssen (+49 8362 9385-0); the trail itself answers at info@lechweg.com. Check the mountain weather before the first two stages: afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer.

Nearest hospital for each stage

Hospitals

Clinics and doctors

These doctors treat minor injuries and illness during surgery hours, and the Lech practice has an accident clinic with X-ray. They are not hospital emergency departments. For advice on problems that are not emergencies call 1450 in Austria or 116117 in Germany (both free, 24/7).

Pharmacies, cash and supplies

• Pharmacies: Lech, Elbigenalp, Füssen
• ATMs: Lech, Warth, Holzgau, Füssen
• Shops: Lech, Warth, Holzgau, Elbigenalp, Wängle, Füssen
• Bus stops: Formarinsee, Lech, Warth, Holzgau, Elbigenalp, Stanzach, Wängle, Füssen

There are no full pharmacies between Lech and Reutte: the doctors in Lech and Elbigenalp run dispensaries (Hausapotheke) during surgery hours. Reutte and Füssen have pharmacies. In Austria call 1455 to find the pharmacy on duty at night and on Sundays; in Germany every pharmacy shows the duty pharmacy on its door. Small supermarkets are in Lech, Warth, Steeg, Holzgau, Elbigenalp and Stanzach, and there are ATMs in Lech, Warth, Steeg, Holzgau, Elbigenalp, Reutte and Füssen.

Pharmacies, ATMs, shops and stops: © OpenStreetMap contributors. Hospitals and health centres checked online.