Gaisalpbach Waterfall

The Gaisalpbach waterfall sits just below the Unterer Gaisalpsee. The water leaves the lake and drops straight off a cliff in a tall, thin ribbon. The best view comes a few minutes before you reach the lake, where the trail opens up and and the falls appear tumbling down the cliff face. This is the ideal spot to stop and set up your gear. The falls are at their most photogenic during the snowmelt in the late spring or after a few days of rain. Soft, overcast light suits them best. Direct sun blows out the whites of the water, while shade or cloud lets you slow the shutter and smooth it to silk. Lower down there the river there is more to photography so make sure to budget some time for stopping along the hike in or out. The Gaisalpbach river tumbles through the wild ravine where the path is dotted with steel walkways and little bridges over roaring cascades. The hike to the waterfall starts at Reichenbach with a paid car park at the trailhead that fills fast on clear days. From there it is roughly an hour and a half up to the lake. As you hike you have two options, either follow the trail straight through the ravine or veer off and follow an the farm road around the ravine. The ravine path is shorter and much more photogenic but it does close for awhile after storms. Higher up the ground steepens and you cross the stream more than once. This is a protected nature reserve, so no drones and no fires, and make sure to stay on the trails to protect the ecosytems of the area. If you venture out on a grey, wet morning you will probably have the place almost to yourself and your compositions will thank you for it. (Oberstdorf, Bavaria, Germany)