Higher Fricken (1940 meters)
The Estergebirge between Farchant and Eschenlohe is particularly attractive as a hiking destination because there are no mountain railways that take tourists up – with the exception of the Wank, which is a separate summit. The hike from Farchant leads past the beautiful Kuhaway waterfalls and steeply up the mountain through the forest. For the descent, the Oberauer Steig is longer but less steep.
Arrival by public transport: by train from Munich to Farchant in the direction of Garmisch-Partenkirchen/Mittenwald. The starting point is on the eastern side of the Loisach in Kuhawayweg.
Duration: 7 hours
Altitude difference: about 1250 meters
Refreshments: none on the way
Osterfelderkopf (2060 meters) via Höllentalklamm
The Höllentalklamm is the prelude to a demanding and varied hike. It first leads from Hammersbach to the newly built Höllentalangerhütte. From there we continue in the direction of miners’ houses, where ore and lead were mined for decades. The path splits later and offers hikers two options for getting to the Osterfelderkopf: via the Hupfleitenjoch or via the Rinderweg. After a rest at the summit you can from the cable car from the Osterfelderkopf directly into the valley.
Arriving by public transport: by train from Munich to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, change there to the cog railway to the Zugspitze. Exit in Hammersbach.
Duration: 7 hours
Altitude difference: about 1250 meters
Refreshments: Höllentaleingangshütte, Höllentalangerhütte, Restaurant Alpspitz
Special feature: The Höllentalklamm costs admission, all information about prices and opening times here.
Eckbauer (1230 meters) through the Partnach Gorge
After the Höllentalklamm, the Partnachklamm is the second large gorge in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. You can reach it from the parking lot at the ski stadium via a tar road, and horse-drawn carriages also go there. In the 700 meter long gorge, the walls rise up to 80 meters steeply. At the end of the gorge, the path leads up a stairway. After the Graseck forester’s lodge, the hiker branches off to the summit. The way back is possible via the district of Wamberg – or you can sit in the cable railway.
Arriving by public transport: by train from Munich to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, change there to the local bus. Get off at the Skistadion stop.
Duration: 3.5 hours
Altitude difference: 500 meters
contemplation: Berggasthof Eckbauer
Special feature: The Partnachklamm costs admission, further information here.
Kofel (1340 meters)
Compared to the surrounding mountains, the Kofel near Oberammergau is not particularly high, but it dominates the panorama in the Ammer Valley with its distinctive rock needle. The hiker can reach this after a small scramble section secured with a wire rope in the upper area, for which sure-footedness is required. The descent is possible via the Kolbensattelalm and the Kolbenalm.
Arriving by public transport: by train from Munich in the direction of Garmisch-Partenkirchen/Mittenwald, change in Murnau to the train to Oberammergau. In Oberammergau along the Ammer to the cemetery, that’s where the path starts.
Duration: 2.5 hours
Altitude difference: 500 meters
Refreshment possibility: Kolbensattelalm, Kolbenalm
Ettaler Manndl (1630 meters) over the Laber
From the valley station, you can either take the Laber cable car up the mountain of the same name, or you can walk this route. From the mountain station, the hiking signs point the way to the Ettaler Manndl. If you want to get to the summit there, you have to climb a via ferrata secured with a wire rope. A head for heights and sure-footedness are absolutely necessary here, less experienced hikers and children should put on a via ferrata set. The summit can also be left out. You then return to the starting point via Lake Soila.
Arriving by public transport: by train from Munich in the direction of Garmisch-Partenkirchen/Mittenwald, change in Murnau to the train in the direction of Oberammergau. In Oberammergau, first in an easterly direction and then along the Große Laine to the valley station of the Laber mountain railway.
Duration: without cable car approx. 5.5 hours in total, with cable car approx. three hours
Altitude difference: about 1050 meters
contemplation: Laber cable car station, Soila Alm
Teufelstättkopf (1760 meters)
If you want to go on a longer mountain tour in the Ammergau Alps, we recommend the Teufelstättkopf. On the western outskirts of Unterammergau, a forest road leads in the direction of Pürschling, but you can leave it soon and hike through the Schleifmühlklamm gorge. At the end of the gorge you come back to the road, but later turn off again to the Teufelstättkopf. Shortly before the summit, the terrain becomes rockier and more exposed, at the end you have to scramble. The descent is via a trail via the Pürschlinghaus, from where Bavaria’s King Maximilian and his son, the fairytale king Ludwig II, went on their hunting trips.
Arriving by public transport: by train from Munich in the direction of Garmisch-Partenkirchen/Mittenwald, change in Murnau to the train in the direction of Oberammergau. In Unterammergau via Dorfstraße and Liftweg to the starting point at the car park on Pürschlingstraße.
Duration: 5 hours
Altitude difference: 920 meters
Refreshment possibility: August Schuster House (also called Pürschlinghaus)
crusher tip
The mountains around the Spitzingsee are ideal for arriving by bus and train. The train goes to Schliersee, where the bus is already waiting for those arriving and continues straight away in the direction of Spitzingsee. The Brecherspitze can be climbed either from the Spitzingsattel (difference in altitude: approx. 600 meters in altitude) or from below from Neuhaus. You are often alone on this route.
Arrival by public transport: by train from Munich to Schliersee and by bus in the direction of Spitzingsee. Get off at the “Neuhaus” stop. Caution: Not every bus heading to Spitzingsee makes the detour via Neuhaus.
Duration: from Neuhaus up and down again approx. 5 hours; however, you can also descend from the summit via the Obere Firstalm to the Spitzingsattel and get on the bus there.
Altitude difference: 900 meters in altitude
contemplation: Obere Firstalm
Jägerkamp (1746 meters) and Aiplspitz (1760 meters)
Speaking of the Spitzingsattel, this is also the starting point for another beautiful hike up to the Aiplspitz. On the way there or back, a detour to Jägerkamp is worthwhile. When climbing to the Aiplspitz, you need sure-footedness, rope safety devices are installed here, which make it easier for trained mountaineers to climb the summit with the great panoramic view.
Arrival by public transport: by train from Munich to Schliersee and by bus in the direction of Spitzingsee. Get off at the “Spitzingsattel” stop
Duration: approx. 4 hours
Altitude difference: 750 vertical meters including Jägerkamp
Refreshments: Schönfeldhütte
Via Neureuth (1260 meters) and Gindealm Schneid (1330 meters) to Schliersee
The Neureuth is particularly popular with day trippers because there they get a fantastic view of the mountains without having to cover too many meters in altitude. It can be reached via a forest road or – better – via a trail in the forest. If you feel like extending your hike, you can continue hiking to the Gindelalm Schneid after the ascent. A wooded but not too demanding mountain trail leads there. This is followed by the descent to Schliersee.
Arrival by public transport: by train from Munich to Tegernsee. Then return from Schliersee.
Duration: 3.5 hours for the crossing from Tegernsee to Schliersee
Altitude difference: 400 meters
contemplation: Berggasthof Neureuth