One of the greatest joys in my life is hiking and living in Bavaria certainly provides ample opportunities. Hikers of all skill levels may definitely find a worthy challenge in the hills and mountains of Garmisch.
While the hikes on this list are more geared toward beginners, they still will typically get very intense and vertical— making these the perfect balance of accessible and challenging for anyone looking to get started.
6. Partnach Gorge
Few hikes are as beautiful, necessary and accessible as the Partnach Gorge— known as Partnachklamm. Starting from the old Olympics Stadium next to the outdoor pool Kainzenbad, the road to the gorge is paved and very easy to navigate.
This path winds through a dense, green forest; the sound of water barely audible rushing in the distance. It is a brisk 20 minute walk from the ski jump to the building which marks the entrance to the gorge.
The fee for entering is 8 EUR per adult and 4 EUR per child. Dogs on a leash are also welcome in the park!
Once inside the gate, the gorge itself takes only 10 minutes to walk through so I very strongly encourage anyone to relax, enjoy and take pictures of the rushing, crystal blue water. The damp cave floor can be very slippery so be sure to bring appropriate hiking boots as well as warm clothes to prevent the cold water from dripping down on you.
For anyone looking for a quick, comprehensive day hike with incredible, exclusive views, this is your best bet. Admittedly, this is absolutely the most popular hike in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, so expect lots of other traffic and tour-groups.
5. Hammersbacher Fußweg
While this is less of a hike and more a do-it-yourself type of walk, this location offers the most incredible views of the surrounding mountainside.
There are no hills or elevation gains with which to grapple, only a flat, neutral path that allows you more energy to soak in the scenery.
The official start is near the beginning of the Partnach gorge near the Katzensteinstraße and skirts the entire southern border of the city. This path cuts through green, expansive meadows, sputtering waterfalls, cultivated farmland and cow pastures— all while affording humbling views of the Wetterstein mountain range.
In reality, there are a ton of criss-crossing paths all across Hammersbacher and one need only turn south from St-Martin Straße to find an opening and get lost in the scenery. It is a very interactive trail, during the summer you may walk up and pet the cows or find yourself ducking for cover while paragliders descend right over your head and land in the open fields.
The trail spans from Partenkirchen all the way to Grainau and the base of the Zugspitze. I spent many long days and nights simply getting lost on these trails and it is the highest recommended for an easy, effortless hike.
Chip’s Passport exclusive recommendation: walk this trail at night and bring a blanket to lay out in the fields for an incredible chance to stargaze and watch the comets rain down.
4. Riesersee
Depending on where you start, this can be either a fairly moderate hike or a bit more difficult if choosing to walk the entire loop.
Walking South from the Zugspitzebahn, head toward the Hotel Hausberg and continue on this path toward the Kochelberg Alm. This will put you on a much higher elevated trail up in the Wetterstein Mountains.
Here, you will cross through winter ski paths and the Hausbergbahn high in the trees overlooking the city. Eventually, the trail will begin to descend until you reach the Seehaus; the idyllic restaurant located at the tip of Riesersee.
It is an easier hike but a bit more challenging than some on the list due to the elevation gain moving from Hausberg to Kochelberg. You are rewarded with some of the most impressive and secluded views of the Zugspitze reflecting off the water— surrounded by lush, green forests.
As a reward for completing the 2hr hike, I encourage anyone to relax at Seehaus and grab a drink or quick bite while enjoying the views. In the summer, it is possible to rent kayaks and rafts from a small hut nearby for a small fee.
There is a small hike that loops around the lake before returning out the other side. There, hikers will navigate down to the Aule Alm near Grainau and may catch a ride on the bus or finish hiking the loop back through the Hammersbacher to the Zugspitzebahn.
This is one of the most underrated hikes in Garmisch and I encourage those looking for something more off the beaten path to try it out.
3. Tannenhütte
Halfway up the southwestern edge of the Wank is a lively, traditional mountain hut with a sweet view of Garmisch in the valley below surrounded by mountain ranges on either side.
The Tannenhütte is a Bavarian-themed log cabin nestled in the trees that serves German cuisine, local beer on draft and coffee. It differs from other huts in the fact that it can almost feel more like a frat house due to its party atmosphere; complete with an adventure park for kids, corn hole, occasional DJ pop-up sets and frequent live-music shows. This is undoubtedly the most picturesque spot in Garmisch for a party.
It is extremely easy to access and the path crosses a suspended-steel bridge over a large waterfall and ravine. The food is incredible but my recommendation is always to simply order a Hacker-Pshorr Helles and sit outside to soak in the views.
From the Tannenhütte, one can either hike up to the Wank or back down to the town of Partenkirchen; either route will leave you happy and satisfied.
2. Höllental Gorge
The Höllentalklamm is my personal favorite day hike on this list.
Beginning in Grainau, it is only a brief portion of the trail that leads up the Zugspitze, the tallest mountain in Germany. However, many will stop once they reach the Höllentalangerhütte, the hotel/restaurant that resides at the top of the valley.
Höllentalklamm is a there-and-back style hike ranging from 2-4 hours, depending on how fast you decide to hike.
Beginning in Grainau on the Hammersbach trailhead, hikers will ascend close to 1400 vertical meters to reach the Hütte before heading back down the exact same route. Adventurers and climbers will typically continue past this in order to reach the summit of the Zugspitze.
This route is much less traveled than Partnach due to the nature of the difficulty but is much more rewarding. Just to reach the cafe and gate guarding the entrance to the gorge, it will take nearly 45 minutes of steep, uphill traversing.
Hikers navigate through caverns carved into the rock more than a century ago, walk across steel bridges over the rushing torrent of water and feel the cold, azure water splashing on them as they delve further into the gorge. Rain jackets and good hiking boots are necessities on this trail as you are sure to get splashed.
While difficult, it is not impossible for a beginner to conquer this hike and be rewarded with epic views of the Höllental valley as well as breathtaking waterfalls and intense water surges within the canyon.
It is much more interesting, dynamic and compelling and, if you have the time for a longer, more challenging hike, I recommend this over Partnach.
1. Wank
This is where things get truly elevated. Instead of stopping at the Tannenhütte, continue on up the slope.
While still technically a hike, many use this as training to begin their journey of mountaineering and work on their cardiovascular health (including me!). Some brave trail-runners and endurance athletes would scale this mountain a few times a week to stay in shape.
At 1780 meters, it is considered the “panoramic mountain” of Bavaria as it allows you 360 degree unobstructed views of the surrounding mountain ranges to the south and the peaceful Northern cities of Farchant, Oberammergau and Ohlstadt.
While climbing a mountain may seem intimidating as a “hike”, this is about as easy as they come. With solid, unexposed trails, many places to stop and rest and a Bahn station halfway up that allows you the option of quitting, nervous travelers may find they have nothing to fear and summit their very first mountain.
To put it in perspective, I frequently saw young children in crocs scaling the mountain.
The Wank-Haus sits atop the mountain, serving incredible refreshments to accompany the views. From the top, one is allowed to stay and camp with the proper permits or take the express route down and paraglide to the valley below. The Wankbahn also has constant cable cars creeping up and down the peak.
Bonus recommendation: this mountain is the go-to spot for sunrise hikes. If looking to experience a magnificent Bavarian sunrise in an extraordinary way, I recommend you try to make it up before dawn. Bring blankets as it gets quite frigid at the summit early in the morning.
This mountain, to me, is still more akin to a hike than a climb and thus leads this list for essential GaPa hikes.
