Home _ Experiences

Our hiking tips for your holiday

The hiking trails around Garmisch-Partenkirchen lead through the most beautiful mountain landscapes in the Bavarian Alps. From the Wetterstein mountain range to Karwendel, you can choose the most stunning routes from over 300 kilometres of hiking paths. Lush Alpine meadows, crystal-clear streams, impressive mountain giants, and silence that is only broken by the sound of distant cow bells quickly help you leave everyday life behind. Wander at your own pace with fantastic views of the wild beauty of nature and reconnect with yourself. Step by step, breath by breath.

We’re here for you.

At Hotel Das Graseck, you’ll receive all the information and hiking maps you need to thoroughly enjoy your excursions. What’s important is that you bring the right equipment for each tour. We’ll be happy to advise you on which hiking routes are suitable for your fitness levels and where you’ll find the best places for refreshments along the way. Hiking can make a valuable contribution to your health care.

Short hikes

Iron bridge

Anti-clockwise

Partnach Gorge

Anti-clockwise (Graseck cable car > follow the river upstream)
You’ll receive free tickets from the hotel reception (instead of €5).

Partnach Gorge and Reintalerhof (970m) and iron bridge

Graseck cable car > follow the river upstream > Partnach Gorge > take the forest road turn-off to the Laubhütte after 2km. Here, continue upstream for 100 metres to the old Jägerbrücke bridge (a popular photo opportunity) and then go back 100 metres and follow the forest road to the Laubhütte > Instead of continuing to the Laubhütte, turn right at the first opportunity to the old Reintalerhof. Shortly after that, you’ll also reach the Reintalerhof Chapel, a treasure of the Wetterstein region.
You’ll receive free tickets from the hotel reception (instead of €5).

Eckbauer (1,236m)

Refreshments: Berggasthof Eckbauer
On the way back, an easy hiking trail behind Berggasthof Eckbauer leads back to the hotel (not marked on Google Maps).
Short version: 500 metres after the hotel, turn onto Eckbauer hiking trail (not marked on Google Maps) – return by the same route. Total: 5km with 300m elevation difference in 1.5 to 2 hours.
By Eckbauer cable car: Take a leisurely walk from the valley station of Graseck cable car to Eckbauer cable car (2km). Take the cable car up Eckbauer. An easy hiking trail behind Berggasthof Eckbauer leads back to the hotel (not marked on Google Maps).

Bayernhaus (1,259m)

Once you’ve reached Partnachalm, first follow the forest road towards the valley for 50 metres, then ascend on the trail towards Bayernhaus.

Half-day tours

Bockhütte (1,052m)

Anti-clockwise (iron bridge > Partnachalm > Reintalerhof > Bockhütte)
Refreshment stop at Bockhütte

Lake Riessersee

Clockwise (iron bridge > Partnachalm > Schnitzschulhütte > old bobsled run > Lake Riessersee)
Refreshments at Seehaus Riessersee
Alternative: continue until Kreuzeck cable car valley station and return to the ski stadium on line 2 of the local bus (this also gives you a nice circular tour of the town and is free of charge thanks to the guest card)

Wamberg (996m)

Anti-clockwise
Refreshments at Berggasthof Wamberg
On the way back, an easy hiking trail behind Berggasthof Eckbauer leads back to the hotel (not marked on Google Maps).

Tannenhütte (934m)

Anti-clockwise
Take a shortcut to Tannenhütte over the Faukenbrücke suspension bridge (Hacker-Pschorr bridge)

Gschwandtnerbauer (1,018m)

Refreshments at Gschwandtnerbauer
From Gschwandtnerbauer, take the shortcut to Pfeiffer-Alm (13.9 instead of 15.8km), not via Kaltenbrunn as shown on the map.

Garmisch Classic with three cable cars – AlpspiX (2,050m)

How to get there:
- Take line 2 of the local bus from the ski stadium to the end station, Kreuzeck cable car. On the return journey, take the bus from here again (check the times!). This also gives you a nice circular tour of the town and is free of charge thanks to the guest card.
- By car to the Kreuzeck-Alpspitz cable car parking
Buy the Garmisch Classic Ticket
Ascend to Osterfelderkopf on the Alpspitz cable car > go onto the AlpspiX > take the Hochalm cable car to Hochalm (refreshment stop) > walk 2km to Kreuzeck (refreshments: Kreuzeckhaus or Kreuzalm) > take Kreuzeck cable car back down into the valley

Lake Eibsee circular tour

How to get there:
- Take line 2 of the local bus (free with the guest card) from the ski stadium to the train station or walk to the train station (40 min. | 3.5km). Take the “Eibsee Bus” to Lake Eibsee.
- By car to the car park at the valley station of Zugspitz cable car
Walk anti-clockwise
Refreshments: Eibsee Pavilion

Zugspitze round trip (2,962m)

Buy the Zugspitze Ticket – round trip or the multi-day tickets online
How to get there:
- Take line 2 of the local bus (free with the guest card) from the ski stadium to the train station or walk to the train station (40 min. | 3.5km). Take the “Eibsee Bus” to Lake Eibsee.
- By car to the car park at the valley station of Zugspitz cable car
Visit Lake Eibsee when you arrive by bus or or walk around it (2 hours | 7.5km).
Take the cable car up Zugspitze > after taking photos, travel down to the Zugspitz Plateau on the Gletscherbahn cable car > from here, take the cog railway down to the valley > get off at Lake Eibsee (car), otherwise take the train all the way to the train station in Garmisch-Partenkirchen (return to the hotel by taxi, line 2 of the local bus, or on foot)

Höllentalangerhütte (1,387m)

Only accessible when the Höllental gorge is officially open (approx. Whitsun to approx. mid-October). Cash for admission to the gorge
How to get there:
- By car to the Hammersbach Grainau hiking car park
- Take line 2 of the local bus from the ski stadium to the end station, Kreuzeck cable car. On the return journey, take the bus from here again (check the times!).

Königsstand (1,453m)

A good level of surefootedness is required
By car to Lake Pflegersee
Watch out for the turn-off from the main hiking trail (Kellerleitenstieg trail) and follow the path uphill to the left (from Mauersteig trail, not from Prälatensteig trail!)
Refreshments: Berggaststätte Sankt Martin
You can also stop off for refreshments at Bergasthof Pflegersee on the way back
Alternative: Take a detour to the Werdenfels Castle ruins

Day tours

Elmauer Alm (1,203m)

Anti-clockwise
Refreshments: Elmauer Alm
On the way back, an easy hiking trail behind Berggasthof Eckbauer leads back to the hotel (not marked on Google Maps).

Schachen Castle (1,870m) and Alpine garden

Suitable for surefooted hikers in good condition (23km route with 1,200m elevation difference)
Anti-clockwise
Only during the summer months
Refreshments: first break at Bockhütte and then at Schachenhaus
On the way back, take the Kälbersteig turn-off
Important: Depart by 08.30 a.m. at the latest so that you have enough time for the King’s House on Schachen and the Alpine garden.
Insider tip: When you arrive at Schachen, turn left again right away and walk to the Reintal viewpoint.

Meilerhütte (2,366m)

Suitable for surefooted hikers in very good condition (30km route with 1,700m elevation difference)
Only during the summer months
Refreshment options: Meilerhütte and Schachenhaus
On the way back, take the Kälbersteig turn-off
Important: Depart by 08.30 a.m. at the latest

Kreuzeck (1,651m)

Refreshments: Kreuzalm
Version 1 (longer route): Extend the tour to AlpspiX (2,050m)
Version 2 (no ascents): Take line 2 of the local bus from the ski stadium to Kreuzeck (this gives you a nice circular tour of the town and is free of charge thanks to the guest card). Then take Alpspitz cable car up the mountain. Visit AlpspiX. Take Hochalm cable car or go to Hochalm for refreshments. Then head towards Kreuzeck. Take the turning into Reintal and descend to Das Graseck.

Mount Wank (1,780m)

Follow the tour in a clockwise direction
Refreshments: on the summit in Sonnenalm or in Wankhaus
You can also visit Tannenhütte on the way back
Take a shortcut into the valley over the Faukenbrücke suspension bridge (Hacker-Pschorr bridge) (not recognised by Google Maps)
Version 1 (arrival by car): Take the Wankbahn cable car up or down or use the mid-station of the Wankbahn cable car.
Version 2 (arrival by bus): Take line 2 of the local bus from the ski stadium to Sebastians Kirche (free of charge with the guest card)
Version 3 (with a demanding ascent): Turn left and continue to ascend on the mountain trail. Then walk to the left until reaching the west summit of Mount Wank.

Hupfleitenjoch (1,750m)

Suitable for surefooted hikers in good condition
Take line 2 of the local bus from the ski stadium to the end station, Kreuzeck cable car. Return to the hotel on foot.
Only accessible when the Höllental gorge is officially open (approx. Whitsun to approx. mid-October). Bring cash for admission to the gorge.
Refreshments at the start in Höllentalangerhütte or take a short detour to Kreuzeckhaus
Variations: Instead of returning to the hotel, take the bus back to the ski stadium:
- Walk down to the valley station of Kreuzeck cable car on foot
- Or take Kreuzeck cable car down to the valley (refreshments: Kreuzeckhaus)
- Or ascend to Alpspitz cable car at 2,050m above sea level (AlpspiX and refreshments at Alpspitz) and take the cable car down to the valley

Kramerspitz (1,985m)

Suitable for surefooted hikers in good condition
Only during the summer months
How to get there:
- Take line 2 of the local bus (free with the guest card) from the ski stadium to “Äußeren Maximiliansstraße”. On the way back, get on the bus at Marienplatz (hiking map).
- By car to Maximilianshöhe hiking car park
Clockwise
Refreshments: Steppbergalm and Berggaststätte Sankt Martin

Zugspitz Plateau (2,600m)

Suitable for surefooted hikers in very good condition
Only during the summer months
Plan enough time to be able to take the last cable car back down to the valley. Recommended start time: 7 a.m. for athletic hikers who want to have a refreshment break:
- - 1,052 metres above sea level: Bockhütte
  - 1,369 metres above sea level: Reintalangerhütte
  - 2,051 metres above sea level: Knorrhütte
  - 2,600 metres above sea level: Sonnalpin
- If time: cover the last 300 metres in elevation to the Zugspitz summit plateau with the Gletscherbahn cable car
- Travel to Garmisch-Partenkirchen train station and return to the hotel on foot, by taxi, or on line 2 of the local bus
  - Option 1: take the Zugspitz cable car down to the valley and then take the Eibsee bus to Garmisch-Partenkirchen train station
  - Option 2: take the Gletscherbahn cable car back to Zugspitz plateau and then take Zugspitz cable car down to the end station in Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Buy tickets at Zugspitz plateau or online the day before

Please note …

… that the timings in Google Maps do not take the elevation difference into account. You should therefore plan around a third longer than the indicated time. For day tours, we recommend calculating the tour with a professional hiking planner such as komoot.de or outdooractive.com.