From Munich, it's just a hop, skip and a jump to the mountains, and the picturesque lakes of the foothills of the Alps are also just a short drive away. Hiking near Munich you can discover this uniquely beautiful nature and recharge your batteries. There are a huge number of hiking trails in the Munich area of varying degrees of difficulty and suitable for all fitness levels. If you want to experience an eventful day trip from Munich, our self-tested hiking recommendations are worth checking out!
What you find on this page
Tegernseer Hütte - a varied mountain hike near Munich, starting in Bayerwald to Roßstein summit
View of Tegernseer Hütte and Buchstein from Roßstein summit
Tegernseer Hütte hiking trail is a popular destination for day trippers from Munich who are drawn to the mountains. And it is not without reason that the mountain hut close to the top is also called the eagle's nest, as it was built in an exposed position on a ridge between the two mountain summits Roßstein and Buchstein. Tegernseer Hütte also serves as a shelter for hikers and mountaineers when the weather changes, which can happen frequently in the Alps. It also is a base for numerous hiking trails and climbing tours in the area and can accommodate up to 23 guests, who can stay over-night in a mattress dormitory and a small chamber from Monday to Saturday.
There are different trails leading up to Tegernseer Hütte and the neighbouring summits Roßstein and Buchstein. Our favourite route is the one starting at car park Bayerwald, which takes about a 2.5 hour hike to reach the summit. However, the relatively short ascent is quite steep and in some parts you need to be free from vertigo. A good level of fitness and sturdy shoes are a prerequisite for this mountain trail. Still, it's all the more satisfying when you’ve made it to the summit and enjoy a cool drink and local specialties with magnificent Alpine vistas on the terrace of Tegernseer Hütte.
The hike starts at the car park Bayerwald. The first part of the trail leads steeply through a dense forest, along a wild, little creek and past a waterfall (if the water level is sufficient). Again and again, you come across clearings where small lizards meander across the path and beautiful wildflowers bloom. After hiking for about 1 hour, you leave the forest behind and emerge to Sonnbergalm, a traditional mountain hut sitting at the foot of Roßstein and Buchstein mountain. The cosy alp is in operation between June and September, when the cattle graze on the surrounding alpine meadows. Here you can get fresh buttermilk, and cheese from their own production, as well as sandwiches, home-made cakes and various drinks. If you need refreshments for the last ascent to the summit, you should stop here.
Trail leading to Roßstein and Buchstein
From the Sonnbergalm, the trail leads across lush meadows to a prominent rock that presents itself on the trail just before the final climb to the summit. Here, you’ll come across a sign informing that there are 2 routes to the top. On the right, the trail leads to the steep ascent and on the left is the easier, but slightly longer way up. For the steeper trail, you should have a good head for heights and wear non-slip shoes. All difficult parts are secured by steel ropes, which you can hold on to when climbing up or down. For those who enjoy climbing, this is the best part of the hike! From here, the steep ascent to Tegernseer Hütte takes about 30 minutes (the alternative route takes about 20 minutes longer). Once you have completed the via ferrata, you can either stop at Tegernseer Hütte or continue the trail to Roßstein summit. The last few metres (only about 10 minutes) to the summit are definitely worth it, since from up there you can enjoy a great 360-degree panoramic view! The climb up to the opposite Buchstein summit is very steep and unless you have some climbing experience, we recommend not to charge the summit.
You need to have a good head for heights on the steep route
The way back down into the valley is the same as the way up and takes slightly less time.
Good to know
- Demanding hike, physical fitness required, sturdy shoes required.
- Plan for a total duration of 4 – 5 h.
- Bayerwald parking fee for the day is € 5, payable with €-coins at the parking machine, machine does not give change.
- 2 trails to the final ascent: left trail is easy, right trail demands some climbing (more fun).
- We recommend to come early as this mountain trail is very popular and attracts many hikers. The car park in Bayerwald has limited capacity only. It’s less crowded during the week.
- GPS-Track Roß- und Buchstein
Map data by OpenStreetMap
Tegernseer Hütte | 83708 Kreuth | More Info
Loop trail over Herzogstand via Heimgarten - Alpine hike with magnificent views from a ridge trail
Scenic ridge trail from Herzogstand to Heimgarten
This mountain hike is yet another very popular mountain trail in the Alpine foreland near Munich. For this quite demanding hike you need to be in good shape, wear sturdy shoes and should be free from vertigo.
The loop trail over the two peaks Herzogstand and Heimgarten and back to the starting point in Walchensee village offers magnificent vistas and a fun alpine trail over a ridge that connects the two summits. The challenging mountain hike is characterised by the fact that you are rewarded with a unique landscape that offers scenic views of Kochelsee and Walchensee lakes, the high mountains and the Alpine foreland. On clear days you can even see Munich on the northern horizon.
Magnificent view of Kochelsee and the Alpine foreland
Since there are different ways to do this hike we give you instructions for the counter-clockwise route, which is our favourite. We start our hike at the car park of Herzogstandbahn cable car. The lower terminal of the cable car is only a few metres away from the lake in Walchensee village. On our tour, we first take the cable car that takes us up to the Fahrenbergkopf at an altitude of 1,627 metres (those who prefer to make the ascent on foot should plan for about 2 1/4 hours extra). Once you step outside the lift, the hike to Herzogstand summit begins already with a stunning overlook of lake Walchensee and the Karwendel mountain range.
After climbing the first summit and enjoying the breath-taking views, a ridge hiking trail leads you to the second summit of the day, the Heimgarten mountain. Only a few metres below the summit is the cosy Heimgarten mountain hut with a fantastic panoramic view of the Karwendel and Wetterstein mountain range. You should enjoy some delicious, regional specialities here! From here, the trail heads back down to Walchensee village. On the descent to the valley you walk across rolling mountain meadows and through forest.
A nice and refreshing end to the hike is a jump into the cool water of lake Walchensee, which is only a stone’s throw away from the car park of Heimgartenbahn cable car station.
View of Walchensee and Karwendel mountain range from the cable car
Good to know
- Demanding hike, physical fitness required, sturdy shoes required.
- Plan for a total duration of 4 - 5 h. 7 hours if you choose not to take the lift ride at the beginning.
- Parking fee for the day is 6,00€, tourist tax 2,00€
- Herzogstandbahn cable car fare for a single trip: adults 10€, children 6-15 years 4,50€, kids under 6 years free: all ticket prices.
- During the week there is less of a crowd. Come early, the first ride of the cable car leaves at 9 am: operating hours.
- GPS-Track Heimgarten
Map data by OpenStreetMap
Loop trail Herzogstand - Heimgarten | Am Tanneneck 6, 82432 Kochel am See | More Info
Partnachklamm - a beautiful moderate hike near Munich with a spectacular trail through a deep Alpine gorge
Partnachklamm hiking trail
This moderate hike is a 1.5 hour drive from Munich located in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, a town in the Bavarian Alps popular with skiers in winter and a top destination for hikers and mountaineers in summer. The highlight of this hike is the trail through one of the most impressive gorges in the entire Alpine region.
The starting point of the hike is the car park at the Olympic Ski Stadium in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The first part of the hike leads along the Partnach River on an asphalt road until you reach the entrance to the gorge after about 30 minutes. Here, you can buy your ticket and enter the gorge at the right of the ticketing booth. An approx. 800 metre long trail leads through the imposing gorge over footbridges, through tunnels, always right next to the wild rapids and between 80-metre-high rock faces. The path is always well secured and offers spectacular views of the deeply cut gorge. However, as it is wet in the gorge due to waterfalls and splashing water, we recommend to wear sturdy shoes and a rain jacket. At the end of the gorge, the Partnach opens up into a wide river valley where you can take a break right on the bank and even get into the icy-cold water on hot summer days.
You can hike the same route back or choose an alternative trail, which leads your way back to the starting point via Graseck. To do so, continue to walk straight on after the end of the gorge until a trail with the signpost Eckbauer/Graseck branches off to the left. Follow the (quite steep and strenuous) ascending trail until you reach the Graseck farms. Here you can stop at Kaiserschmarrn Alm restaurant and and enjoy typical Bavarian specialities sitting on the beautiful terrace with a great view of nature. Try the Kaiserschmarrn, it's really delicious at this place! From here, continue down the steep serpentines to Wildenau and back to the starting point at the Olympic ski stadium.
Good to know
- Moderate hike. Sturdy shoes and a raincoat recommended in the gorge.
- Plan for a total duration of 1:45 h.
- Car park at Olympic Ski Stadium: 5€ for the day.
- Entrance fee to the Partnach Gorge: adults 10€, children 6- 17 years 5€: admission fees.
- Order your ticket online in advance and get direct access by showing a QR code at the entrance.
- Alternative route back via Graseck (lunch at Kaiserschmarrn Alm).
- Crowded during holiday season and on weekends.
- Opening hours of the gorge trail: June - September 8:00 am - 8:00 pm, October - May 8:00 am - 6:00 pm.
Map data by OpenStreetMap
Partnachklamm | Graseck 4, 82467 Garmisch-Partenkirchen | More Info
Scenic loop trail from Taubenstein to Rotwand and back
Panorama trail to Rotwand summit
This mellow loop trail offers stunning views of the Spitzing mountain range and it leads along one of the most beautiful panorama trails in the Mangfall Mountains. The hiking trail is only an hour's drive from Munich and is perfect for a quick escape from the city. The Rotwand is the highest peak of the Schliersee mountains and thus offers most scenic views of the surrounding area.
Starting point is the car park at the valley station of the Taubenstein mountain railway, not far from the shore of the mountain lake Spitzingsee. The mountain railway with its seventies charm is only operated during the summer season and takes hikers in small cabins to the upper station at an altitude of 1692 m. Here the loop trail starts and ends. Alternatively to the railway ride, you can hike up to Taubenstein mountain station along the former ski slope.
Taubenstein mountain railway takes you up to the start of the loop trail.
The loop trail to Rotwand starts right behind the upper mountain station. From here we hike past Taubenstein summit on the left. You can easily climb up the few meters to the summit and enjoy the scenic views before returning to the trail. The partly newly developed trail then leads to Kirchsteinsattel in the west of Rotwand. From here you have a wonderful view of the Valepp area to the south. Following the path, you can already see the Rotwandhaus in the distance, a mountain hut where you can fortify yourself with a cool drink and a hearty snack. Before you stop by the hut, however, you should climb to the summit of the Rotwand. Just follow the trail up to the left. From the summit you can enjoy great views of the surrounding Schliersee Mountains. The Rotwandhaus marks about half the distance of the hike.
Views from Rotwand summit
On the way back to Taubenstein mountain station you now walk around the Rotwand. Follow the trail to the Kümpflscharte, a point where several trails cross. Here you must take the path on the left side, which leads you to Miesingsattel. To get back to the mountain station, we have to cross Kleintiefental valley. On the way down into the valley, you pass an alpine pasture with 2 buildings. At this point you walk along a gravel road for about 100 metres before turning left again onto the hiking trail. The trail leads to the Taubenstein hut, which is only a few metres away from the Taubenstein mountain station. Here, at the end of the hike, you can enjoy a cold drink on the terrace of the hut before taking the mountain railway back down to the carpark.
Kleintiefental valley
Good to know
- Moderate hike. Sturdy shoes recommended.
- Plan for a total duration of 2 - 3 hours. 5 – 6 hours if you choose not to take the mountain railway at the beginning and the end.
- The fare for the mountain railway (ascent & descent) is 22€ for adults and 11€ for children (6 - 15y). Operating hours from 9:00 am to 17:00 pm. Open until the start of winter. Check the official operating hours.
- Day ticket for parking at Taubensteinbahn is 5,00€.
- GPS-Track Taubenstein Rotwand Loop
Map data by OpenStreetMap
Loop Trail Taubenstein - Rotwand | Spitzingstrasse 12, 83727 Schliersee | More Info