Partnachklamm Hike: Explore The Hidden World Of Germany’s Favorite Gorge

The mountains on the southern border of Germany form a formidable natural barrier, also known as the Alps. From gentle rolling hills the landscape suddenly changes, with jagged peaks dominating the horizon. It is Germany's prime outdoor playground, with a vast trail network used by hiker's and mountain bikers. But there's more to it than meets the eye. There are some subtle, hidden natural wonders that you would only notice if you know about it. One of those treasures is the Partnachklamm.

The Partnachklamm is a spectacular gorge just south of Garmisch Partenkirchen, world-famous for its iconic ski jump. It's 700 meters long, 80 meters deep and was declared a natural monument in 1912. The river Partnach pushes its way violently through the canyon, and especially in spring time this can be an impressive sight. In the olden days the gorge was inaccessible. The fast flowing water was used to transport wooden logs from higher grounds to town by just throwing them in the river. These days there's a walkway, including a 250 meter long tunnel, and people from across the globe flock to this place to admire this incredible landmark. It's an easy stroll, and you can extend the hike to a full day hike or even longer!

In principle, the Partnachklamm can be visited year round. Occasionally the gorge closes in low season for repair work on the footpath. It gets busy in the summer season, when the majority of the 200,000 annual visitors marvel at the steep walls and the roaring Partnach river. Outside the summer months the gorge is relatively quiet and if you’re lucky you’ve got the entire place to yourself. In February there’s a good chance the gorge has transformed into a cathedral of icicles, hanging from the rocks.

Photography: September and February

Hiking: May until the end of October

Just visiting: Anytime of the year

As said, the Partnachklamm gorge is located just south of Garmisch Partenkirchen in the foothills of the Bavarian Alps. It is easy to reach with both public transport and car.

By plane: The biggest and best-served airport is Munich, though you can fly to Innsbruck as well (and combine the Austrian and Bavarian Alps!). Below we’ll explain how to travel onwards from these cities.

By car: Drive from Munich to Garmisch Partenkirchen via the A95, which takes an hour and a half. From Innsbruck, drive east on the A12 and head north on the B177 and B2. It only takes an hour. Park your car at the ski stadium, which is very close to the entrance of the Partnachklamm gorge.

By train: From Munich you can hop on the RB6 leaving from München Hauptbahnhof on a regular basis. From Innsbruck, take the direct train S6 or RB6 with final destination Garmisch Partenkirchen. It’s a very scenic train journey.

You could see the Partnachklamm as the gateway to the Bavarian Alps, with a wealth of walking paths that wind through the forests and on top of the mountain ridges. The local trails are well-managed and often quite wide, making it accessible for novice and easy-going hikers. It’s easy to find a great terrace to sip a beer while looking at the biggest mountains in Germany. The highest of them all is the Zugspitze, and if you’re tempted to climb it then join us on our 3-day hut to hut trek to the roof of Germany.

We created a couple of great hikes in the direct vicinity of Partnachklamm suitable for most hikers.

Garmisch Partenkirchen is Germany's prime destination for both summer and winter mountain sports. What about the town itself? Well, when you walk around Garmisch Partenkirchen it is as if you have been dropped straight into the Hans and Gretel fairytale. Colorful houses, locals in traditional dress and forested mountains around the town. It is a typical Bavarian place, that still maintains lots of traditions. One of these traditions is the most prestigious event of the year, the ski jumping competition on New Year's Day. In summer, apart from outdoor sports, you can pamper yourself by visiting one of the luxury wellness centers. Only an hour west of Garmisch Partenkirchen you can find one of the most beautiful castles in Germany, Neuschwanstein once inhabited by King Ludwig II of Bavaria. And if you're just into hiking? Climb Zugspitze or hop across the border to Austria and hike the Adlerweg or the Stubaier Höhenweg!

At Bookatrekking.com you can book the self-guided Partnachklamm hike and many other treks. We take care of all the details for you, including arranging accommodations and providing you with relevant information well in advance of your trek. Find our offers here. Our easy-to-use platform allows you to browse and compare different trekking options and find the perfect fit for your interests, abilities, and budget.

If you have any questions about a specific trek or need help choosing the right one for you, our team of trekking experts is here to assist you. Simply reach out to us and we will be happy to provide you with personalized recommendations and advice to help you plan the trekking adventure of a lifetime.