Hiking Zugspitze: Hut-To-Hut Trek to Germany’s Highest Summit

The Zugspitze Tour is a 3-day hike that takes you to Germany's highest point in 38 kilometers (23,6 miles). The Wetterstein mountain range, to which the Zugspitze belongs, is largely part of the German Alps, but part of the mountain range can be found in Austria. You can therefore start the linear route from both countries. At Bookatrekking.com, we have chosen to start in Germany so that the level of difficulty can be built up slowly. Whereas the first day starts relatively easy, it will get considerably steeper on days 2 and 3. In total, you will overcome 4,440 altitude meters (14.566 ft) during the Zugspitze.

The route starts in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. A place you might know from its annual ski jumping competition on New Year's Day or as a well-known winter sports village. From here, you can climb the Zugspitze via 4 different hiking routes. The most common route leads up through the beautiful Reintal valley but the Höllental is very popular among experienced adventurers. During this tour, a spirited 3-kilometer (1,9 miles) via ferrata leads up the mountain walls for the optimal mountain goat experience.

No use is made of this cable car during the 3-day Zugspitze Tour, but the Zugspitzbahn is a unique piece of infrastructure that commands some admiration. After three years of planning, testing and construction, the cable car went into operation in 2017. In just 8 minutes and 47 seconds, the glass cabin takes 120 passengers from the Eibsee to the top of the Zugspitze. However, this is not what makes the lift so special. In the mere 10 minutes you spend on the ride in the cable car, you witness the three world records it holds to its name.

The Zugspitzbahn traverses a record-breaking 1,945 altitude meters (6.381 ft), and that while it also has the world's longest free span (3,213 meters/10.541 ft). This means that while the Zugspitzbahn climbs more meters/feet than any other cable car, the cable is unsupported by poles for more than 3 kilometers (1,9 miles) during this trip. In addition, the small number of poles you do encounter are immediately the highest lift poles in the world (127 meters/416 ft). In short, a unique piece of engineering that is definitely worth admiring when you are on top of the Zugspitze.

A mountain climb sounds complicated but is the Zugspitze Tour therefore only for experienced mountain hikers or can less experienced hikers also get to the summit. In short, is the route for you? The Zugspitze hut-to-hut tour is a great trek where you will find many different experiences in 3 short days. The trails are generally easy to navigate and passable, but the hike requires some preparation and the right mindset. Indeed, you will find the challenge during the second day, when you actually climb the Zugspitze. Here you balance over the ridge and, with the help of steel cables, you will walk along deep precipices. Because of this, your step should be sure-footed and fear of heights is out of the question.

In short, if you are up for a challenge and do not shy away from steep stony passages and a hike over the ridge, then the Zugspitze Tour could be the perfect option. For a long weekend away or a week in the versatile area, you should not skip the Zugspitze ascent when you reach this southern tip of Germany.

Whether you walk a hut-to-hut trek in Austria, Italy or Germany, the season generally falls within the same months. Between mid/late June and mid-September, the trails are mostly snow-free and you can reach the huts well. Because the Zugspitze is of course a peak and therefore high up, snow can be found here for longer. This snow can prevent the trek over the ridge and, as a result, we keep the end of June as the start of the hiking period. This altitude and snow also mean that temperatures can also be lower but this is not a problem with the right equipment.You see, preparation is essential for a hut hike.

Furthermore, southern Germany generally has warm summers with pleasant temperatures at altitude and plenty of sunshine. However, the Alps are unpredictable and the weather can easily change. If one day you can fully enjoy the bright sunshine, the next day it can rain liters. Fortunately, rain often comes in the afternoon, so if you start your stage early, you may be able to avoid the rain.

In Germany, they realized early on that there were many opportunities in the mountains. To take full advantage of these, the Deutscher Alpenverein (DAV) was formed in 1869 and merged with the Österreichischer Alpenverein (ÖAV) in 1873. The result was the DÖAV. After years of cooperation and some changes, the two associations split again permanently after World War II. Good relations remained, however, and to this day the DAV and the ÖAV work closely together. They are constantly concerned with the well-being of the mountain trails, the surrounding nature and the maintenance of their affiliated mountain huts.

During your 3-day Zugspitze ascent, you will stay in two different mountain huts that are both affiliated with the DAV. These huts are cozy and simple but offer a special and unique mountain hut culture. Together with other hikers, you can enjoy a piece of German history, good food and the always helpful hut staff. In the evening, you'll leave on time for your dormitory, where you'll snuggle up warm in your sleeping bag liner. The next day, you get up early to start the next stage on time. Of course, you will first enjoy breakfast and the beautiful surroundings in which the huts are located.

In case you have done a hut tour in Germany, or perhaps Austria, before, you will have a good idea of what to expect from Bavarian huts. Compared to Austrian mountain huts, however, you will also find small differences. For one, in Germany it is common for hikers to take their own rubbish back down into the valley, for which they have to bring their own bag. To help you prepare for your stay in a German mountain hut, we have compiled a packing list later in this blog. That way you can be sure you won't forget anything essential.

The Zugspitze is right on the German-Austrian border and because it is a linear route, you start and end in a different country. However, this does not make traveling on and off more difficult. Garmisch-Partenkirchen, where you find the starting point, is easy to travel to from Munich but Innsbruck is also nearby.

Car
One of the easiest ways to travel to Garmisch-Partenkirchen is by car. Munich is the closest major city in Germany and within an hour and a half you will travel from here to the starting point. In short, if you are coming from the north, this is a good starting point to stick to. If you are coming from a more southern point, stick to Innsbruck. From here it's just under an hour to Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

Public transportation
In addition to the car, Garmisch-Partenkirchen is also very easy to reach by public transportation, especially from Munich. In the fastest case, you can be next to the starting point within 1 hour and 22 minutes. If you travel via Innsbruck, it will take you on average just under 2 hours to arrive at your destination.

Plane
Geographically, Innsbruck is closer to Garmisch-Partenkirchen but both the frequency of air travel and the surrounding infrastructure make Munich airport the practical choice. From the airport you can get to the main train station by public transportation within 3 quarters of an hour. From here you can travel further to your starting point by direct train within 1.5 hours.

The Zugspitze hut-to-hut tour ends in Ehrwald. Here you will find a small train station and within half an hour you will be back in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

An emergency occurs when a human life (yours or someone else's) is in danger and there is nothing you can do to resolve the matter. You should call for help if there has been an accident, if someone is stuck, if you are lost or in trouble and can't go any further because of the time of day or weather conditions, or if you are stuck because of technical climbing challenges beyond your capabilities.

The most important thing to do in an emergency situation is to stay calm and survey the situation. Do not panic or take useless risks if those in need are difficult to reach. In case of an emergency, call the rescue services first and foremost. When you do so, be sure to communicate the location, number of victims and type of injuries. Then protect the victim from cold and other environmental threats and provide first aid, if you can.

Emergency numbers for Germany

• General emergency number: 112
• Police: 110

A hut tour through Germany really doesn't have to be expensive. Huts are usually simple, but offer everything you need to recharge your mental and physical batteries for the next hiking day(s). For the 3-day Zugspitztour you can count on about 80 EUR per hiking day. This includes route description, navigation aid, your accommodation in a mountain hut and half-board. For hut tours in general, we then recommend taking 40 to 60 EUR pocket money with you. This is for lunch and your drinks. Most of our pocket money usually goes to that ice cold beer in the next hut!