Partnachklamm Gorge

Time and time again, eager tourists discover the town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen via Bavarian travel articles, tour guides, or recommendations. This isn’t exactly surprising considering the town’s amazing location, plethora of public transport options, and the US military personnel presence that seems intent on spreading the word about the Zugspitze’s impressive peak, Garmisch-Partenkirchen’s quaint twin town centers, and the seemingly endless skiing options. All together, these features prop up the town, cementing its reputation as an unavoidable staple in Bavarian tourism.

Here at NearFromHome, we too have felt Garmisch-Partenkirchen’s unavoidable presence, especially as our most popular content to date revolves around the town. However, I’d be remiss in only highlighting the obvious, as since, you’ll likely stop over regardless, why not capitalize on the town’s lesser known attractions? Partnachklamm Gorge is a fantastic site, well worth a quick half day excursion after the main tent pole activities of the area. So, follow the river towards its source with us, discovering the otherworldly Partnachklamm Gorge.

Before we continue, let’s get a few things straight. I love the Partnachklamm, however, I do have some qualifiers to tack onto my recommendation. A bit of nuance never hurts, you know? To put it bluntly, this excursion might simply not be worth the one daytrip for those based solely in Munich. Travelers preferring city-based itineraries, only donating one or two days to exploring the Bavarian countryside, might simply find the gorge too small an activity to be worth the effort. Unless you’re some sort of gorge enthusiast, there are simply bigger ticket items with higher ROIs for your 1-2 day countryside allotments. In my humble opinion, this trip is far better suited for extended tours within Bavaria. If you’ve got days to spare I’d recommend spending your first day visiting the Zugspitze, followed by the night spent in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The next day, check out the gorge after breakfast before continuing to the next activity or Bavarian town on your itinerary.

Regardless of the city vs countryside debate, you’ll have to get to Partnachklamm somehow. So, let’s assume we’re starting from the Munich Hauptbahnhof, taking the RB train in the direction of Garmisch-Partenkirchen or Mittenwald. I seemingly always find myself on the Mittenwald train, but don’t worry as there is practically no difference between the two trains for the Garmisch-Partenkirchen bound. As for departure times, this trip is quite low key, so don’t feel pressured to leaving incredibly early, as even an afternoon departure will still leave enough time to experience the gorge and surrounding attractions. Ride the train for an hour and 20 minutes, exiting of course at the Garmisch-Partenkirchen station. Head out of the main station in the direction of Partenkirchen, turning right down Partnachauenstrasse, walking parallel to and against the flow of the Partnach river. Eventually you’ll walk through some fields, with a giant ski jump heralding your arrival at the Garmisch-Partenkirchen Olympic Stadium. From there, follow the paved roads and signs to the right, again against the river, towards your final destination. In total, this scenic walk from the train station lasts about an hour, with the trail eventually ending at the ticket counter for the Partnachklamm Gorge.

Once at the gorge entrance, purchase tickets at 6 euros per adult, and head through the turn style. For those dissatisfied with the rather leisurely walk from the train station, consider the network of trails to the left of the gorge entrance winding up into the foothills. This path offers an elongated hike into the hills, and over a bridge across the gorge, eventually plopping hiking out at the back entrance of Partnachklamm. For those, wishing to simply see the gorge they’ve been walking an hour for, beginning at the main entrance, works just as well.

As for the history, Partnachklamm gorge is often considered one of Bavaria’s most beautiful Alpine features. Unsurprisingly, it was declared a national monument all the way back in 1912. So, though you won’t be the first visitor, take solace in the knowledge that this stop has been an eternal mainstay of Bavarian itineraries for over 100 years. The gorge itself features an impressive walkway cut directly into the mountainside, allowing visitors to experience the power of the Partnach river up close from the safety of a wooden walkway. Be sure to bring a jacket though, as the rush of the Alpine water through such a narrow enclosure creates a frigid draft even in the hottest of Summer heat.

At the Gorge’s end, guests can turn around, retracing their steps back out to the entrance. Perhaps consider first walking a little further against the flow of the river until reaching the footpath intersection. We found several gorge visitors enjoying a picnic, or even cooling off in the shallow Partnach waters. However, those wanting even more post gorge activities can easily opt for a longer walk accompanied with some truly excellent Alpine vistas that I personally think it are well worth your time. Follow the signs pointing into the hills, and ascend the trails to access the Alms/Gasthauses dotting the ridge line. After a 20 minute ascent, guests encounter beautiful vistas of the surrounding Alpine landscape from an idyllic sky meadow viewable from a few beer gardens. For only a 15 minute hike, these views provide an unusually high return on investment, accompanied by the excellently situated beer and small bites. After relaxing in the meadow beer gardens, you have two return options. You can continue along the paths until they merge into an incredibly steep paved service road, or ride a gondola down. The service road drops hikers off a little ways before the gorge entrance. As for the tiny, unmanned gondala, I was admittedly uncomfortable with the idea, I have to say the experience proved novel and expedient. Continue down the path out of the beer garden sky meadows, but turn left, following signs for the Graseckbahn, or gondola, just around the corner of the spa/hotel “Das Graseck”. This mountain retreat, runs the gondala up and down for their customers wanting a spa vacation, without any of the strains of outdoor activities. Simply wait in line, hop in a gondala once it’s in position, and lock the doors behind you. Safely inside, the gondola will bring you to the bottom station, where you will pay the attendant an exit fee.

Afterwards, head back the way you came, returning along the trails to Garmisch-Partenkirchen. If you are on a simple day trip, take the reverse train from earlier in the direction of the Munich Hauptbahnhof and you’ll be done and dusted. However, if you are opting for an elongated Bavarian exploration, perhaps consider a simple dinner and stroll around town or another outdoor activity the following day such as the Werdenfels Castle. If you are a tourist I mentioned using this on a travel day, but where is the best place for you to move on to from here? Well, I recommend heading to Austria for Ruette’s World of Castles, or continuing through Bavaria to Mittenwald.