Mountain Hike
Through Höllental valley (Höllentalklamm gorge) to Zugspitze
Probably the most famous and most difficult route to climb Germany’s highest mountain, Mount Zugspitze. A high Alpine tour including a glacier and fixed rope routes, which is one of the most varied and, in terms of nature, most impressive tours in the Wetterstein mountain range.
If you travel by Zugspitzbahn, you will take the footpath from the platform to the road, which will also take you to the chapel. The bus stops right here, so the chapel is an ideal starting point. To the right of the chapel, the footpath takes you straight into the forest. Follow this path uphill, ignoring the signs for “Höllental über Stangensteig” (Höllental valley via Stangensteig trail), following the signs for “Höllentalklamm” gorge. At the entrance to the gorge you will reach the Alpine hut marking the entrance, where you can pay your entrance fee (Adults 2.50 EUR/children 2 EUR/concessions for DAV-members and the disabled). Now you will reach the impressive Höllentalklamm gorge. It may be advisable to put on a rain jacket before entering, as the water is raging down the torrent and you may be splashed from above. You will go through the wild gorge on well secured paths, planks and bridges, through galleries and tunnels. Here you will experience the original force of water and nature. Don’t forget to look up every now and then: You can see thousands of little rainbows in the sunlight, innumerable waterfalls and a huge rock which got stuck between the walls of the gorge. After exiting the gorge, the path will take you further on through the steep, narrow valley all the way to Höllentalangerhütte. If you planned this tour to take two days, you can spend the night here (Especially during the main season, it is advisable to book in advance). To the right behind the hut, the path goes off to the glacier (signposted Zugspitze). At the end of the valley you turn left in the direction of Riffelscharte (watch out for the signs for Zugspitze) and you will walk on the so-called “Brett” (board) and “Eisenstifte” (ion pins) secured by an iron wire across a rock face to the “grüner Buckl” on the Höllentalferner glacier. You will then cross the moraine and the glacier (Watch out for crevasses – we recommend crampons) until you reach the start of the fixed rope route, which is to the right above the glacier field. The transition from glacier to the fixed rope route (bergschrund) can be problematic and may require additional rope equipment on the glacier! From the beginning of the fixed rope route to the right and then to the left through the rock face, at all times secured by a rope up to Irmenscharte (2,660m) it is absolutely essential to be secure on your feet and to have a good head for heights (Equipment for fixed rope routes and helmet recommended). You will then follow a narrow Alpine trail, which will take you straight up to the summit cross of Mount Zugspitze. From here, it is truly just a few steps to the terraces of the top terminal of the cable car. You can return to the valley by using the Eibsee cable car to Lake Eibsee and then taking the rack railway to the Hammersbach stop or by taking the glacier cable car to SonnAlpin at the Zugspitz glacier and then taking the rack railway to Hammersbach.
Characteristics
condition
technology
experience
landscape
best seasons
tour in numbers
route
10.3 km
duration
9:30 h
ascent
2781 m
descent
606 m
lowest point
770 m
highest point
2955 m
