Photo: David Becker / Unsplash
Zugspitze, Eibsee & Partnachklamm
About this guide
The Zugspitze (2,962 m) in the Wetterstein range is Germany's highest mountain; the border with Austria runs over its summit, and it was first climbed in 1820. The Zugspitzbahn goes up: a cog railway from Garmisch-Partenkirchen and a cable car from the Eibsee.
- Difficulty
Only the Eibsee loop is suitable for pushchairs; it has no notable gradients. The Partnachklamm loop is not: in the gorge the path is secured throughout, over small bridges and through tunnels and galleries, and the way back over Graseck climbs to the farms and descends steeply on a road.
- Season
The Eibsee loop can be walked all year, depending on the weather. The Partnachklamm is open daily, June to September 8:00–20:00, October to May 8:00–18:00; short-term closures for safety reasons are possible.
- Getting there
Eibsee: by bus or with the Zugspitzbahn, free with the Grainau guest card; the paid car park is often closed when full on fine days. Partnachklamm: the walk starts at the Olympic ski stadium in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, served by local buses 1 and 2.
- Food & drink
Eibsee-Pavillon and Eibsee-Alm at the lake; refreshments at the Graseck farms.
Map, routes and places
Trails
Route data checked: October 2026 ·
Places
Sights & viewpoints
Getting there & parking
Plan your trip
18°Partly cloudyCable car from the Eibsee to the summit; the cog railway from Garmisch stops here.
Station of the Zugspitze cog railway beside Garmisch-Partenkirchen station; trains to the Eibsee.
Related guides
Sources (3) · last checked October 2026
Route data checked: October 2026
- Deutscher Alpenverein (brochure "Sicher auf die Zugspitze", 09/19) — history
- Zugspitz Region GmbH (zugspitz-region.de; data: Zugspitzdorf Grainau) — route, track, distance, elevation, time, difficulty, access, season and opening, history
- GaPa Tourismus GmbH (gapa-tourismus.de) — route, track, distance, elevation, time, difficulty, access, rules, season and opening, history