Hiking through and around the gorge
The Partnach Gorge is the starting point for numerous hikes in the Reintal, Hausberg and Kreuzeck regions.
Before the entry to the Partnach Gorge, a steep roadway branches off to the left, by which you reach on foot the 130 m higher situated Vordergraseck in 20 minutes. A more comfortable way is to take the cableway of the hotel DAS GRASECK.
Left of the little entry house, a route leads in 20 minutes to the “Iron Bridge”. From here, it is an easy 10-minute walk (left) to Vordergraseck or in approximately 15 minutes and after a climb of 100 m (right) to the Partnachalm. In Vordergraseck, various places of refreshment are available: Das Graseck, Gasthof Hanneslabauer and the Kaiserschmarrn-Alm. From Vordergraseck routes also lead to Hintergraseck and up to the Eckbauer continuing to Wamberg, or also down to the rear entry of the Partnach Gorge, through which you can then wander down into the valley.
A well-known guide through the Partnach Gorge was the Partenkirchen mountain guide Josef Bergkofer (“Pitzner”), who owned a little hut at the entry to the Gorge and led anxious hikers safely through the roaring Gorge. The Pitzner hut is today a popular rest point for hikers.
To anybody who then walks through the Gorge, a wide variety of different hiking opportunities open up.
Also, the hiking and climbing regions Oberreintal, to the Meilerhütte and Dreitorspitze, in the direction of the Hausberg and Kreuzeck regions become accessible from here.
Along the Partnach leads the classical route to the top of the Zugspitze, taken by its first ascender Josef Naus in 1820. Here you walk via the Bockhütte, the Reintalangerhütte and Knorrhütte up to the Zugspitzplatt and then to the summit.
Especially beautiful but also somewhat challenging is the mountain hike to the Castle Schachen. After walking through the Partnach Gorge, you follow the signpost “Kälbersteig”. Nearly at the top, you come to the so-called Königsweg (royal route), by which King Ludwig II reached his castle. From here, you walk almost on an even level up to the Schachen Alp, the Schachen Castle and the Schachen House, an accommodation which is run in summer.
The Jagdschloss am Schachen (hunting castle), built in the year 1871 by the Bavarian King Ludwig II, is worth a visit. On the outside, the castle looks like a Swiss house, in the inside it contains on the first floor a lavishly equipped, colourful state room in the oriental style. Visits are possible in summer between 11:00 and 14:00 hours. Directly behind the castle is the Alpengarten with rare alpine plants.
At the junction of Kälbersteig and Königsweg, the route leads at the left downhill to the Wettersteinalm. This alpine pasture lies in a kettle below the Wetterstein walls. In summer, you are invited to stop here for a bite to eat. Very simple and rustic – a genuine alpine farm.
At the Tourist Information relevant information is available: the KOMPASS hiking map or a panorama map. Further below in the GaPa tour planner you find a survey of the numerous tours. For hikes in the alpine regions you should inform yourself thoroughly in advance with the help of hiking maps or a mountain guide. And please always remember: good, sturdy footwear as well as adequate clothing are important and are an absolute necessity when hiking in the mountains.
GaPa Tourplanner
Discover the variety of the region! A 300-kilometre network of hiking trails and over 450 kilometres of cycle routes are waiting for you. But this is by far not all: On 60 kilometres of slopes and 28 kilometres of cross-country skiing trails, winter sportspeople can really let off steam. Mountain lover, what more do you want?
In addition to our numerous tour proposals, you can plan your completely individual tour!
Here we have listed for you all the currently possible tours through the Partnach Gorge.
Due to the local conditions, the Partnach Gorge can unfortunately only be walked in one direction - from the ticket booth up to the Southern exit because of Covid-19 restrictions. Here the routes in the direction of Vordergraseck, Partnachalm and Reintal start. Entry from the South or turning around in the Gorge is unfortunately not allowed. Hikers are asked to prepare themselves for the longer and more strenuous return trip via Vordergraseck, Partnachalm etc.
A LIGHT IN THE NIGHT – GUIDED TORCHLIT HIKES
Fascinating how the gorge’s appearance changes when the sun moves across the sky and the light keeps changing almost by the second. During a guided torchlit hike, you can enjoy the spectacle of light and shade up close. That’s an exceptional experience no matter the season – but especially in winter. When the light of the burning torches gets refracted by the giant ice curtains, hikers are engulfed by a truly mystical and enchanting atmosphere.

INFO ABOUT BOOKING A TORCHLIT HIKE
- „Rößner-Hans“, in German language only
Tel.: +49 (0)8821-59345 (AB) or Tourist Information +49 (0)8821-180-700
each wednesday, friday & saturday at 5.30 pm & 7 pm
adults: EUR 15,00, child: EUR 8,00.
Group tours from 8 people are also possible at other times by arrangement.
- Almwirtschaft Hanneslabauer, Tel: +49 8821 531 31 (from 10 people)
- Gaststätte Oympiahaus, Tel: +49 8821 730 96 99 (from 10 people)
- Das Graseck, Tel: + 49 8821 943 240
- Toni Bartl´s Kaiserschmarrn-Alm, Tel: +49 176 240 999 99
Good to know: The guided torchlight walks take place only in winter.