Wetterstein Mountains

The most famous mountain in this group in the Northern Limestone Alps is also the highest mountain in Germany - the mighty Zugspitze (2,962 meters). But with more than 150 other peaks in the region, mountain climbers, ski tourers, hikers, or climbers have an incredibly diverse range of options.

Because the Wetterstein Mountains are easily accessible, compact, and off the beaten path, there are also quiet places to be discovered in the pristine nature, making a visit worthwhile for just about any mountain lover - whether seeking peace or adventure.

Located between Ehrwald, Seefeld in Tirol, and Garmisch-Partenkirchen, the mountain range is situated in the border region between Austria and Germany. In the immediate vicinity, you will also find other mountain groups to complement your hiking plans - these include the Bavarian Prealps, the Mieming Range, the Karwendel, and the Ammergau Alps. The connection to the Bavarian Prealps is provided by a saddle between the Kankerbach and the Kranzbach. To reach the Mieming Range, you can go through a saddle at the Ehrwalder Alm.

Several cable cars ensure quick access within the Wetterstein Mountains. The Tiroler Zugspitzbahn, a cable car, leads from Ehrwald in the district of Reutte (Tyrol) to the western summit of the Zugspitze. The Ehrwalder Almbahn moves its gondolas to the Ehrwalder Alm ski and hiking area in both summer and winter. The German part is also accessible via the modern Zugspitze cable car, which opened at the end of 2017, and the classic cogwheel train, which takes you from Garmisch-Partenkirchen via Grainau and Eibsee to the Zugspitzplatt.

Numerous hiking trails lead you through a magical natural landscape, where chamois and marmots, as well as the alpine salamander, alpine chough, and the majestic golden eagle, have found their home. In addition to the international long-distance hiking trail Via Alpina (from Trieste to Monaco), the North Alpine long-distance hiking trail 01 or Limestone Alps Trail (from Bregenz to Lake Neusiedl) also runs through the rocky landscape of the Wetterstein Mountains. More than 10 via ferratas complete the alpine sports offer - such as the route from the Wiener Neustädter Hütte to the Zugspitze or the ascent to the Schneefernerkopf on the Austrian-German border.

The Schneefernerkopf (2,875 meters) appears as the dominant mountain of the Wetterstein Mountains from many perspectives, but some classify it as a sub-peak of the Zugspitze. In any case, for an easy ascent, it is recommended to start from the Zugspitzplatt. Via the Schneeferner and the Schneefernerscharte, where you can take an extraordinary view of Ehrwald through the "Windloch," an opening in the rock, it continues in stages over the north ridge and a wire rope climb until you reach the summit. Walking time: just under an hour. Surefootedness and freedom from vertigo are required.

In addition to the mountains, there are also some gorges to discover in the Wetterstein region - such as the Partnach Gorge - a partially 80-meter-deep natural monument near Garmisch-Partenkirchen, the mystical Leutasch Gorge, which is especially suitable for families as a "ghost gorge" with a "goblin path," or the Höllental Gorge, which also leads to the Zugspitze.