High heights & wide views – mountain hikes in the Ammergau Alps Nature Park

If you want to do a nice day tour with wonderful views and refreshment stops, you've found the right one. This round starts directly in Unterammergau and takes you over one of the three Hörnleg peaks to the Stierkopf. That is why it is particularly easy to reach. There is a train connection here via Murnau or you can take the bus to the stop at the town hall. You will also find a parking space at the entrance.From the outskirts you walk eastwards. You will face a few meters of altitude, but you will climb these on well-developed paths that make walking easy. You always make your way up over meadows and between trees. On the back of the Mittlerer Hörnle you reach the Hörnle-Alm, which is waiting for you with hearty snacks. Here you can stop off comfortably, because you only have around 100 meters of altitude to go to your destination.The great view that has already been suggested at the Hörnle-Alm is even better at the Hinteren Hörnle. The alpine foothills with the Staffelsee stretches out below you. The Zugspitze rises to the south. Right next door, on the bull's head, you can enjoy the panorama again. Then you start the descent, which mostly leads you through the forest. Where the trees turn into meadows again, you can make a detour to the Romanshöhe inn. Otherwise you turn right and walk towards Unterammergau.

This circular hike takes you to three peaks and gives you impressive views of the baroque Ettal monastery. The route begins at the gates of the abbey or at the parking lot at the foot of the mountain. On the ascent you always stay on the ridge, which leads you on steep and winding paths to the Ochsensitz.Then you hike along the ridge to the Ziegelspitz. Again and again, great views of the mountains around sweeten your ascent. Behind every peak there is always a short descent before it goes up again. And then the final is on: there are still around 150 meters in altitude to the summit of the day, the Notkarspitze.The descent begins over a ridge to the north and then steeply down into the cirque. Even in the forest that follows it is hardly flatter and so you can quickly leave the altitude behind you. Once back in the valley, a visit to Ettal with the monastery is a good idea. Even if you are hungry, you will find what you are looking for here and you can end your day of hiking comfortably.

Crossing the high plateau is an exciting balancing act with easy climbing passages. The rocky summit and the views promise ambitious hikers an alpine atmosphere. From the parking lot at the Ammerwaldalm you first walk through the Roggental, always along the stream. You already make up a few meters in altitude and walk straight to the plateau.Where you can’t go straight ahead, turn left. Now the terrain is getting steeper and stony. This will take you to the saddle between Hochplatte and Hochblasse, from which you have an impressive view of the Lechtal and Allgäu Alps. Immediately afterwards you will reach the next saddle. This marks the lowest point between the crow and your target peak. Here is the window, a stone hole through which you can look like a frame.Now you walk the exciting ridge to the summit, which is secured with ropes in some places. Surefootedness and a head for heights are required here. So better stand still if you want to enjoy the view over the Ammergau to the Forggensee. This remains with you along the entire ridge, so it can also be the backdrop for your snack at the summit cross. Or would you prefer to look at the Zugspitze while you take a break?From the highest point you keep on the ridge and descend again. The path takes you over the Weitalpjoch back to the Roggentalbach, whose course you follow to the starting point.

This day tour starts right next to the fairytale Linderhof Palace. If you want to visit the residence of the Bavarian King Ludwig II and the associated gardens, it is best to get up early. If you want to take your time with this, you'd better come back another day, because you'll be on the road for some time. You can arrive by bus or car - there is both a bus stop and a parking lot.To the west of the castle you start your ascent on shady forest paths. The steep slopes are defused by bends, but the uphill is still quite crisp. This will take you up to the ridge, where the trees will slowly become sparse and reveal the beautiful view to the north and south. Here you pass the Brunnenkopfhütte. Either you strengthen yourself here for the ascent of the summit - keep in mind that you still have about 300 meters of altitude ahead of you - or you only come back on the way back, which is on the same path.You continue on a beautiful path to your destination, the Großer Klammspitze. Shortly before the summit, it gets really steep again in the Kar. It is all the nicer when you reach the cross and let your gaze wander around.Can't get enough of the fantastic summit views? Then on the way there or back you can make a detour to the Brunnenkopf, which is located directly above the hut of the same name.

The Laber is a popular panoramic mountain directly above Oberammergau. A nostalgic mountain railway goes almost all the way to the summit. You can also climb the mountain on your own and take a second peak and wonderful views with you along the way.The route starts at the valley station of the mountain railway and initially leads up almost parallel to the gondola lift. For the most part, however, you move in the forest and hardly notice the goings-on above you. You walk straight to the summit, but about 250 meters below you swivel to the right and cross the slope under the mountain station.Over a few last steep hairpin bends you get to the ridge and shortly after you are on the Schartenkopf. Here you can take a breather and enjoy the breathtaking view of the nearby rocks and the distant Zugspitze. It is only a stone's throw from here to the main summit of the Laber. You can then stop at the mountain station with a view of the Wetterstein Mountains. The descent takes place on the same route or alternatively by train.

The Ettaler Manndl is a striking rocky peak that makes you want to climb it from afar. And it doesn't disappoint either: a short via ferrata leads all the way up to the summit cross, which gives your hike a dash of adventure.The starting point is northeast of Ettal Abbey. From there it goes up steeply, straight to the summit - almost direttissimo, if you ignore the small bends. It gets exciting up under the summit structure. This is where the via ferrata begins, which writes its route on the wall with a steel cable. It is rated with the difficulty A / B. So he's quite easy among his own kind, but still not to be underestimated.Before you reach the Ettaler Manndl, you pay a visit to his wife, the Ettaler Weibl. This is the name of the pre-summit, from which it is only a few steps to your goal. The return route is the same. Below you will pass a Kneipp pool with a view of the monastery. Your feet are sure to be happy about a refreshment.

This leisurely hike starts at the famous Linderhof Palace. If you start early in the morning, you still have time in the afternoon to look at the park and the magnificent buildings. The hike begins in the west of the castle and bypasses the extensive grounds above. At first there is only a little uphill, but then it gets steeper and steeper.Most of the time you spend in the forest. That's why the view is even more beautiful as soon as you step out between the trees. Beautiful paths take you to the Pürschling, where the August-Schuster-Haus - also known as the Pürschlinghaus - is waiting for you.To get off, go back the same way. Are you still in the mood for some royal pomp? The Linderhof gardens are freely accessible. Here you can relax after your hike. If you also want to visit the castle, it is best to book a guided tour in advance.

A tour of superlatives, because the Kreuzspitze, at 2,185 meters, is the highest peak in the Ammergau Alps in Bavaria. The hike begins on a parking lot in the furthest Graswang valley directly behind the border with Austria. First you cross the dry river bed of the Neualmbach and are then back in Germany.You can take it easy for a short time before the consistently steep ascent begins. Here you come to the place where King Ludwig II's Hundinghütte once stood. This was no less magical than his other buildings and you can marvel at it today as a reconstruction in the park of Linderhof Palace.First, countless bends in the forest always lead you up a beautiful path. Then continue in the same way in the Hochgrieskar. This will get you to a back that will bring you to the Kreuzspitze with precision. First mountain pines line your way up to the rocky summit structure. It will be exciting and easy to climb here - you will probably need your hands too.And then the rewarding summit: All around you can see the Ammergau and Lechtal Alps, over the Eibsee to the Wetterstein. Now you just have to decide in which direction you want to look at your snack. The return route is the same.

The rocky peak of the Kofel rises prominently high above Oberammergau into the sky. The summit cross can be seen from below and motivates you to take a promising half-day tour with a stop. The round tour begins at the valley station of the Kolbensesselbahn. From there you first walk to the bunting and take a look at what you have in front of you from afar. Along the shore you will soon reach the Döttenbichl, where Roman artifacts over 2,000 years old have been found. They came here with the 19th Roman Legion that crossed the Alps in 15 BC.Now that you've hiked warm, the steep climb to the summit begins. With the help of numerous bends, you will quickly gain height in the forest and reach the Kofelsattel. This is where the exciting part of the round begins: A rocky passage leads you to the summit, some of which is secured with ropes. At the top there is a wide view of mountains, valleys and two moors - the powder moss in the north and the Weidmoos in the southeast.From the summit you descend as you came and then continue to the west. Now the relaxed part of the tour lies ahead of you. You take a leisurely stroll on the beautiful high path to the Kolbensattelhütte, where you can put the icing on the cake with a stop for a break. From here you hike back into the valley or you whiz down on the Alpine Coaster.

This hike isn't far, but it has it all: In less than two hours you will discover bubbling waterfalls in a gorge and a wonderful view. It starts at a hiking car park in the southwest of Unterammergau. There you dive directly into a forest, which you only leave again at your destination at the Steckenbergkreuz.Soon the forest is filled with the rushing water and you enter the Schleifmühlklamm. At the beginning there is the restored whetstone mill, in which whetstone making is maintained. You can find interesting information about this historical craft on information boards along the way. Together with the waterfalls, this first section of the route is very entertaining.After several bridges in the gorge you cross the water one last time and start the steep ascent over a beautiful forest path to the Steckenbergkreuz. This is still a good 150 meters below the summit of the Steckenberg, but the view from here is still impressive.After you have enjoyed the view extensively, you first hike back down on the same path. On the way back, stay in the valley on this side of the gorge and walk comfortably on the Pürschlingstraße back to the starting point.

This extended day hike takes you to the Zeitberg with its entertaining nature trail and to the three Hörnleg peaks. If you feel like a shorter round, you can also take the train from Bad Kohlgrub to the Zeitberg. This will reduce the route by around two thirds.If you decide on the big round, you start in Wurmansau and at the beginning you can hike comfortably warm in the valley, because it is initially hardly uphill to the south. Then you turn to the left and the slope increases. Over meadows and through the forest you hike up towards the Vorderes Hörnle. Shortly before the ascent to the summit, you will reach the Hörnlehütte right next to the mountain station of the Bad Kohlgrub train, one of the two places to stop for refreshments on the way. Here you can make yourself comfortable and enjoy the wide view over the country.Then you follow the nature trail, which tells you exciting things about different times, for example how the Alps were formed in prehistoric times or when the breeding season of the native birds is. One after the other you hike three peaks: first the front, then the middle and finally the rear Hörnle. On the way you will pass many original resting places that invite you to relax. Between the second and third peaks you can strengthen yourself on the Hörnle-Alm.Between the Hörnle you hike back to the mountain station of the chairlift and start your descent there. First you follow a ridge and then turn north. Back in the valley, leisurely paths bring you back to the starting point.