12 days through the Zugspitze region on the Spitzenwanderweg

124 miles (200 kilometers) and over 20,000 feet (6,800 meters) of altitude difference - that's the program for the Spitzenwanderweg. The brand new long-distance hiking trail leads you in twelve stages as a circular route through the varied landscape of the Zugspitze region. On the edge of moors and wide lakes, you hike through the hilly foothills of the Alps. You explore the Partnachklamm and the Höllentalklamm on exciting routes. Along Loisach and Isar you can enjoy quiet river valleys. Around Mittenwald you will be enchanted by unspoiled mountain forests. And on narrow paths, you'll climb up into the mountains of Karwendel, Wetterstein and the Ammer Mountains. Without question, Spitzenwanderweg is the perfect name for this dream hike.

The circular route begins in the artists' village of Murnau and leads you from here via Garmisch-Partenkirchen to the Alpenwelt Karwendel. After a stopover in the tranquil Mittenwald, you climb up the slopes of the Wetterstein mountains and through the Höllentalklamm gorge to the Zugspitz village of Grainau. From here you cross the picturesque Ammergebirge before you arrive back at the starting point after the circumnavigation of the lake Staffelsee. The individual stages have different demands on your ability and fitness. While the alpine stages through the Karwendel and Wetterstein mountains are especially suitable for enduring hikers, the sections through the foothills of the Alps and through the Ammer Mountains are also perfect for families and pleasure hikers. But also the Alpine routes lead over well-developed paths and wire-rope insured climbs. If you're looking for a little more excitement here, you can easily add one or two summit ascents.

As befits a circular trail, you can of course get on at any point or just hike individual stages. This is made easier by the fact that all stage locations – apart from the mountain huts Soiernhütte and Schachenhaus – can be reached by bus, train or cable car. So you can decide: Do you want to take the whole Spitzenwanderweg in one piece or do you want to divide it into different days and weekends? Whatever your decision, this Tour will be an unforgettable experience.

Hiking carefully, nature-compatible and with full passion in our mountains!

The nature in the Zugspitz region is unrivaled in Germany. That's why more and more nature lovers — whether on foot or by bike — want to explore our foothills and mountains. To ensure that the beauty of nature is preserved in the process, our motto is: "Consciously mindful along the path". This includes a few simple rules that do not spoil the mountain experience and at the same time ensure an intact nature for all visitors and future generations:

- Please stay on the signposted paths.
- Please take garbage with you — even leftover fruit takes forever to decompose in the mountains.
- After crossing alpine meadows, be sure to close the cattle gates again — and keep a respectful distance from cows and calves.
- Park only in designated areas — never in meadows or on the shoulder of the road.
- Or even better: leave your car at home and travel by bus or train. That way, you don't even have to look for parking spaces and can read a book or enjoy the countryside instead.
- Even if the footage is impressive — to protect the wildlife and other nature lovers, the use of drones is not allowed.
- Speaking of other nature lovers: Mountain bikers and hikers can best enjoy nature together if they treat each other with respect.

If we follow these rules together, then nothing will stand in the way of an unspoiled mountain experience — we look forward to your visit.
More information about the motto "Consciously mindful along the path" can be found at spitzenwanderweg.de/service/verhalten-im-naturraum.

The top hiking trail is supported by the Bavarian State Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Forestry and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).