Embark on a challenging alpine adventure with this comprehensive guide to conquering Zugspitze in one day. Skip the fluff and get practical insights into exploring Germany’s highest peak.
Getting to the top of Zugspitze in one day is absolutely possible. This hike takes you from Ehrwald to the summit. Due to it’s steepness, the hike is not for the inexperienced and a head for heights is needed. For those that do embark on this hike, with over 2,000 metres of elevation gain over 18 kilometres, it is an awesome and rewarding experience.
Overview:
Distance: 17-18 km (depending on where you start)
Time: 6-8 hours one way, so start early.
Difficulty: Hard – uneven terrain, large elevation gain and steep cliffs.
Elevation Gain: 2,000 – 2,300m
Where to Start: If you’re staying in Ehrwald, it’s possible to walk straight out of your accommodation. For those with a car you can skip the first 5km and park at Ehrwald Alm.
What to Bring: Lunch + snacks, at least 2 litres of water, sturdy shoes, weather-appropriate clothing and a map (check my list of essential apps for travel for recommendations).
Best time of year: June – October
Check the current weather at the summit.
Map of the route:
About Zugspitze
Firstly, a brief introduction to Zugspitze, Germanys highest Mountain at 2,962 m. Zugspitze is in Bavaria, southern Germany, and is almost as south as possible while remaining in Germany. The Austrian-German border is on the western slopes. From the summit, the closest towns are Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in Germany to the north and Ehrwald, in Austria to the east.
Zugspitze is a popular tourist destination. The views from the summit on a clear day are incredible and it is possible to see peaks up to 4,000 m high and across four countries. It is also a popular spot for climbing, hiking and mountaineering and is a popular winter ski destination.
The first ascent of Zugspitze was in 1820 by Lieutenant Naus. Since then, much has changed. Today, getting to the summit is much easier. The summit is serviced by three separate cable cars for those that don’t want to hike up. Consequently, much of the summit is covered in metal elevated platforms and structures. Due to this ease of access, while at the summit you can see visitors in everything from Ugg boots to hiking shoes.
The Ascent
Read below for a summary of my hiking my experience going from Ehrwald to Zugspitze.
Setting off – Ehrwald to Ehrwalder Alm
I started out at 6am in late August from my accommodation in Ehrwald. The sun was only just rising, but the valley was in shadow, obscured by Zugspitze. I walked through the quiet streets of Ehrwald and up the road heading to Ehrwalder Alm. This initial 5km stretch followed the road up the valley. Ehrwalder Alm is a big skiing hub, with a large carpark and lots of chairlifts.
Heading Up The Valley
After passing Ehrwalder Alm the trail continued along the valley, walking around the southern side of Zugspitze. This area is a big skiing destination. There was various ski lifts criss-crossing the trail with multiple mountain lodges. I passed cows grazing and a few other hikers.
At about 7-8 kilometres in all of a sudden I was outside of the valley and the views really opened up. The trail slowly wound its way north. By this stage the trees had disappeared and the path a lot rockier. I needed to scramble up a few places, making my way around to the western slopes of Zugspitze. From here I could see a Knorrhütte in the distance which was a welcome rest stop.
Knorrhütte: A Pitstop
Knorrhütte is a crucial pitstop around 14 kilometres into the hike. The mountain hut provides sustenance and a brief respite for hikers gearing up for the tougher sections. It’s also the perfect place to use the toilet. The hut was busy with hikers who had stopped for a drink or a meal on the outside terrace. I briefly stopped here, had some lunch and refilled my water. It was much needed as the next part of the hike was by far the hardest.
Glacier Crossing
The next section was hard work. There was a steep uphill from Knorrhütte basically all the way to the end. About 1.5 km from Knorrhütte I walked across part of Germany’s last glacier. It was slippery going but a lot of fun. Unfortunately the glacier has been shrinking rapidly and has now broken into two separate sections.
Conquering Heights: Via-Ferrata Style Ascent
I remember standing at the bottom of these final two kilometres and thinking to myself, ‘what am I doing?’.
It was seriously steep. It started with a steep scree slope before transitioning into a challenging ascent with a via-ferrata style climb closer to the summit. Cables assisted in navigating the steepest slopes, providing a welcome hand hold and a bit of an adrenaline rush. Note: While there is Via-Ferrata style cables in this final section, no gear is necessary. However, if you do not have a good head for heights, it could be useful.
Summit Triumph: Reaching the Top
Reaching Zugspitze’s summit is an odd experience. The views and scenery were incredible. But I was not prepared for the hordes of people at the top. The majority of these people had taken the cable car up and were in no way dressed for any kind of hiking. The top is mainly covered with a metal viewing platform as well as the infrastructure for the three cable cars that service it. There is a section which enables you to get to the highest point on Zugspitze.
Unfortunately this involved queuing for about 15-20 due to the sheer number of people trying to get there. Brace yourself for a crowded yet rewarding peak experience.
The Descent
Once you have had your fill of the view, there are two main options to get down. You can either take a cable car down, or walk. After hiking nearly 18km, almost all of which was up hill, I choose to take the cable car known as the Tiroler Zugspitzbahn down.
The Cable Car – The Easy Way
This is by far the easiest option. Unfortunately for budget travellers, the cable car is not cheap. Prices for summer can be found here.
Note: Tickets include access to an adventure museum, snow crystal world and Bahnorama (a room with information about the cable cars). While none of these are exceptional, if you’re paying for a ticket and have time you might as well see these while you’re there.
Despite the high price, the panoramic views from the cable car are excellent. It’s a 10 minute, 3.6km journey, with an altitude difference of 1,750m from the summit. It was a surreal experience to watch all that elevation that I just sweated up go past so quickly on the way down.
The cable car will drop you off in front of Zugspitze Resort.
From here there are two options for Getting back to Ehrwald:
- Bus Option: Catch a bus back to Ehrwald for a convenient return. The stop is just in the carpark.
- Walking Option: For the adventurous, consider walking back down to the town, savouring the descent at your own pace. It’s a little less than 4km.
Want to stay longer? Alternatives
For those that want to walk down from the summit, it is a long way back to Ehrward. To break it up, it is possible to stay in the nearby Knorrhütte overnight. Additionally, there is Reintalangerhütte a little further down the valley. Just be sure to book in advance. Both these huts are also part of the 3-day Zugspitztour.
Conclusion
Climbing Zugspitze is a rewarding and challenging hike. Starting in Ehrwald this 18 km hike takes you through valleys, past alpine huts, across Germany’s last glacier and has a Via-Ferrata style finish. Enjoy the stunning views over the surrounding areas at the summit but just be prepared for the crowds on a good day.
Have you hiked up Zugspitze? How was your experience? Let me know in the comments below.
Happy Exploring!
Kieren
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Great information! Danke schon for the detail – you’ve made me feel more confident about doing this hike. I might plan it with a couple of friends for a weekend this summer.
Thanks Gertrude, wishing you all the best on your hike! 🙂