recommended route
From the Kreuzeckbahn via Bockhütte to the summit of the Zugspitze
Mountain tour
· Zugspitz Region
-
/ Abkühlung am WasserPhoto: GaPa Tourismus GmbH / ©Christian Stadler, GaPa Tourismus GmbH / ©Christian Stadler -
/ ReintalanstiegPhoto: Vivalpin
-
/ BockhüttePhoto: Bettina Plank, GaPa Tourismus
-
/ Schafe im ReintalPhoto: GaPa Tourismus GmbH / ©Michael Hinterstoißer, GaPa Tourismus GmbH
Around the Alpspitze and Zugspitze Mountains – from the top terminal of the Kreuzeckbahn cable car to the Reintal Valley and up to the Zugspitze.
difficult
Distance 18.9 km
10:34 h
2,121 m
814 m
2,944 m
1,054 m
This awe inspiring hike leads you from Kreuzeck Mountain along the Bernadeinsteig, below the faces of the Bernadein Mountains to the Reintal Valley and the nicely located Alpine hut Bockhütte. The climb up to the Zugspitze through the Reintal is one of the most beautiful trails up to the Zugspitze. Even though it is one of the longest-distance options, it can be managed with sufficent stamina, in which it is marked very well. Due to the possibilities to stop for refreshments or to stay overnight at the Alpine hut Reintalangerhütte or Knorrhütte at the Zugspitze summit, you can do this tour in one or two days.
For a more detailed description of the tour, please refer to "PDF Print" above.
Author’s recommendation
If you plan two days for this tour, you can start around noon or the early afternoon of the first day, because it takes you around 4 hours to the first place where you can stay the night at the beautifully located Reintalangerhütte.
The cross on the Zugspitze summit can be reached via a narrow fixed rope route – here you need to be surefooted and must not be afraid of heights (caution: slippery when wet!). Otherwise, the view from the terrace to the cross on the summit is also very nice.
In the building of the upper station of the Eibsee-Seilbahn cable car you can see an exhibition on the history of the Zugspitze and its touristic development, with lots of interesting and entertaining pictures, films and inventive contemporary exhibits.
Difficulty
difficult
Stamina
Experience
Landscape
Highest point
2,944 m
Lowest point
1,054 m
Best time of year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Rest Stop
BockhütteReintalangerhütte
Knorrhütte
Kreuzeck-Haus
Sonn-Alpin auf der Zugspitze
Münchner Haus
Safety information
This is high Alpine terrain, making it absolutely necessary to be surefooted, not afraid of heights and already have Alpine experience. Please keep in mind the Zugspitzbahn cable car schedules. If you want to stay overnight, you should book in advance (call the huts directly), especially during holidays and at weekends. Due to the length of the tour, we recommend for you spend a night in one of the Alpine huts.Tips and hints
www.gapa.de, www.zugspitze.de (for information on the cable car schedules),www.alpenverein-ga-pa.de (for phone numbers to book overnight stays)
www.charly-wehrle.de (Reintalangerhütte), www.bergfuehrer-zugspitzland.de
Start
Top terminal of the Kreuzeckbahn cable car (1,636 m)
Coordinates:
DD
47.452050, 11.066970
DMS
47°27'07.4"N 11°04'01.1"E
UTM
32T 655809 5257471
w3w
///innocuous.wools.peacekeeping
Destination
Kreuzeckbahn Parkplatz
Turn-by-turn directions
Start the hike at the top terminal of the Kreuzeckbahn cable car (1,650 m) and take the path towards Hochalm. After a short distance, follow the sign to Bernadeinhütte downhill. The path passes the Alpine hut Bernadeinhütte and reaches the base terminal of the Bernadeinlift cable car. Walk eastwards on the path 835, pass below the Alpine hut Stuibenhütte, always slightly downhill to the Bockhütte (1,072 m, operated only during the summer months when the cattle are grazing on the mountain pastures). Now, the way continues steadily uphill on the forest track until you reach the spring “Quelle an den sieben Sprüngen” and the pool “Blaue Gumpe”, which was nearly completely filled with rubble in the 2005 flood. Then, you will arrive at the romantic location of the Alpine hut Reintalangerhütte (1,369 m). You can also spend the night there. Then, the trail becomes Alpine, marked with red spots on rocks, passing the spring of the Partnach River, until you reach the Alpine hut Knorrhütte (2 hrs, 2,051 m) via a steep track passing the Veitelsbrünnl. You can stay here overnight. For the way up to this point you should plan around 7 hours.
Now, hike across the wide boulder fields of the Zugspitzplatt up to the SonnAlpin and the Zugspitzbahn cable car, which are located in the centre of the Zugspitzgebiet skiing resort in the winter (1 hr, 2,600 m). Passing the glacier, the trail leads you steeply uphill, passing the Schneefernerhaus on a well-secured track, up to the Zugspitze summit. Alternatively, you can take the Gletscherseilbahn cable car to the summit from the Zugspitzblatt (SonnAlpin) and negotiate the last 300 m difference in altitude in a more comfortable fashion.
Downhill you can either take the Eibsee-Seilbahn cable car directly from the summit or the Zugspitzbahn Mountain rack railway from the Zugspitzplatt. You can return to your starting point with the Zugspitzbahn rack railway to the Kreuzeck parking site.
Note
all notes on protected areas
Public transport
Take the train to Garmisch-Partenkirchen (connections from München (Munich) every hour, and regular connections from Innsbruck and Reutte). Right behind the train station you will find the station of the Zugspitzbahn railway station. Matching the schedule of the Deutsche Bahn, the Zugspitzbahn goes to Grainau every hour. Exit at the station Kreuzeckbahn/Alpspitzbahn.
Getting there
Take the motorway A95 from Munich to its end at Eschenlohe, and then follow the state road B2 to Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Just after the Farchanter tunnel, drive in the direction of the Garmisch part of town and Grainau/Zugspitze. Go through Garmisch and towards Grainau/Zugspitze. Just before leaving town, follow the signs to the Kreuzeckbahn/Alpspitzbahn and turn left at the barracks. The street leads you directly to the base terminal of the Kreuzeck and Alpspitzbahn cable cars.Coming from Innsbruck/Mittenwald, take the state road B2 to Partenkirchen. Turn left, in the direction of Grainau/Zugspitze/Fernpass, at the intersection at the town hall and then follow the course of the main road (Bahnhofstraße, St.-Martin-Straße). Just before leaving town, follow the signs to the Kreuzeckbahn/Alpspitzbahn and turn left at the barracks. The street leads you directly to the base terminal of the Kreuzeck and Alpspitzbahn cable cars.
Coming from Ehrwald/Tirol or Grainau/Zugspitze, take the state road B23 and turn right just after the place name sign and in front of the barracks/Marshall-Centre at the traffic lights. Follow the signs to Kreuzeckbahn/Alpspitzbahn. The road leads you directly to the large parking area between the two base terminals.
Parking
Large parking area at the cable car stations (P9)
Coordinates
DD
47.452050, 11.066970
DMS
47°27'07.4"N 11°04'01.1"E
UTM
32T 655809 5257471
w3w
///innocuous.wools.peacekeeping
Arrival by train, car, foot or bike
Author’s map recommendations
GaPa Wanderführer mit KOMPASS Wanderkarte (1:35.000), erhältlich bei Garmisch-Partenkirchen Tourismus und unter www.gapa.de. Alpenvereinskarte, Wetterstein- Mieminger Gebirge, Östliches Blatt (1:25.000) freytag & berndt, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Wettersteingebirge, Werdenfelserland (1:25.000). Die Tourist Information verleiht kostenlos einen digitalen Wanderführer mit interessanten Tipps zu Sehenswürdigkeiten, Pflanzen und Tierwelt sowie Einkehrmöglichkeiten. Weitere Infos unter +49 8821 180 700 oder auf www.gapa.de
Equipment
The appropriate gear is very important! Hiking boots, telescope hiking sticks, provisions and enough (!) to drink, protection against the sun for your head, eyes and skin (glacier!) and protective clothing in case of inclement weather – the weather can change very quickly and extremely at this high altitude.Basic Equipment for Mountain Hikes
- Sturdy, comfortable and waterproof hiking boots or approach shoes
- Layered, moisture wicking clothing
- Hiking socks
- Rucksack (with rain cover)
- Protection against sun, rain and wind (hat, sunscreen, water- and windproof jacket and suitable legwear)
- Sunglasses
- Hiking poles
- Ample supply of drinking water and snacks
- First aid kit
- Bivy / survival bag
- Survival blanket
- Headlamp
- Pocket knife
- Whistle
- Cell phone
- Cash
- Navigation equipment / map and compass
- Emergency contact details
- ID
Technical Equipment for Mountain Hikes
- Climbing helmet as required
- The 'basic' and 'technical' equipment lists are generated based on the selected activity. They are not exhaustive and only serve as suggestions for what you should consider packing.
- For your safety, you should carefully read all instructions on how to properly use and maintain your equipment.
- Please ensure that the equipment you bring complies with local laws and does not include restricted items.
Difficulty
difficult
Distance
18.9 km
Duration
10:34 h
Ascent
2,121 m
Descent
814 m
Highest point
2,944 m
Lowest point
1,054 m
Statistics
Maps and trails
Distance
km
Duration
: h
Ascent
m
Descent
m
Highest point
m
Lowest point
m
Questions and answers
Would you like to the ask the author a question?
Rating
Help others by being the first to add a review.
Photos from others