Last updated on June 6th, 2026
Visiting the Partnach Gorge in Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a MUST! And we’re sharing everything you need to know before you go.
Tucked into Germany’s Bavarian Alps is the striking Partnach Gorge (Partnachklamm). This 699 meter (0.5 mile) long gorge has been formed overtime by the vibrant Partnach River, which still rushes through its 86 meter (282 feet) tall walls.
And it is unlike anything we ever expected to see in Germany! As we wandered through the tunnels, along the bright blue river, and admired the waterfalls and icicles dripping down, we could’ve sworn we were in Banff National Park.
Hiking through the Partnach Gorge was easily one of our favorite things we did in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. And in this guide we’re sharing everything you need to know to visit, including how to get there, buying tickets, and what to expect along the trail!
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Visiting the Partnach Gorge
Hours
The Partnach Gorge is open year round, with its hours varying by month.
June-September: Open from 8:00-20:00
October-May: Open from 8:00-18:00
The last admission for the day is 30 minutes before the gorge closes. We would suggest arriving even earlier than this, so you have plenty of time to explore!
Seasons
The Partnach Gorge is wonderful to visit anytime of the year, with each season bringing a different experience.
The summer, which is the busy season, will have beautiful weather, but also the highest crowds. Fall is the perfect time to visit to experience the beautiful fall foliage in the area and reduced crowds at the gorge.
Winter turns the Partnach Gorge into a magical winter wonderland! The waterfalls that flow down the gorge walls may have turned to icicles and snow will line the trail to the gorge. Plus, you’ll experience less crowds! This is when we personally visited the Partnach Gorge and LOVED it! It is easily one of the best things to do in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in the winter.
Spring is the shoulder season in the area, with the ski season ending and the hiking trails thawing from the winter. Visiting the Partnach Gorge in the spring will bring fewer crowds, plus less snow and ice. However, closures can be common during this time due to snow melt.
Make sure to always check the current conditions before you go. It would be a bummer to arrive and find out that the Partnach Gorge is closed!
Time of day
We highly suggest visiting the Partnach Gorge early to avoid crowds! On our visit to Garmisch-Partenkirchen in the winter, we arrived right around the time they opened and it was pretty empty. But about an hour or so later, many larger groups were arriving. This made traveling back through the gorge, with two way traffic, a bit tight at times!
It is especially busy in the summer. To avoid crowds, arrive before 10:30 or after 16:00!
Partnach Gorge entrance fees
As of writing this guide (August 2024), tickets cost 10 EUR* for adults and 5 EUR for children between 6-17, with discounts for locals and disabled guests.
*If your accommodation offers you a Zugspitz Area Bayern Tirol guest card, Königscard, Zugspitzlandm or AlpenweltCard, then you can get your adult ticket for a slightly discounted price.
Tickets can be purchased online or onsite through the ticket machines or at a cash counter. If you purchase online, you’ll receive an email that will contain a QR code. This is what you’ll scan to get through the turnstile. Since there is little to no cell service near the Partnach Gorge, make sure to save a screenshot of this QR code and email.
The Partnach Gorge entrance ticket is good to use for one day. With your ticket you will be able to enter the gorge, exit out the back side, go and grab food at a hut (more on that later!) and then re-enter to walk out of the gorge.
How to get to the Partnach Gorge
Despite being a smaller mountain town, it is pretty easy to get around Garmisch-Partenkirchen. It’s not only walkable, but they also have a reliable bus system and taxis. And to get from Garmisch-Partenkirchen to the Partnach Gorge, you have a few options!
Walk from town
The simplest (but longest) way to get to the Partnach Gorge from Garmisch-Partenkirchen is to walk there. There is a trail that starts near the train station called Geologische Lehrpfad. You’ll see nice trail signs along the way guiding you to the Olympic Stadium. It will take about 30 minutes to walk to the stadium from town. Then, you’ll follow the Partnachklamm Trail the rest of the way (~35 minutes), which we detail in the “what to expect section” coming up!
Bus to Olympic Stadium
To get there a little faster, take the bus in the direction of “Skistadion” from the Bahnhofßtrause Station to the Olympic Stadium. Look for Line 1 or 2. From there it is only a 35 minute walk to the beginning of the gorge.
This is what we did when we visited the Partnach Gorge! But on the way back, we opted to walk back to town, since the bus schedule was limited. Plus, it’s a very nice walk, even on a cold and gray day!
Take a taxi
Taxis are also available to take you to the Olympic Stadium. You can find them near the train station or in other areas of town. Or you can ask your hotel or rental host to help you book one!
Drive your own car
If you have a rental car, you can drive most of the way. There is a paid parking lot for the Partnach Gorge at the Olympic Stadium, which should cost around 5 EUR. You’ll then walk from there, following the trail detailed below!
Partnach Gorge Trail Stats
Mileage: There are a handful of different options to experience the Partnach Gorge.
- To just hike through the gorge (#1 on the map) it’s 4.2 km (2.6 miles) round trip.
- To continue onto Kaiserschmarrn-Alm (#2 on the map) it’s 5.1 km (3.2 miles) round trip.
- And to continue to Eckbauer (#3 on the map) and take the cable car down, it’s 11.3 km (7 miles) round trip.
Elevation Gain: Depending on your route, here’s how much elevation you can expect to gain.
- To just hike through the gorge (#1 on the map) it’s 194 meters (636 feet).
- To Kaiserschmarrn-Alm (#2 on the map) it’s 214 meters (702 feet).
- To Eckbauer (#3 on the map) and take the cable car down, it’s 564 meters (1,850 feet)
Difficulty: The walk from the Olympic Stadium through the Partnach Gorge is very easy and doable for all ages. If you continue past the gorge, it will get steeper and more difficult.
How long does it take to hike?: From the Olympic Stadium through the Partnach Gorge it takes around 2-3 hours to complete. But if you want to continue further, you should plan to spend 4-5 hours.
Is the Partnach Gorge dog friendly?: Dogs are allowed on a leash and do require a ticket, which costs 5 EUR.
What to expect along the Partnach Gorge Trail
Your hike to the Partnach Gorge begins at the Olympic Stadium, which is where the 1936 Winter Olympics were held. While here, make sure to pop in and see the impressive Olympic Ski Jump, which stands at a total height of 149 meters (488 feet).
From here, look for signs for the Partnach Gorge or Partnachklamm. We found the signage to be amazing in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. And what is nice is that they not only tell you the distance, but also the estimated time.
The rest of your walk to the entrance of the Partnach Gorge will take you through a beautiful small valley with a river, a few homes, plus mountain views ahead. In the winter, this walk will be a winter wonderland, while in the summer, we imagine it’s bursting with bright green grass. It is such a nice and easy walk!
After about 35 minutes, you’ll reach the Partnach Gorge ticket area. If you haven’t already, purchase your tickets here. There are also FREE restrooms here, so make sure to take advantage of these before entering the gorge.
From the ticket area, you will have a short walk along the river to get to turnstiles to enter into the gorge. You will need to scan your ticket (one person at a time) to get through. And then it’s time to officially enter the wondrous Partnach Gorge!
Back when the Partnach Gorge became a National Landmark in 1912, people had to risk their lives to go through the gorge. Today, there is an easy paved walkway, with railing, that is carved along the wall of the gorge.
As you make your way through the gorge, you’ll have rock walls towering over you, see waterfalls flowing off the side, and hear the roar of the bright blue river below. If you go in the winter, you may see icicles too!
The path hops between walking right along the water and going through tunnels. These tunnels do have light sources, but can still be pretty dark. We thought they were a fun feature that really added to the experience!
The walkway can also be a bit bumpy and have puddles of water (plus water dripping on you from the walls), so make sure to bring some good shoes and a rain jacket.
After reaching the end, you’ll reach another turnstile. You can either turn around here and return the same way you came or continue on for a tasty treat. More on that next!
Bonus stop: grab lunch at a mountain hut!
Garmisch-Partenkirchen is home to tons of mountain huts (we love Tannenhütte!), where you can grab food and a drink with a view. And along the Partnach Gorge trail you have the chance to visit a couple of them!
The two we’d recommend visiting are Kaiserschmarrn-Alm and Eckbauer.
Kaiserschmarrn-Alm
Kaiserschmarrn-Alm is the easiest and quickest one to get to from the Partnach Gorge. After walking through the gorge, you can cross Eiserne Brücke over the gorge, which gives you a great view looking down into it!
Then, follow a path to the left, which will take you up to the hut. While here, make sure to try kaiserschmarrn, which are pieces of sweetened pancakes, topped with fruit or jam. Once you’re done, hike back the same way you came through the gorge.
Eckbauer
If you’re up for a bigger adventure, continue onto Eckbauer. The trail up to this hut will gain quite a bit more elevation and has a lot of switchbacks. But the perk of going here is that you can take a cable car back down to the Olympic Stadium. Not only making your journey back easy, but also mega scenic!
And if you’re feeling really fancy you can look into reserving a white sausage and beer to eat on the cable car ride down!
During our visit, the last part of the Partnach Gorge was closed due to damage, so we couldn’t go to either hut, at least by hiking through the gorge. Instead, we grabbed lunch in town at Bräustüberl Garmisch, which was delicious!
What to bring on the Partnach Gorge Trail
Rain jacket
The Partnach Gorge can be a VERY wet experience. The gorge walls were dripping with water. At times it seemed like it was raining! This meant that our heads, clothes, and feet got wet. So having a rain jacket with us was very helpful! Adam wears a LL Bean Trail Model Rain Jacket and Kathryn wears a Patagonia Torrentshell Women’s Waterproof Jacket.
Good shoes
As we’ve mentioned, the pavement isn’t all that smooth and there can be rocks, roots, and other hazards along the walk to the gorge. Plus, it is often wet! You’ll want to wear good sturdy shoes so you don’t trip or slip. We both love and highly recommend Altra trail runners!
Tourist (GaPa) card
If you haven’t purchased your tickets online, you can bring your GaPa card with you to get your tickets at a discounted price. Every accommodation will likely include this card for you to use which will give you free access to public transportation in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and discounts at places and activities around town.
Prohibited items in the Partnach Gorge
Since the pathway is very narrow, wheelchairs and strollers are not allowed. Also, drones are prohibited in and around the gorge.
Looking for more things to do near the Partnach Gorge?
Garmisch-Partenkirchen is one of the best mountain towns in Germany! If you’re looking for fun activities before or after the Partnach Gorge, we have a whole guide with the 15 best things to do in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Plus tips on where to eat and stay! It’s geared toward a winter visit, but everything that can be done in the winter can be enjoyed in most other seasons (except snow activities of course)!
We also recommend checking out the nearby town of Füssen which is home to the famous Neuschwanstein Castle!
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