Travel Guide to Partnach Gorge in Germany: Hiking the Partnachklamm

What to expect from visiting the stunning Partnach Gorge in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Bavaria

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The power of water

Visiting the Partnach Gorge is one of the most popular activities in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

It’s a gorge (duh) that has been created by a stream cutting through the mountain. It’s crazy to think that water can cut through solid rock like that. It takes a while, but the result speaks for itself!

The gorge is 702 metres long and up to 80 metres deep.

We visited the gorge in October 2020 and were amazed by the continually changing views. Oh, and that clear, azure blue colour of the water is insanely beautiful.

Where to stay in Garmisch-Partenkirchen

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Budget: Hotel Atlas Sport.
Value for money: Hotel Zugspitze or Biohotel Garmischer Hof.
Luxury: Hyperion Hotel.

Search for the best value accommodation in Garmisch-Partenkirchen here.

Table of contents

What to expect at the Partnach Gorge
Corona restrictions
How to get to the Partnach Gorge
What to bring to the Partnach Gorge
Minimise your impact

Visiting the Partnach Gorge is a must in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

A Complete Travel Guide to Garmisch-Partenkirchen: 25 Best Things To Do & See Everything you need to know including the best experiences, when to visit, where to eat and where to stay

What to expect at the Partnach Gorge

Being just about 700 metres long, hiking the Partnach Gorge is a relatively easy and quick affair.

If you just rush through it, you could probably walk it in 5-10 minutes. But taking the time to stop on the way to take in the views is definitely worth it.

In some parts, the path is really narrow.

And you’ll want to walk carefully in the short but dark tunnels on the way.

Dogs are allowed on a leash. Wheelchairs, baby carriages and bicycles are not permitted.

Hking the Partnach Gorge — This is what hiking the Partnach Gorge looks like for most of the way.

Narrower part of the gorge hike — And then there are narrower parts and a few tunnels to go through.

This is the most southern part of the gorge.

Partnach Gorge southern part — The landscape suddenly opens up and the mountains really get to show off.

Hiking back up the other way is a bit more strenous but not too bad.

Views of the gorge from above — Going this way has the added bonus of views of the gorge from above.

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Price of visiting the Partnach Gorge

The price for visiting the Partnach Gorge is 7.5 EUR (~ 8 USD)* per adult and 3 EUR (~ 3.5 USD)* per child (6-17 years of age).

You can also bring your dog for an extra 2 EUR.

*These prices are from March 2023.

Waterfalls on the way — The waterfalls on the way make the whole experience magical.

Partnach Gorge opening hours

The Partnach Gorge is open from 08:00-18:00 from October to May and from 08:00-20:00 from June to September.

Closures can occur at any time on short notice for safety reasons.

Partnachklamm — The last admission to the gorge is 30 minutes before closing time.

The autumn colours in Garmisch-Partenkirchen — The autumn colours are so good in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

Corona restrictions

When we visited the Partnach Gorge in October 2020, there were two main Covid-19 related restrictions:

One-way hiking. It was only allowed to hike through the gorge in the southward direction from the main entrance. Returning to the start in a loop meant hiking upwards and around after exiting the gorge with the added bonus of views of the gorge from above.
Mask wearing at all times. Wearing mouth and nose protection was mandatory in the Partnach Gorge.

Make sure to check the recent rules before entering the gorge.

A sign saying that it's mandatory to wear a mask in the Partnach Gorge — A sign saying that it’s mandatory to wear a mask in the Partnach Gorge.

Map

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How to get to the Partnach Gorge

As you can’t drive directly to the gorge, the whole ordeal actually encompasses walking from the Garmisch-Partenkirchen Olympic Ski Jump to the gorge, walking through it and then (per the Corona restrictions) hike another way around it to the start and then back to the Olympic Ski Jump.

It’s about a 25 minutes walk from the Olympic Ski Jump to the Partnach Gorge entrance. This path is very wide and walking-friendly.

The walking path from the parking lot to the entrance of the Partnach Gorge is easily walkable.

Parking near the Partnach Gorge

We parked our car at the car park next to the Olympic Ski Jump. It’s a big car park so you can’t miss it.

Olympic Ski Jump, Garmisch-Partenkirchen — Why not walk through the Olympic Ski Jump arena on the way from the parking lot to the Partnach Gorge?

What to bring to the Partnach Gorge

Travel insurance (adlink). Never travel without it!
A good camera – here’s a guide to the gear we use.
Hiking shoes. It can be a little slippery in places so wearing sturdy shoes is highly recommended.
Warm clothes if you’re not visiting in summer.
Water and snacks is always a good idea.

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It might be wet and slippery in the gorge. Wear approprite clothes and shoes.

Minimise your impact

To minimise your impact during your visit at Partnach Gorge, follow these guidelines:

Bring your own drinking water in a refillable bottle.
Avoid single-use plastics, including straws.
Dispose of waste properly.
Take only photos, leave only footprints. Let everything stay in its natural place.
Be considerate of other visitors.
Respect wildlife.

Partnach Gorge south entrance water and trees — Remember to take good care of the surrounding natural environment.

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