Germany: Zugspitze
General Information
Height: 2,962 metres
Difficulty: Grade 4
Best Time To Climb: July to September. In winter there can be risks of Avalanches
Length of Time to Climb: One to Two Days
Permits Required: No permits are needed for hiking Zugspitze
Accomodation: There are many hotels and airbnbs in the nearby areas of Garmisch and Ehrwald.
Overview
Standing at 2,962 metres above sea level, Zugspitze is Germanys highest peak and also home to Germanys highest ski resort. The mountain is covered in deep snow for half the year, making it the perfect location for winter sports, including skiing and snowboarding.
The mountain sits south of the beautiful town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, and the Austrian/German border runs over its western summit. When hiking, there are many beautiful paths up to the summit.
At the top of Zugspitze stands an impressive 360° panorama exhibition viewpoint (the Zugspitze-Exhibition), with views of over 400 mountain peaks in four countries. The Exhibition brings awareness to the historical developments of the mountain itself.
Not only that, but the exhibition includes 3 toboggan runs, an igloo village and some tasty restaurants to enjoy a meal in the clouds.
How to get there
The nearest airport to Zugspitze is actually Innsbruck in Austria, just 33km away. You can fly into Innsbruck from most major airports in Europe and across the world.
From the airport, you can reach the area of Garmisch; the closest town to Zugspitze, by train, bus or car.
The Route
There are many paths up to the peak of Zugspitzplatt.
- The easiest path but longest path travels through the Reintal valley, however, this also takes the longest amount of time to climb.
- Another option is the Gatterl route. This route begins in the nearby town of Ehrwald and takes you to the Zugspitzplatt plateau and onto the Knorrhütte lodge, where you join the Reintal tour to the summit.
- The shortest route takes you from the Eibsee lake to the Austrian Schneekar. This can be a challenging route, and the climb from Hammersbach to the Höllental gorge can be particularly challenging, but fantastic for experienced climbers.
What to pack
It is important you pack the necessary equipment to make the climb as easy and comfortable as possible. Please find our recommended kit-list below.
Clothing
- Hiking Socks
- Gaitors
- Double Boots/HikingBoots
- Comfortable Underwear
- Base Layer (Bottoms and Tops)
- Midlayer Top (Hoodies/Jackets)
- Softshell Jacket
- Softshell Pants
- Hardshell Pants
- Hardshell Jacket
- Insulated Jacket
- Lightwear Gloves
- Insulated Mits
- Wool/Synthetic Hat
- Sunhat
Gear
- Water Bottle
- Ice Axe
- Waist Lease
- Crampons
- Trekking Poles
- Backpack
- Headlamp
- Goggles
- Sun Glasses
- UV Buff
Additional
- Power Adaptor
- Camera
- Toiletry Bag
- ‘Travel Clothes’ e.g. clean clothing that can be worn on ‘travel’ days
- Ear Plugs for more comfortable sleep in the huts
- Sun Protection (Sunscreen and Lip Screen)
- Snacks and Drinks
- Small First Aid Kit
