Hiking Down from the Alpspitze Cable Car: Alpspitze to Alpspitzbahn in Garmisch Partenkirchen Germany- There are lots to do at the Alpsptize Cable Car and mountain top. From the viewing platforms, to a bite to eat, a cool drink and many hikes. You can find tons of great small hikes at the top but will still need to take the cable car back down. The best way to enjoy the entire mountain is the take the cable car up, and hike down the mountain. This will be a guide to our hiking path and route down the Alpsptize mountain. This guide will also help with how to find the prices, which route to get to the top, and other adventures in the Garmish-Partenkirchen area.
Stats
Length: 5.97 miles
Time: 4 hours
Difficulty: Intermediate
Elevation: 4,575 feet decent
Trailhead: Top of Alpspitze Cable Car Platform
Overview
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When To Go
The summer will give you better temperatures to be able to walk around more and enjoy the views with a more mild temperature. You can enjoy the restaurants and biergarten in the warmer months. In the summer you will also have more of a chance that the snow will be melted off of the trails.
The winter will be colder, but if you are interested in skiing down from one of the highest points in Germany then this is perfect for you. Prices may vary for the winter season. Use this link to check winter season ski prices. I bet the mountain views are incredible from the top, covered in snow.
In either scenario make sure you go on a clear day. We had a good day at the top of Zugspitze but didn’t get lucky for a clear view at Alpspitze until we hiked a little farther down the mountain. Not much to see if it’s cloudy the entire time you are there. I wouldn’t think it would be worth your money to go. You can always double check their mountain cameras before you go, you can find them here.
Where To Stay
Garmisch Partenkirchen is where we stayed when visiting Alpspitze. This was super close to getting to Alpsitze and an adorable ski town. The town had many restaurants and shopping areas. You can also visit this area very easily as a day trip from Munich or Innsbruck. Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a great area. I would highly recommend staying a few days there so you can spend a full day on this mountain alone.
How Hard Is The Hike?
The hike is downhill it is a pretty mild and easy hike. Some parts of the trail has gravel rock that is loose and is hard to walk down, especially towards the end when your muscles are starting to get tired. I would recommend bringing some trekking poles to help you maneuver down the mountain.
Being sure footed is always a must on this hike, there are no steep drop offs on this hike but some stepper declines. Bring a pair of good hiking shoes with traction too.
The Route
Our Route (Cable Car + Hike Down)
I made a map of this hike on komoot (a hiking app) if you find it best to follow that during your hike. Or to read before your trek.
Start
We decided to ride the cable car up and hike down. After a morning hike near town we went later in the afternoon. We were not sure if we would be able to complete many hikes at the top and make the last car down. So we decided to ride up Alpspitzbahn and hike down. It ended up being the best way to see the mountain. We got to see the top and walk over mountain peaks, see the valley and walk through wildflowers and cow pastures. We hiked this route that we chose down, I think it would be even more amazing if we had a more clear day.
Since it was evening with chances of light showers we got started pretty much right away after getting off of Alpspitze. We did take a few minutes to check out the AplspiX viewing platform. It was foggy and cloudy so we didn’t see a thing, that’s when checking the weather for the best day helps.
After those overlooks we got on our way to Hupfleitenjoch.
Hupfleitenjoch
We didn’t start this route down the mountain normally, we actually took a side trail to see Hupfleitenjoch. We saw this spot on the way up in the cable car and thought it looked like a cool overlook. Glad we took this route, it was a great spot and a perfect place for a snack break before the trek down the mountain. After this we took the same loop back up to the Hochalmbahn station to start the rest of the trek down.
The weather started to clear up from this point.
Hochalmweg
This trail is a very well maintained path, many use this trail to connect to the the Hochalmbahn Tram Station to the Kreuzeckbhan cable car station. So widely used, a clear and wide path will lead you here. This will be a rather wide and large path that will fit plenty of hikers and should be well seen.
Kreuzeckbahn
If going during the day this cable car station has a great restaurant area and small pond. If you have time you can stop here for lunch or a drink.
After passing the Kreuzeckbahn cable car station the hike will start to slightly decline more. Walk below the Hexenkessel Bahn ski lifts. You will not quite be walking down the mountain but more horizontally towards the Kreuzeck mountain peak.
Down the Mountain
From here you will head down the mountain, this is when the hike became a little more difficult. Occasionally as you make it down the mountain you might share a path or pass by some cows.
The very last section heading back to Alpspitzbahn Station will be a gravel service road. The gravel is loose and the decline is not terribly steep but enough to need a sure foot. I found using my trekking poles to be useful during this section of the hike.
Before you know it you will be back at the Alpspitzbahn Station parking lot and your hike will be complete!
Tips For The Hike
Bring Layers
Leave No Trace
Follow the Leave No Trace guidelines and tips to keep these beautiful places open to the public and beautiful.
Plan For Weather
If you can try to keep in eye on the weather, not only for rain, wind and storms but for fog as well. When we arrived at Alpspitze it was very cloudy, and we could not see much at the top. We were glad it cleared up as we made our way down the mountain. Not much to see if it’s cloudy the entire time you are there. I wouldn’t think it would be worth your money to go if you can’t see anything at all.
How To Get To The Top
We took the Alpsptizbahn Cable Car up to the top. But there are different ways and different prices depending on which route you take. Most of these routes will take you to this hike. Check out The Guide to Alpspitze for all the information and prices to get to the top of the mountains.
Alpspitzbahn Cable Car
The Alpspitzbahn Cable Car will take you up to 2050 meters to the Osterfelderkopf, the summit in Wetterstein range mountains. At the top there is a restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating to enjoy a small meal or beer. There are also many hiking trails along with the AlpspiX overlooking viewing platforms. This cable car will hold quite a few people up, so try to get a space by a window if you can.
Cable Car Prices & Times
(Summer 2020 Prices)
*Check here for current ticket prices.
Garmisch Classic Ticket
Includes one mountain ascent and descent, either in the form of a round trip with the Alpspitzbahn, Hochalmbahn and Kreuzeckbahn cable cars, or just with the Alpspitz-/Hochalmbahn or the Kreuzeckbahn cable cars.
Adults 29,00 Euros
Youth (16-18 years) 23,00 Euros
Children (6-15 years) 15,00 Euros
Ascent or descent only (one way) Ticket
This is for an ascent OR descent on the Kreuzeckbahn or Alpspitzbahn Cable Cars. Best for the hiker that wants to hike up or down the mountain one way. We went up on the Alpspitzbahn Cable Car and hiked down.
Adults 17,50 Euros
Youth (16-18 years) 14,00 Euros
Children (6-15 years) 10,00 Euros
2 Peak Pass
This pass includes a ticket to the Zugspitze Cable Car and a Garmisch Classic Ticket. Buy the pass the first day and then you can use the second day at any time in the same season that year.
Adults 71,00 Euros
Youth (16-18 years) 57,00 Euros
Children (6-15 years) 36,50 Euros
They also offer discounts for families. Check out their prices for summer discounts and updated prices on their price page on their website.
What To Bring
Water: we each filled 2 liter water bladders and this 1 liter collapsible water bottle for our day hike.
Electrolytes: to help with dehydration and altitude sickness I like to use a hydration tablet (I love the Nuuns as they are easy to pack) at least once a day. So I stuck one in my water bottle for this hike.
Snacks: we like jerky sticks, a peanut butter sandwich, granola bars, and trailmix to bring on our hikes.
Hiking Poles: I like my travel hiking poles for long all day hikes, definitely helps the knees. These helped a ton on my knees on the hike down.
Sturdy Hiking Shoes: I wore my Vasques Hiking Shoes.
DayPack: My favorite lightweight summer daypack is the Osprey Daylite Daypack. Perfect size for all that you need.
Hat/sunglasses: not much shade at the top of the trail.
Sunscreen
Other Hikes In The Area That You Might Like
Visit Zugspitze
You will be so close to the highest peak in Germany! And could drink a beer at the high biergarten in the world! Check out everything to know about the Zugspitze Cable Cars and Viewing Platforms.
Hike/Walk Around Lake Eibsee
We paired our trip to Zugspitze with a hike around Lake Eibsee in the afternoon. This leisurely walk took about 90 minutes. Very much worth the stop at Lake Eibsee.
Via Ferrata
If you love a good adrenaline rush check out via ferratas, or also known as Klettersteigs. They are a fix rope hike, we did the Grunstein Klettersteig near Berchtesgarten. If staying in this area only check out the Alpspitz Ferrata.
Partnachklamm Gorge Hike
Visit the Partnachklamm Gorge. Unfortunately this was closed when we went due to a landslide. But it looks like a beautiful hike, and they have other hikes to biergartens in this area.
Other Things To Do in the Area
Visit The Town
Garmisch-Partenkirchen is such a great ski town, with lots of restaurant options. Along with some bars, lots of shopping and adorable bed and breakfasts.
Neuschwanstein Castle
Neuschwanstein Castle is about an hour drive from Garmisch-Partenkirchen. You can tour or hike around this 19th century castle. We paired their with a trip to Andech’s Brewery for a full day trip.
Andech’s Monk Brewery
Visit Germany’s Monk Brewery for some cold brews and delicious classic German food. This is about an one hour drive from the Garmisch Area.
Hilter’s Eagle’s Nest
Another day trip would be to see the historic site of Hitler’s Eagles Nest. This is near Berchtesgaden, Germany. You could also pair this day trip to see the town, Lake Konigssee or even Halstatt.
Lake Konigssee
This lake is absolutely stunning! It is about a 2.5 hour drive from Garmisch. I would highly recommend a day to see this lake and complete a few short hikes around it.
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