Line © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), checked by Global Adventurer.
The walk
The walk starts from the pay car park at the Olympic ski stadium in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. A lane leads up the Partnach for about 2 km to the ticket office, and the path then runs for some 700 m through the gorge on galleries and in tunnels cut into the rock, a few metres above the water. From the head of the gorge it climbs steeply to the farms of Graseck and on through forest to the Eckbauer, 1,237 m, with its inn and a wide view of the Wetterstein. The descent goes directly north, down forest tracks to the stadium.
It is 9.8 km with 511 m of ascent; allow about 4 hours. The grade is Moderate: the gorge is easy, the climb beyond it is steady and steep in places.
The gorge is wet, dark and low in parts, so bring a waterproof. Entry cost €10 in 2026 (children €5). It is open all year, 8 am to 6 pm in winter and to 8 pm in summer, but closes at short notice, most often when the ice breaks up in spring. Until 20 November 2026 the path from the head of the gorge towards Graseck is closed for building work: check before you go.
Buses run from Garmisch-Partenkirchen station to the stadium, and a gondola runs down from the Eckbauer.
Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.
Good to know
- The Partnach gorge is about 700 m long, with galleries and tunnels cut into the rock; there is an entrance fee
- The gorge is open all year but can close at short notice, most often when the ice breaks up in spring
- From the head of the gorge the way climbs by Graseck to the Eckbauer, 1,237 m, with a view of the Wetterstein
- A gondola runs from the Eckbauer down to the ski stadium
Summits on the way
- Eckbauer 1,237 m
- Schönau 906 m · passed close by
Getting there
Start: Olympic ski stadium car park · Pay and display. 47.48220, 11.11854
Places to stay nearby
Rooms in and around Bavarian Alps: Booking.com → Expedia →
Affiliate links: if you book, Global Adventurer earns a small commission at no cost to you.
Paths change, and the weather decides the day. The line and figures come from OpenStreetMap and our own checks; take a map, check the forecast, and turn back if it isn't right.
