Europe / Wetterstein
Zugspitze
Austria / Germany · 2,962 m
Photo credits and licence
Tuxyso · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Zugspitzmassiv-von-Almkopf-2024. Preview cropped from the top.Tuxyso / Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA-4.0
Source credit: Own work
Any adaptation of a ShareAlike image remains under its linked licence.
Source-linked route information · coverage incomplete
Continue with a planning or regional guide: Zugspitze: Reintal or Höllental? · Alps mountain guide
About Zugspitze
Germany’s highest mountain stands on the Austrian border in the Wetterstein. Railways and cable cars bring visitors to its summit area, while foot approaches range from long valley routes to glacier and protected climbing terrain. An ascent on foot is a different undertaking from a sightseeing visit.
Geographic source notes
Wikidata description: highest peak of the Wetterstein Mountains (Eastern Alps). Imported context (CC0); retrieved 2026-10-05, not independently reviewed.
This profile includes selected editorial climbing references.
Mountain facts
- Elevation
- 2962 metres above sea level
- Country / territory
- Austria / Germany
- Mountain range
- Wetterstein
- Range assignment
- Source-linked Wikidata statement · 2026-10-05
- Summit coordinates
- 47.421217, 10.986314 · View summit on OpenStreetMap
Routes and variants
5 source-linked entries · research checked 2026-10-05. The inventory remains incomplete.
Documented information and open research
Starting point: 5 of 5 · Difficulty with grading system: 1 of 5 · Elevation gain: 4 of 5 · Duration: 2 of 5 · Season: 0 of 5
0 historical entries. These counts describe published entries, not all possible routes. Current access is not established.
See route research coverage and priorities →Compare 5 routes
Grades retain their published rating system; different systems and historical grades are not equivalent. Elevation gain means climbing metres, not summit altitude. Missing figures are not estimated.
Scroll sideways to compare all columns. Select a route name for its details.
| Route | Activity / direction | Difficulty / system | Starting point | Elevation gain | Duration | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reintal | HikingAscent | Not documented | Garmisch-Partenkirchen ski stadium | 2,300 mDAV ascent figure from the valley approach; cable-car shortcuts excluded | 9–11 hLocal DAV day-ascent itinerary from the ski stadium; cable-car descent separate | Source 1 ↗ Source 2 ↗ |
| Gatterl | HikingAscent | Not documented | Ehrwalder Almbahn valley station | 2,100 mDAV ascent figure from the valley approach; cable-car shortcuts excluded | Not documented | Source 1 ↗ |
| Austrian Schneekar / Stopselzieher | Via ferrataAscent | Not documented | Obermoos · Tiroler Zugspitzbahn valley station | 1,735 mDAV ascent figure from the valley approach; cable-car shortcuts excluded | Not documented | Source 1 ↗ |
| Höllental | AlpinismAscent | CVia ferrata (A–E) | Hammersbach | 2,200 mDAV ascent figure from the valley approach; cable-car shortcuts excluded | 7–9 hLocal DAV day-ascent itinerary from Hammersbach; descent additional | Source 1 ↗ Source 2 ↗ Source 3 ↗ |
| Jubiläumsgrat | AlpinismTraverse | Not documented | Zugspitze summit | Not documented | Not documented | Source 1 ↗ |
Choose an activity to see its entries. Ascent, descent, approaches and historical climbing lines are labelled separately.
Hiking (2)
ReintalHiking · Ascent
Distinct DAV-listed itinerary; use its route-specific requirements.
- Activity
- Hiking
- Direction / role
- Ascent
- Starting point
- Garmisch-Partenkirchen ski stadium
- Difficulty
- Not established from the checked source
- Elevation gain
- 2,300 m · DAV ascent figure from the valley approach; cable-car shortcuts excluded
- Duration
- 9–11 h · Local DAV day-ascent itinerary from the ski stadium; cable-car descent separate
- Season
- Not established from the checked source
- Current access
- Not checked for current use
DAV · five Zugspitze itineraries · source checked 2026-10-05
DAV München & Oberland · Reintal day and hut itineraries · source checked 2026-10-05
The source establishes a route listing. Detailed navigation, current protection and conditions require the original reference.
GatterlHiking · Ascent
Distinct DAV-listed itinerary; use its route-specific requirements.
- Activity
- Hiking
- Direction / role
- Ascent
- Starting point
- Ehrwalder Almbahn valley station
- Difficulty
- Not established from the checked source
- Elevation gain
- 2,100 m · DAV ascent figure from the valley approach; cable-car shortcuts excluded
- Duration
- Not established from the checked source
- Season
- Not established from the checked source
- Current access
- Not checked for current use
DAV · five Zugspitze itineraries · source checked 2026-10-05
The source establishes a route listing. Detailed navigation, current protection and conditions require the original reference.
Via ferrata (1)
Austrian Schneekar / StopselzieherVia ferrata · Ascent
Distinct DAV-listed itinerary; use its route-specific requirements.
DAV reports Bayernsteig 812 closed since November 2024; the Obermoos approach is identified separately. Confirm the latest notice before travel.
- Activity
- Via ferrata
- Direction / role
- Ascent
- Starting point
- Obermoos · Tiroler Zugspitzbahn valley station
- Difficulty
- Not established from the checked source
- Elevation gain
- 1,735 m · DAV ascent figure from the valley approach; cable-car shortcuts excluded
- Duration
- Not established from the checked source
- Season
- Not established from the checked source
- Current access
- Not checked for current use
DAV · five Zugspitze itineraries · source checked 2026-10-05
The source establishes a route listing. Detailed navigation, current protection and conditions require the original reference.
Alpinism (2)
HöllentalAlpinism · Ascent · C
Distinct DAV-listed itinerary; use its route-specific requirements.
Local DAV update 4 October 2026 advises against a Höllental ascent until summer 2027 because reliable drinking-water refill is unavailable. Recheck its dated notice. Local figures (10 km / 2,400 m) differ from DAV overview figures (9 km / 2,200 m); do not merge these scopes.
- Activity
- Alpinism
- Direction / role
- Ascent
- Starting point
- Hammersbach
- Difficulty
- C · Via ferrata (A–E) · Local DAV rating of the via-ferrata crux only; glacier terrain and overall alpine difficulty are separate
- Elevation gain
- 2,200 m · DAV ascent figure from the valley approach; cable-car shortcuts excluded
- Duration
- 7–9 h · Local DAV day-ascent itinerary from Hammersbach; descent additional
- Season
- Not established from the checked source
- Current access
- Not checked for current use
DAV · five Zugspitze itineraries · source checked 2026-10-05
DAV München & Oberland · Höllental itineraries · source checked 2026-10-05
DAV München & Oberland · Höllental conditions, update 4 October 2026 · source checked 2026-10-05
The source establishes a route listing. Detailed navigation, current protection and conditions require the original reference.
JubiläumsgratAlpinism · Traverse
Distinct DAV-listed itinerary; use its route-specific requirements.
- Activity
- Alpinism
- Direction / role
- Traverse
- Starting point
- Zugspitze summit
- Difficulty
- Not established from the checked source
- Elevation gain
- Not established from the checked source
- Duration
- Not established from the checked source
- Season
- Not established from the checked source
- Current access
- Not checked for current use
DAV · five Zugspitze itineraries · source checked 2026-10-05
The source establishes a route listing. Detailed navigation, current protection and conditions require the original reference.
Route questions, answered
Specific planning questions, with the scope of each source kept visible.
Is the Jubiläumsgrat a continuous via ferrata?
No. DAV describes substantial unprotected climbing at grades II–III and explicitly distinguishes the ridge from a via ferrata. It starts from the Zugspitze summit and is a long onward traverse, rather than another equivalent ascent trail.
Reintal or Höllental: what changes in the route choice?
DAV describes Reintal as the technically least demanding approach, but long and physically demanding. Höllental adds glacier travel and protected climbing sections. The comparison is about terrain and skills, not a guarantee of easy or snow-free conditions on either route.
How far are the Reintal and Höllental ascents?
DAV gives about 21 km and 2,300 metres of ascent for Reintal from the Garmisch-Partenkirchen ski stadium, compared with 9 km and 2,200 metres for Höllental from Hammersbach. These are ascent figures, not round-trip totals. Höllental also involves glacier travel and protected climbing, so distance alone cannot determine the preferable route.
Can I use the Bayernsteig approach to Stopselzieher?
The DAV article consulted on 5 October 2026 reports the Bayernsteig 812 approach from Eibsee closed by the authorities since November 2024 because of its condition. It distinguishes the approach from the Tiroler Zugspitzbahn valley station, which is not covered by that closure. Verify the latest local notice before planning; this source check is not a live status feed.
What did the local DAV advise about Höllental in October 2026?
The 4 October 2026 update says the hut season has ended and reliable drinking-water refill is unavailable. DAV München & Oberland advises against a Höllental ascent until reopening in summer 2027 and announces closure of the gorge entrance hut on 19 October. Consult the original notice for updates; this is dated advice, not a live route status.
DAV München & Oberland · Höllental conditions, update 4 October 2026
Climbing Chronicle Redaktion · Sources checked · Source research; current route conditions are not confirmed.
Planning at a glance
Access and starting point
DAV distinguishes Reintal, Gatterl, Austrian Schneekar, Höllental and Jubiläumsgrat. Cable-car access to the summit area does not describe a foot ascent. Select the ascent and descent together.
Difficulty and required experience
Reintal and Gatterl are long mountain approaches; Höllental adds glacier travel and protected climbing. Jubiläumsgrat is a distinct alpine ridge, not an equivalent hiking alternative. Consult the DAV route-specific requirements.
Season and restrictions
DAV München & Oberland’s 4 October 2026 notice advises against a Höllental ascent until reopening in summer 2027 because reliable drinking-water refill is unavailable. The hut season has ended; the announced gorge entrance hut closure is 19 October 2026. Recheck the original notice before planning.
DAV München & Oberland · Höllental conditions, update 4 October 2026
Sources for current information
- DAV Garmisch-Partenkirchen · local enquiries
Local Alpine Club and hut contacts; not automatic route clearance
- DAV München & Oberland · Höllental conditions, update 4 October 2026
Dated local notice; check updates, seasonal operation and water supply directly
Regional weather and warning resources
Selected by the recorded country. Check geographic coverage and elevation; these links do not confirm access or conditions on this summit.
- Austrian Alpine Club · mountain weather
Austrian regional mountain weather; select the relevant region
This page stores reference sources, not live conditions. Check the provider’s publication date and route coverage before use.
First documented ascent
1820
Joseph Naus, named in the Zugspitzbahn historical account.
The official operator dates the first ascent to 1820 and identifies Lieutenant Joseph Naus. Its route overview connects his ascent with the Reintal. This summary does not name companions that the linked account does not identify.
Earlier local or Indigenous ascents may not be represented in the cited record.
Planning and access
Select the foot route and descent before booking huts or transport. Reintalangerhütte, Knorrhütte, Höllentalangerhütte and Wiener-Neustädter Hütte serve different approaches. Check reservations, route access and transport operation directly. Allow for the possibility that weather prevents a planned cable-car descent.
Terrain and hazards
The DAV discusses long ascents, exposed terrain, snow and ice, and route-specific climbing equipment. Höllental includes glacier travel. Check its route comparison and current local information; cable-car access does not establish that a foot ascent is suitable for a visitor.
Sources and coverage
Editorial summaries with linked references. Profile sources reviewed: 5 October 2026. Elevations and boundaries can differ between sources. Mountain-range membership follows explicit Wikidata relationships or a coordinate match against published GMBA v2 standard polygons. GMBA: Global Mountain Biodiversity Assessment (2021), CC BY 4.0; methodology: Snethlage et al. (2022). Missing evidence remains open.
- DAV · Zugspitze route comparison
- DAV München & Oberland · Höllental conditions, update 4 October 2026
- DAV München & Oberland · Reintal day and hut itineraries
- DAV München & Oberland · Höllental itineraries
- Bayerische Zugspitzbahn · ascent routes
- Bayerische Zugspitzbahn · first-ascent history
- Wikidata record
- DAV Garmisch-Partenkirchen · local enquiries
Explore the surrounding regions
Wetterstein · Wettersteingebirge und Mieminger Kette · North Tyrol Limestone Alps · Northern Eastern Alps · Eastern Alps · Alps · Central European Highlands · Northeastern Alps · Alps · Wetterstein · Mountains in Austria · Mountains in Germany
Editorial responsibility
Responsible publisher and editorial author: Climbing Chronicle Redaktion. AI-assisted source research; no on-site inspection or professional route approval is claimed.
- Route listing source check
- 2026-10-05 · partial inventory; current access remains open
- Planning source check
- 2026-10-05 · only the individually cited planning additions
- Earlier profile review
- 5 October 2026
- Imported context retrieved
- 2026-10-05 · automated retrieval, not an editorial review
How sources, authorship and review dates work
Further reading about Zugspitze
Links discovered through the Wikidata record. These articles have not been checked as evidence for route, difficulty or access claims.
Mountains nearby
Recorded mountains, ordered by straight-line distance. This does not describe a route or accessible connection.
1–20 of 98 recorded mountains within 25 km
- Riffelwandspitzen · 0.9 km
- Schneefernerkopf · 1.8 km
- Riffeltorkopf · 1.8 km
- Riffelspitzen · 1.9 km
- Höllentalspitzen · 2.6 km
- Wetterspitzen · 2.6 km
- Wetterwandeck · 2.7 km
- Vollkarspitze · 3.7 km
- Waxenstein · 4.0 km
- Hochblassen · 4.1 km
- Alpspitze · 4.7 km
- Höllentorkopf · 4.9 km
- Bernadeinkopf · 5.6 km
- Hochwanner · 5.8 km
- Vorderer Tajakopf · 6.9 km
- Predigtstuhl · 6.9 km
- Hochwand · 7.2 km
- Hinterer Tajakopf · 7.3 km
- Hinterreintalschrofen · 7.3 km
- Hochplattig · 7.6 km