Partnach Gorge Guide
The Partnach Gorge or Partnachklamm is one of the main highlights when visiting the Bavarian town of Garmisch Partenkirchen. Walking the pathway between the narrow gorge walls with the turquoise water down below is sure to be a highlight during your time in the region.
The gorge, which acts as a natural conduit for the Partnach River, runs 700 meters or 2,305 feet between limestone walls that reach 80 meters (262 feet) high.
A series of galleries and tunnels has been carved out of the rock along one side, allowing visitors to walk along the rushing river and duck behind waterfalls.
How to get to the Gorge
Getting to the gorge is simple enough once you have made it to Garmisch Partenkirchen. You will have the choice between driving your own car, walking by foot, or heading there by bus.
If driving your car, all you need to do is first make it to the parking lot of the Olympic Ski Jump Stadium and you will be on your way from there. The parking lot here is both for those visiting the ski jump as well as the Partnach Gorge.
Another option (whether you have a car or not), is to walk on over from wherever you are staying in town. Some hotels may just be a few minutes away from the parking lot while others may be closer to half an hour. But if you are not in the rush and want to stroll through the town, then walking over is a great option for you.
From the train station in Garmisch Partenkirchen you can hop on the local bus (lines 1 and 2) that will take you to the ski jump. The bus also makes some other stops in town along the way depending on where you are staying.
Now, once you are at the Olympic Ski Jump Stadium area, you will then need to walk along a paved 20 minute pathway towards the entrance of the Partnachklamm.
From there you can head on in and enjoy the remainder of the Partnach Gorge hike and the beautiful surrounding scenery.
Opening hours & Cost
The great thing about the Partnach Gorge is that it is open year round (yes even in winter!). The hours for the gorge are as follows:
October to May: 8:00AM to 6:00PM
June to September: 6:00AM to 10:00PM
The last admission to the gorge is 30 minutes prior to closing time.
Helpful Tip: To avoid the crowds I would recommend arriving very early in the day or later on in the evening before sunset. The gorge is one of the most popular places to visit in the area and it can get crowded during the daytime on those narrow pathways.
Below is the Partnach Gorge entrance fee breakdown:
Adults: 6 Euro or £5 / $7
Adults (with valid visitors’ card): 5 Euro or £4 / $6
GP Residents: 5 Euro or £4 / $6
Adult Group (15+ people): 5 Euro or £4 / $6
Handicapped Visitor: 4 Euro or £3.50 / $5
Children (6-17 years old): 3 Euro or £2.50 / $4
Duration
Since this is a back and forth hike, you will need to walk the path from the parking lot to the gorge twice. Below is a little bit of a breakdown:
Parking to Gorge Entrance: 20 Minutes
Partnach Gorge Round Trip: 40 Minutes
Gorge Entrance to Parking: 20 Minutes
Altogether the Partnach Gorge hike should take around 80 minutes (1:20 hours) round trip.
The Hike
Now that your have some solid background about the gorge, let’s get into the Partnach Gorge hike and what it entails.
When we visited the gorge, it was 3pm and the Olympic Car Park was pretty full but we managed to find a spot. Pay for your parking ticket and then follow the signs to the gorge. Don’t forget to stop at the Olympic ski village for some epic pictures.
The first portion of trail will take you from the parking lot to the gorge entrance on an easy 20 minute paved trail. Once you reach the entrance, you can go ahead, purchase your tickets and enter the tunnel entryway from there.
Once inside, you will be welcomed to a turquoise river flowing down between the massive 263 foot / 80 meter gorge walls on either side of you. The pathway itself is relatively flat with a roped fence for safety reasons.
As you continue along, the gorge walls will become even closer together – just a few feet apart. The pathway here is actually etched into the gorge wall as you walk through this narrow passageway.
Above you there may be some light waterfalls, falling off the side of the wall and onto the path below. Due to this, the pathway can get wet at times so do watch your step as you are making your way through. Although I just got a few drops here or there, you may want to consider bringing shoes/clothes that you don’t mind getting wet.
The Partnachklamm will be a beautiful contrast of dark rock alongside green flora grown on the walls, and the turquoise water roaring through down below.
After about 20 minutes or so, you will exit the gorge and be welcomed to a wider river surrounding by the forest on either side. Depending on how much time you have, you can continue along the river for a bit before turning back around.
In order to get back to the parking area, you can wither head back in the same way you came as you get to experience the gorge from the other direction or there is a trail that will take you up and over the gorge. This is the route we took and it was spectacular!
We loved the hike! Make sure Partnach Gorge is on your list!
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