Mittenwalder Höhenweg: Challenging climbing experience in the Karwendel
Destination

Mittenwalder Höhenweg: Challenging climbing experience in the Karwendel

Hiking Trails
Viewpoint
Experience with action
Mountain Trains
rest stop

The Mittenwalder Höhenweg has everything you need for a real via ferrata premiere: steep rock formations, athletic metres in altitude and a magnificent Alpine panorama. The railway will take you to your via ferrata adventure in the Karwendel mountains in a relaxed manner.

The Mittenwalder Höhenweg rewards experienced, sure-footed and above all vertigo-free hikers with a sensational view of the rugged rock formations of the Karwendel mountains. Before tackling the via ferrata adventure, ask at the Mittenwald tourist information centre whether the current weather conditions permit a tour of the Mittenwalder Höhenweg. Very important: If you don't have your own equipment, reserve a via ferrata set: Stefan Adam and his team at the Alpenwelt Karwendel mountain school are just a ten-minute walk from Mittenwald railway station and will be happy to help you. With the Regio-Ticket Werdenfels/ + Innsbruck, you and your friends will have a congestion-free and inexpensive journey.

A tightrope act on two-thousand metre peaks

Your via ferrata experience starts at Mittenwald railway station. From here, it is only a 15-minute walk to the valley station of the Karwendel cable car: walk across the station square and keep to the right. From there, turn right onto Dammkarstraße. After a few metres, turn right onto Mühlenweg and follow it to Weidenweg. Turn left there and cross the Isar. Then go straight ahead onto Arzgrubenweg and continue to the valley station of the mountain railway, which takes you to the mountain station at just under 2,200 metres. Once at the top, a well-signposted panoramic trail leads to the start of the Mittenwald via ferrata. Pure thrills: the route, secured with wire ropes, runs partly on the ridge, along narrow wooden planks, iron clamps and ladders over a whole series of two-thousand metre peaks: northern (2,374 metres), middle (2,239 metres) and southern Linderspitze (2,306 metres), Sulzleklammspitze (2,323 metres) and Kirchlspitze (2,302 metres). Plan between six and eight hours for the almost 12-kilometre route and don't underestimate the 530 metres of ascent and 1860 metres of descent.

Magnificent views in all directions

The Mittenwalder Höhenweg is considered the ideal route for experienced via ferrata beginners and the most scenic Alpine tour: from the middle Linderspitze, the panoramic view extends to the Stubai Alps in the south and to the Herzogstand in the north. The imposing Wetterstein mountain range towers to the west, while the Karwendel valley can be admired to the east. To the south, Scharnitz and Seefelder Joch stand out most prominently. As the tour runs mainly along a ridge, it is also worth taking a look down into the depths.

A farewell visit to donkey star Frederico

Shortly after the Kirchlspitze, the descent to Mittenwald begins. Between meadows and mountain pine fields, the route descends in serpentines. Scree and rocky passages require a high degree of concentration and surefootedness. Make sure you stop off at the Brunnsteinhütte on your way back. There, the hut hosts Barbara and Hans-Peter Gallenberger will spoil you with homemade cakes and refreshing buttermilk. If you're lucky, you'll get to see Frederico up close: the dwarf donkey is the secret star of the hut's own petting zoo. Now it's almost done. The two-hour descent takes you via the Brunnsteinhütte to Mittenwald and the valley station of the Karwendel cable car. From there you walk back to the starting point - Mittenwald railway station. After your courageous via ferrata adventure, enjoy the comfortable train journey home.

Arrival
Karwendel cable car

82481 Mittenwald
Next station
Mittenwald

Our tip: Please make sure to check your train connection and the expected capacity before you start your journey.

More destinations

The pack animals carry your belongings, of course, and you will appreciate this the further into... Comfortably upwards, with caracho downwards: The summer toboggan run of the Fröschbrunna Coaster... The August-Schuster-Haus, which is also called Pürschlinghaus, is a cabin situated above Schloss... The various stages of the Altmühltal Panorama Trail are among the most versatile routes for hiking... Up to the most northerly lookout point in Bavaria: the Thüringer Warte tower near Ludwigsstadt is... Nuremberg's oldest private theatre has its own ensemble. The life of knights in their sights: on an excursion to the Allgäu Königswinkel, children can... There are two things you can't miss on a cycle tour in Munich: The Isar and beer gardens. Take a... Would you like to go on an impressive hike through the vineyards of Franconia? Then set off for... This railway track winds its way through the foothills of the Alps, past a glorious panoramic...