Höllentalklamm: Hiking, Waterfalls & Equipment

Zugspitze vacation: The region around Germany’s highest mountain is among Europe’s most spectacular hiking areas. An absolute highlight is the Höllentalklamm near Garmisch-Partenkirchen — a natural wonder of roaring waterfalls, dark tunnels, and breathtaking rock walls. This guide shows you everything: how to get there, hiking routes, places to stop for a break, and the best equipment.

Overview hide

Höllentalklamm: Facts & Overview

Hiking Routes: From Easy to Challenging

Getting there and parking

Refueling: The best huts along the way

Neuneralm (910 m)

Höllentalangerhütte (1.387 m)

Equipment: What you definitely need

Clothing: The Layering Principle for Mountain Hiking

Virtual tour through the Höllentalklamm

Overview of the hike

Safety in the gorge and in the high mountains

Leave No Trace: Hike responsibly

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about the Höllentalklamm

Weitere Wandertipps in der Region

Höllentalklamm: Facts & Overview

The Hellenthal Gorge is located in the Wetterstein Mountains, about 8 km southeast of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The gorge is approximately 1 km long, with rock walls rising up to 150 m vertically. Waterfalls and the roaring Hellenthal Gorge stream accompany you at every step. During the summer season (May to October), the gorge is open daily, but it is closed in winter due to avalanche danger.

Feature	Details
Location	Wetterstein Mountains, Bavaria, near Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Gorge Length	approx. 1 km
Rock Wall Height	up to 150 m
Admission Adults	2 Euro
Admission Children	free of charge
Open	May to October (weather dependent)
Hiking Time Through the Gorge	approx. 45 minutes
End of the Gorge	1,193 m altitude

Hiking Routes: From Easy to Challenging

The Höllentalklamm is the starting point for routes of varying difficulty levels — from the pleasant family hike to the Zugspitze summit for alpinists.

Route	Length	Altitude	Difficulty	Highlight
Nur Klamm (there and back)	2 km	approx. 150 m	Easy	Waterfalls, tunnels, rock walls
Klamm + Höllentalangerhütte	approx. 8 km	approx. 700 m	Moderate	Hut rest, mountain panorama
Klamm + Neuneralm Rundweg	approx. 10 km	approx. 500 m	Moderate	Sunny terrace at 910 m
Zugspitze via Höllental	approx. 22 km	approx. 2,200 m	Very difficult (alpine route)	Summit 2,962 m, glacier crossing

Tip for families: The gorge itself is also suitable for children from about 5 years old. Sturdy footwear is a must — the stone slabs can be wet and slippery.

Getting there and parking

By car: From Garmisch-Partenkirchen, drive along the B2 towards Grainau. At the Hammersbach parking area (payable), the hiking trail to the gorge begins — about 1.5 km walk to the entrance.

By train: Take the Bavarian Zugspitzbahn from Garmisch-Partenkirchen to the Hammersbach stop (about 8 minutes). From there, it’s a 15-minute walk to the gorge entrance.

Parking: Hammersbach parking lot, parking fee about 5 euros per day. In the high season (July/August), arrive early — the parking lot fills up by 9 o’clock.

Refueling: The best huts along the way

Neuneralm (910 m)

Directly after the gorge, you reach the Neuneralm. On the large sun terrace, you enjoy a magnificent view over the Werdenfelser Land and the surrounding Alps with coffee, pretzel or a white beer. The kitchen offers classic bread snacks and bread plates.

Höllentalangerhütte (1.387 m)

The main goal of many hikers is the Höllentalangerhütte — a managed DAV shelter in the middle of the mountain world. The menu offers cheese spaetzle, soups, and cakes. Those who want to continue to the Zugspitze often stay here. Tip: Reservation is strongly recommended during the high season!

Equipment: What you definitely need

The Hellentalklamm is not a difficult terrain, but the humidity and stone slabs require the right equipment.

Equipment	Importance	Note
Professionally soled hiking shoes	Mandatory	Wet stones — no sneakers!
Rain jacket	Highly recommended	Water mist from the waterfalls can soak you
Backpack (20–30 L)	Recommended	Water, food, spare clothes
Water (min. 1.5 L/person)	Mandatory	Do not drink from the sources in the gorge
Sun protection + headgear	Recommended	Strong sun possible above the gorge
First aid kit	Recommended	Especially for families with children
Headlamp	Optional	Tunnels in the gorge are lit

Clothing: The Layering Principle for Mountain Hiking

In the Bavarian Alps, the weather can change quickly. The proven 3-layer system reliably protects you:

Base layer: Functional underwear made of merino wool or polyester — wicks sweat away, keeps you warm
Middle layer: Fleece jacket or light down vest — stores heat, breathable
Outer layer: Water- and windproof hardshell jacket — protection from rain and spray

For the gorge: Even in summer, the waterfall mist flows through the ravine. A light rain jacket in your backpack is a must.

Virtual tour through the Höllentalklamm

Thundering waterfalls, dark caves and electrically lit tunnels:

Overview of the hike

Safety in the gorge and in the high mountains

Check the weather report: Retrieve the current weather report before every hike — thunderstorms in the high mountains develop quickly
Mobile reception: Often no network in the gorge — download an offline map (e.g. Komoot or Maps.me)
Emergency: Bavarian Mountain Rescue 112 — in case of accidents also provide the exact GPS position
Early start: Start as early as 7 a.m. in summer — thunderstorms usually develop in the afternoon
Via ferrata gear: Only needed for the Zugspitze route, not required for the gorge itself

Leave No Trace: Hike responsibly

The Zugspitze National Park is a sensitive ecosystem. So that future generations can also experience this beauty:

Take all trash with you — leave no plastic, no orange peels behind
Do not leave the trails — trampled paths destroy rare alpine plants
Observe wildlife, but do not feed or disturb — chamois and marmots need space
Campfires only at designated sites — generally prohibited in the national park
Keep noise to a minimum — especially in the early morning hours

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about the Höllentalklamm

Ist die Höllentalklamm für Kinder geeignet?
Ja, ab ca. 5 Jahren gut machbar. Die Steinplatten sind teilweise feucht — festes Schuhwerk und Aufsicht sind wichtig.

Wie lange dauert die Wanderung durch die Klamm?
Reine Gehzeit durch die Klamm ca. 45 Minuten eine Richtung. Mit Pausen und Rückweg plane 2–3 Stunden ein.

Kann man die Höllentalklamm im Winter besuchen?
Nein — die Klamm ist von November bis April wegen Lawinengefahr und Eis gesperrt.

Gibt es einen Eintrittspreis?
Erwachsene zahlen 2 Euro, Kinder sind kostenlos.

Brauche ich für den Weg zur Zugspitze besondere Ausrüstung?
Ja — die Zugspitze via Höllental ist eine Hochtourenroute. Klettersteigset, Helm, Steigeisen und Erfahrung im Hochgebirge sind notwendig. Nicht für ungeübte Wanderer geeignet.

{
“@context”: “https://schema.org”,
“@type”: “FAQPage”,
“mainEntity”: [
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “Ist die Höllentalklamm für Kinder geeignet?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “Ja, ab ca. 5 Jahren gut machbar. Die Steinplatten sind teilweise feucht — festes Schuhwerk und Aufsicht sind wichtig.”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “Wie lange dauert die Wanderung durch die Höllentalklamm?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “Reine Gehzeit durch die Klamm ca. 45 Minuten eine Richtung. Mit Pausen und Rückweg plane 2–3 Stunden ein.”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “Kann man die Höllentalklamm im Winter besuchen?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “Nein — die Klamm ist von November bis April wegen Lawinengefahr und Eis gesperrt.”
}
},
{
“@type”: “Question”,
“name”: “Gibt es einen Eintrittspreis für die Höllentalklamm?”,
“acceptedAnswer”: {
“@type”: “Answer”,
“text”: “Erwachsene zahlen 2 Euro, Kinder sind kostenlos.”
}
}
]
}