Dream destinations in the mountains Part 6: Zugspitz region
If you are looking for flat routes around Garmisch, you can only cycle along the Loisach - great for familiarising yourself with the area. Otherwise, the trails lead steeply uphill in all directions. On most routes, we recommend an e-mountainbike - and a solid riding technique. The tour of the Zugspitze region is the circumnavigation of the Wetterstein massif. The easiest route can also be completed on a normal e-bike, but it is still more than 80 km and around 1,400 metres in altitude - you should keep an eye on the battery charge level. If you start in Garmisch, you could plan a charging stop in Gaistal. There you can enjoy Kaiserschmarrn and apple spritzer with a view of the Wetterstein and Mieminger mountains.
E-bike hire
- Bike Centre Garmisch Partenkirchen, www.bikecenter.de
- Zweirad Zirknitzer in Ehrwald, www.2rad-zirknitzer.at
- Intersport Leitner in Ehrwald, www.intersport-leitner.com
Worth seeing
- Hintergraseck: Alpine farm with a view of the Alpspitze
- Eibsee: one of the cleanest lakes in Bavaria above Grainau, at the foot of the Zugspitze, www.eibsee.de
- Esterbergalm: rustic alpine inn in a small high valley behind the Wank summit, www.almgasthof-esterberg.de
Accommodation
- Sporthotel Loisach in Lermoos, www.unser-loisach.at
- Sporthotel Schönruh in Ehrwald, www.hotel-schoenruh.com
- Hotel Garni Haus Höllental in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, www.haus-hoellental.de
- Hotel Alpenhof in Krün, www.alpenhof-kruen.de
Tour tips
- From Scharnitz in Tyrol to Garmisch-Partenkirchen: Along the Isar to Mittenwald and Krün, on the cycle path to Garmisch (31 km, 230 metres in altitude). If you can manage it, you can also cycle back.
- To the Seebensee lake: a steep ascent on a tidy path from Ehrwald to the Ehrwalder Alm and the idyllic Seebensee lake, including a breathtaking Zugspitze panorama (18 km, 720 metres in altitude).
GPS data and other bike tours: www.gapa.de
Info service/tour planner: www.zugspitzarena.com
Stop for a bite to eat
Goasalm: Farm café, goat's cheese dairy and farm shop in the humpback meadows near Mittenwald, www.goas-alm.de
Map
Compass No. 5 "Wettersteingebirge, Zugspitz area", 1:50,000
Tourist-Info
www.zugspitzarena.com
www.gapa.de
The full article was published in E-BIKE issue 3/2017. You can download the issue in the MYBIKE app (iTunes and Google Play) or in the DK-Shop order.
