Highlight of our trip to Garmisch was the hike through the Höllentalklamm to Höllentalangerhütte and back via Stangensteig to Hammersbach. As the weather was not stable we were afraid that we would have to leave Garmisch without having done the hike that we had dreamed about for years now.

But the weather turned out to be much better than predicted and we decided to give the hike a go. We started early as we wanted to beat the crowds. It was the day of the season opening and the first day of pentecoast weekend. Getting up early was the best decision- we were beat to the entry by just one woman who entered before us.

Right after the entry booth we had a quick look around the museum and then changed into rain gear as the Klamm is wet from above and below. So putting on rainjackets and having sturdy, waterproof shoes is a good idea.

Probably as we were so early someone forgot to turn on the lights in the tunnel sections of the hike and we had not brought headlights so our mobile phone flashlights had to do.

The trail through the Klamm is absolutely stunning and everything we had dreamt of. This part of the hike is fairly easy to do even though it gets quite slippery in many areas.

When you exit the Klamm the canyon opens up and you are left with several options: walk up to Höllentalangerhütte (and from there to Zugspitze if you are experienced enough), return via the Klamm or return above the Klamm via Stangensteig.

Before making our return we decided to tackle the hike up to Höllentalangerhütte which starts quite steep and as the sun came out made us break out in sweat. Before reaching the hut you walk along a large snowfield and pass by the hydro electric power plant that started feeding the Höllentalangerhütte only a decade ago.

At 1.387 meters above sea level the Höllentalangerhütte is a welcoming place to recover from the hike. Even though we did not like the food there it is a wonderful place to rest your legs and enjoy the view over the Zugspitze before starting on the descend.

We returned the same way we came to the Klamm’s exit. Once again we were glad that we had started on our hike early as by now lots of hikers were coming towards us. Instead of entering the Klamm again we turned right and climbing up again started on the Stangensteig trail. This trail is beautiful but in many areas the narrow paths are not secured so we decided to go slow but steady.

Stangensteig takes you across the “Eiserne Brücke” (iron bridge) from where you look down into the chasm.

We really enjoyed this hike and will certainly do it again in the future.