Höllentalklamm Gorge

The Höllentalklamm near Grainau is one of the most dramatic gorges in the Bavarian Alps. The Hammersbach stream has cut deep into the limestone of the Wetterstein range, and a narrow trail runs through tunnels and across footbridges right through the middle of it. It starts in Hammersbach, a hamlet of Grainau at the foot of the Zugspitze, Germany's highest mountain. If you are looking for a day out with raw alpine scenery and no summit required, this is a great choice.

What you will see

The gorge trail itself starts at the Höllentaleingangshütte, the entrance hut, and is a little over 700 meters long according to the municipality of Grainau. The whole gorge measures about one kilometer. You walk through tunnels cut into the rock and over bridges, with the stream thundering below. The walls are narrow, so it stays cool and often wet inside, even in summer.

Getting to the entrance is part of the adventure: it is roughly 3 kilometers and about 300 meters of climbing from Hammersbach. Plan two to four hours for the round trip, wear sturdy shoes, and bring a rain jacket.

A short history

The valley first appears as "Hellethal" in 1562, a name that points to a hard-to-reach valley rather than anything religious. Iron ore and molybdenum were mined here, and only ruins remain. Tourist development began in 1902, and the gorge officially opened in 1905. A small museum at the entrance has existed since 2011.

Opening hours and tickets (as of October 2026)

The gorge is open only in the warm season, because all bridges are taken down for winter. According to the municipality, it closes on October 19, 2026 and is expected to stay shut until the end of May 2027. If you are visiting this year, do not wait. We could not reach the gorge's own website. Several travel portals list about 7 euros for adults and 3.50 euros for children in 2026, but we could not confirm this from an official source, so check with the Grainau tourist office.

How to get there

Grainau is in the Zugspitze region near Garmisch-Partenkirchen, reachable by regional train from Munich via Deutsche Bahn. From Grainau, the Eibsee bus or the Zugspitze cog railway stops at Hammersbach, where the hiking trail starts. Check Deutsche Bahn for current connections.

Driving is possible, but parking is limited and paid. The P2 Hammersbach lot costs 13 euros for up to 12 hours and 19 euros for up to 24 hours, and the P1 Zugspitzstraße lot costs 10 or 15 euros. You can pay by cash, card, or the EasyPark app.

Practical tips

• Rockfall is a real hazard, especially near the upper exit. Stay on the marked path.
• The free Stangensteig is a longer and harder alternative that crosses the gorge on an iron bridge.
• The Höllentalangerhütte, at 1,387 meters, is the base for climbers heading up the Zugspitze, a route for experienced mountaineers only.
• We found no official rules on dogs or minimum age, so call ahead if you travel with small children or a pet.