Partnach Gorge

The Partnach Gorge (Partnachklamm) in Garmisch-Partenkirchen is one of the most dramatic natural sights in the Bavarian Alps. For about 700 meters, the Partnach River squeezes through a limestone chasm up to 80 meters deep, and a walkway cut into the rock takes you right above the rushing turquoise water. Protected as a natural monument since 1912, it is open year-round and makes an easy, unforgettable half-day trip from Munich.

Where it is and how to get there

The gorge sits on the southern edge of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany's best-known Alpine resort, roughly 90 km south of Munich. Regional trains on the Werdenfels line run from Munich Central Station to Garmisch-Partenkirchen in about 1.5 hours, so the trip is covered by the Deutschlandticket and Bavarian regional passes. From the station, local buses 1/321 and 2/322 reach the Olympic Ski Stadium in about ten minutes. From there it is a 25-minute walk to the gorge entrance.

Driving, take the A95 from Munich and follow signs to the Olympia-Skistadion, where there is a paid parking lot. It fills up early on summer weekends, so arrive before 10 a.m. or use a lot in town.

What makes it special

The gorge was once a working route for timber rafting: from the late 19th century until the early 1960s, logs were floated through the canyon on the spring meltwater, and workers used a narrow iron-and-plank path to free jams. The site opened to tourists in 1912 and became accessible in winter from 1930, when freezing spray turns the walls into curtains of icicles.

In 1991, about 5,000 cubic meters of rock collapsed at the southern end; a 108-meter tunnel has bypassed the slide since 1992. Today the operator counts more than 200,000 visitors a year, and sensors installed with the Technical University of Munich monitor eight sensitive rock zones.

Tickets and opening hours

As of October 2026, the gorge opens daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. from June to September and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. from October to May, with last entry 30 minutes before closing. On October 12 and 15, 2026, it opens only at noon because of construction work. Adult tickets cost €10, children aged 6 to 17 pay €5, and dogs on a leash also cost €5. Buy online and save the QR code to your phone before you go, since there is no cell coverage inside the gorge. Short-notice closures for ice, floods or rockfall are possible, so check the official website on the morning of your visit.

Tips for your visit

• Bring a rain jacket. Water drips and sprays from the walls even on sunny days.
• Go early or late. The operator recommends groups visit before 10:30 a.m. or after 3:30 p.m.; that advice works for everyone.
• Leave the stroller. Strollers, wheelchairs and walkers are not allowed through the narrow, wet passages; use a baby carrier instead.
• No drones. Flying them in the gorge is prohibited.

The walk through the gorge itself takes around 30 minutes. Many visitors extend it into a loop hike via Graseck or up to the Eckbauer, which takes two to four hours. Note that the path toward Vordergraseck is closed for construction from September 21 to November 20, 2026.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, especially if you are already in Garmisch-Partenkirchen or on a day trip from Munich. It is inexpensive, works in rain or snow, and shows the raw force of an Alpine river at very close range. Combine it with the Olympic Ski Jump at the stadium, the Eckbauer cable car, or a ride up the Zugspitze, Germany's highest mountain, for a full day in the Alps.