High alpine flair combined with rural tradition in an original cultural landscape - the Tiroler Zugspitz Arena offers all the ingredients for an exceptional climbing vacation including a wide-ranging supporting program from idyllic mountain lakes and romantic mountain huts to hiking and biking adventures.
Spoilt for choice in the Tiroler Zugspitz Arena
Signposts in the Tiroler Zugspitz Arena - well signposted to the foot of the wall
God must have been a climber, you might think, considering the abundance of climbing areas and their many variations. And the creator was probably also an enthusiastic mountaineer, mountain biker and family man ... Because everyone gets their money's worth here: hikers swarm out in all directions and are spoilt for choice as to which direction to start the day: towards Coburger Hütte with Seebensee and Drachensee, or into Gaistal for the Almenrallye, or towards Knorrhütte, Gatterl and Zugspitze? The options for hiking and biking seem almost inexhaustible. And climbers? They can, for example, celebrate a real climbing orgy in the "Aquaria" with its 30 pitches, or get their climbing soles boiling with the friction dance on the Plattspitzen in the finest slab limestone. And then there's the Ehrwalder Sonnenspitze, the Wiener Neustädter Hütte, the Coburger Hütte, the Alte 4er-Stütze, the Hanger and the Griesner Wandl. God was a climber ...
Family vacation in the Tiroler Zugspitz Arena
On the way to the Plattspitzen we are greeted by the curious young cattle
Mountain-loving families also get their money's worth in the Tiroler Zugspitz Arena, as even the little ones can get a taste of the spicy mountain air in an all-terrain baby carriage across the wonderful alpine pastures of the Ehrwalder Alm. When the kids can already walk themselves, rustic huts invite you to an adventure vacation. Spend the night in a hut with mom and dad for the first time, enjoy delicious food such as Kaiserschmarren, dumpling soup and apple strudel. And climbing during the day in the nearby climbing garden, where the chamois form a worthy climbing jury and peer curiously from behind boulders. Jackdaws whistle past the walls and the four-legged summer visitors quietly nibble on the herbs from the lush alpine pastures while attentively following the activities of the two-legged summer visitors on the rock faces.
Sport climbers who prefer to look at the mountains from below will find some outstandingly beautiful and equally challenging climbing lines in the "Hanger". And the Griesner Wandl, which is actually still in Bavaria, also offers enough routes for an enjoyable day of climbing in the valley.
Welcome to the stairways to heaven: The multi-pitch areas From A for Aquaria to Z for Zugspitze/Wetterstein
30 pitches, 6 hours of climbing, 1.5 hours of ascent, 3 hours of descent: a stamina-sapping route that was painstakingly developed from an original three-pitch route into a "longline" in summer 2010.
Excerpt from "Longlines - Die ganz großen Klettereien der nördlichen Kalkalpen, Adi Stocker, Panico-Verlag:
"Aquaria - the path of water: water grooves, washed-out gullies, intersections, exposed traverses, steep pillars, plaisir-suspicious slabs, overhangs and debris-covered ledges characterize the route. A thunderstorm would be a disaster. The water collects in gorges and torrents turn the wall into a rockfall inferno within minutes. Despite the good protection with bolts and the moderate difficulties, the route should not be underestimated."
But don't worry, multi-pitch fans will also find many plaisir routes with moderate 3 to 15 pitches in the Zugspitz Arena. The difficulties vary from enjoyable to challenging. After the climbing fun, climbers meet up in one of the many mountain huts to restore their energy and water balance with Tyrolean delicacies.
A quick check of the multi-pitch areas: Grünstein north face: routes: 4, difficulty: 5a to 7a, pitches: 6 to 8 Wiener Neustädter Hütte Kaiserkopf: Routes: 7, difficulty: up to 6a, pitches: 3 to 5 Wampeter Schrofen: Routes : 14, difficulty: 2 to 7c, pitches: 4 to 8 Sonnenspitze: Routes: 3, difficulty: 2 to 5b, rope lengths: 15 Plattspitzen total: Routes: 61, difficulty: 4b to 7b, pitches: 2 to 7 Zugspitze/Wetterstein: Routes: 4, difficulty: 2 to 6a, pitches 8 to 14 Seebenwände: Routes: 9, difficulty: 4 to 7a, rope lengths: 4 to 10 Sport climbing at an altitude of 2300 meters: Plattspitze West
The huge rock face of the Plattspitze from below - west and south
Fans of water grooves, rough slabs with dents and cracks: The routes on the Plattspitze West and South in the Tiroler Zugspitz Arena are calling! At over 2000 meters, sport climbers can breathe in the scent of the Alps up here and enjoy a panoramic view of Grünstein, Sonnenspitze, Tajakopf and Igelskopf. From time to time, sheep visit the foot of the wall and sniff at the snack tin in search of treats. Otherwise, there is absolute peace and quiet up here - apart from the cow and sheep bell jazz, which sets the climbing pace with a steady beat.
Tip: Bring a warm jacket, hat and anorak even in summer. The temperatures and wind can be very cool up here, even in summery valley temperatures.
After a long day of climbing, be sure to stop off at the Hochfeldern Alm - the sun terrace is a dream, the food is delicious, the cows are chilled ... The perfect end to a long day in the mountains before continuing downhill either by bike or on foot.
Tip: If you don't want to stick to the last train ride, you can take your bike with you free of charge by purchasing a mountain ride. Chained securely to a tree at the top, the day doesn't necessarily end at 5.45 pm with the last descent ...
Old 4-seater support
A great new sports climbing garden is being built here, which will probably offer around 100 routes when finished. Here too, at an altitude of almost 2000 meters, the panorama is indescribable. More coming soon - you can look forward to a new climbers' paradise in the Tiroler Zugspitz Arena.
Family & Friends: Coburger Hütte and Wiener Neustädter Hütte
The Coburger Hütte in the Tiroler Zugspitz Arena, photo: Coburger Hütte archive
Enjoy a relaxed vacation, have plenty of time for the family, focus on the essentials, be offline and count the flavors rather than the calories of Kaiserschmarren and dumpling soup. Counting cloud sheep, greeting marmot sentinels, learning climbing techniques from the chamois and squealing with delight in the cold water: Welcome to your vacation at the Coburger Hütte. If you want to take it down a notch, put your sleeping bag down in the camp of the Wiener Neustädter Hütte. Both have one thing in common: when the day guests are on their way back down to the valley, peace returns and the real "hut rest" begins. During the day, there are beautiful climbing gardens in the immediate vicinity of the huts with rewarding routes that are also perfect for young climbers and rock novices.
Tip: pack your swimming trunks for the Coburger Hütte. The Drachensee and Seebensee lakes are great for splashing around. Great for little explorers: bring an alpine flower identification book and binoculars.
Twin days: some spend a chilled day around the hut or by the lake, while others go multi-pitch climbing or hiking. In the evening, everyone sits happily together at the hut table and can share their experiences.
Ace of Base: Sport climbing in the valley Hanger and Griesner Wandl
The Griesner Wandl
Two worthwhile destinations in the valley that can be reached in 10 to 15 minutes from the parking lot. The only downside: the road noise from the B23 - the connection between Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Ehrwald - reaches the rocks unfiltered. But apart from that, the climbing is great, with the Griesner Wandl offering the easier routes. However, the climbing garden, which is actually still in Bavarian territory, is not necessarily suitable for families with small children. The narrow ledges at the base of the wall are steep and the path to the wall and back is steep.
The "Hanger" climbing garden just over the border on Tyrolean soil, where climbing foxes were already tackling the difficult routes with stepladders in the 1970s, is much friendlier in terms of access and stay at the base of the wall. The rock bar is impressive and offers some pumpy lines.
Everything but climbing Standing on Germany's highest peak for once
The Tiroler Zugspitz Arena is predestined for a ride on the Zugspitzbahn to the summit. The panoramic cable car offers space for 100 guests per ride in the large cabin and takes you directly to the summit at a breathtaking height and against a fantastic backdrop. The lofty ride takes 10 minutes and covers an altitude difference of over 1700 meters.
Tip: In the fall, there are sunrise rides with breakfast in the Panorama Restaurant.
SUPing on the Eibsee
The Eibsee with its 8 islands is a real mountain lake beauty - ideal for a day of climbing, lazing around, swimming, boating, exploring the islands or for a round of stand-up paddling.
More information at www.eibsee.de/bootsverleih/.
Another stand-up board rental station is located at Lake Heiterwanger See.
Otherwise, the many alpine huts tempt you to stop for a bite to eat. Active recreation-seeking climbers get on their bikes and explore the tour on foot or lace up their mountain boots and explore the region on foot.
Tour suggestions for bikers and hikers at www.zugspitzarena.com.
In brief Where to stay Camping de Luxe at the Zugspitz Resort
The campsite offers comfort and de luxe pitches. Families also benefit from the childcare programs, children's club and much more.
More information at www.zugspitz-resort.at.
Coburger Hütte
Alpine club hut of the Coburg section at an altitude of 1920 meters. Picturesquely situated on the Seebensee. Drachensee lake just a stone's throw away.
Information at www.coburgerhuette.at.
Wiener Neustädter Hütte
Very simple Wiener Neustädter Hütte of the Austrian Tourist Club, reduced to the essentials.
On the edge of the Schneekar, in the west face of the Zugspitze. A total of 25 beds and a dry toilet turn the romance of the hut into an adventure, just like in the old days.
Accommodation in the valley, from guesthouses to apartments and hotels, can be found at www.zugspitzarena.com.
How to get there By train
Arrive perfectly by train to Ehrwald station and from there travel by bus free of charge throughout the region in summer with a valid guest card or valid Tiroler Zugspitz Arena Z-Ticket.
More information at www.zugspitzarena.com.
By car
Toll-free via Garmisch-Partenkirchen or Füssen.
Total areas
7 sport climbing gardens, 7 multi-pitch areas, 4 via ferratas, 1 climbing park, 1 climbing hall, 7 ice climbing routes
Best time of year
Depending on snow conditions and plans between April/May/June and October/November/December
Family friendliness
The Tiroler Zugspitz Arena is ideal for mountain-loving families. The Ehrwalder Alm plateau is ideal for the little ones. From handcarts to Kraxe - anything goes here, and it goes well. There is plenty to see in summer: the sometimes curious, sometimes shy cattle graze on the alpine pastures. Haflinger horses also head up to the heights for a summer retreat. Natural swimming lakes and outdoor pools are just as attractive as a trip to Germany's highest peak: the Zugspitze.
