Gravel biking with views of the Zugspitze: 300 kilometres of gravel riding south of Munich

Here’s the scoop: if you’re planning a trip to the Oktoberfest this year, it’s well worth packing your gravel bike as well as your dirndl and Lederhosen. Spanning the border, Pfaffenwinkel and the neighbouring Zugspitze region have mapped out a new gravel cycle route that takes in many of the scenic gems of the Bavarian Oberland. These include the Murnauer Moos, the Karwendel valleys, the Ammergau Alps – including Linderhof Palace and the idyllic Ammer Valley – Elmaugries, Lake Starnberg, the Hoher Peißenberg and a number of crystal-clear lakes perfect for swimming.

Drift along the Ammer towards the Zugspitze

“Gravel biking with views of the Zugspitze” is the name of the joint project, which was supported by the EU as part of the LEADER funding programme. The full circuit, totalling 300 kilometres and 3,055 metres of elevation gain, is designed as a 5-day tour. However, it can also be split into a three-day northern loop (stages 1–3) and a three-day southern loop (stages 4–6). Thanks to good rail links, it is even possible to undertake six separate day trips:

The 6 stages of the new “Gravel Cycling with Views of the Zugspitze”

​1. Weilheim – Schongau: Hoher Peißenberg and the wild Ammer

• Length: 68 kilometres
• Ascent: 880 metres in altitude

Along varied gravel tracks through the Pfaffenwinkel: This stage starts at Weilheim i. O. railway station and follows an idyllic route northwards along the River Ammer to the Raisting earth station. From here, the route heads south again, passing through Wessobrunn and Zellsee before climbing up to the Hohenpeißenberg 360-degree viewing platform. It then continues along the Ammer, which winds its way through increasingly picturesque countryside, to Schongau.

2. Schongau – Murnau: Between the Lech and Murnauer Moos

• Length: 70 kilometres
• Ascent: 570 metres in altitude

From Schongau, following the River Lech past its barrages to Steingaden. Via the historic “Königssträßle” – a road once built for King Ludwig II as a fast route between his castles at Linderhof and Neuschwanstein – the route winds through the rolling hills of the Bavarian Pre-Alps to Bad Kohlgrub. From there, a seemingly endless descent through the woods leads to the little natural wonder that is Murnauer Moos, the largest contiguous moorland area in Central Europe.

3. Murnau – Weilheim: Riegsee and Kochelsee

• Length: 46 kilometres
• Uphill: 260 metres of elevation gain

The route includes a few short, technically challenging sections with roots and coarser gravel: from Murnau, the route takes you past Lake Riegsee before you ride along gravel tracks through dense forests, across wide meadows and past a small moor. With fantastic views of Lake Kochel and mostly downhill, you finally approach Weilheim. This is also where the three-day ‘Nordschleife’ route through the Pfaffenwinkel ends.

4. Schongau – Oberammergau: the Lech and the Ammer Mountains

• Length: 56 kilometres
• Uphill: 500 metres in altitude

The three-day southern loop winds its way into the mountain world of the Wetterstein and Karwendel ranges: from Schongau, the route follows the banks of the Lech and takes the historic Königssträßle to Steingaden. It then passes through the idyllic Ammer Valley and Pulvermoos on its way to Oberammergau. A lovely stage featuring forests, meadows and plenty of water, with constant views of the Ammer Mountains.

5. Oberammergau – Mittenwald: At the foot of the Zugspitze

• Length: 65 kilometres
• Ascent: 920 metres in altitude

The queen stage starts in Oberammergau and leads across the Ettaler Weidmoos, past Linderhof Palace and through the unspoilt landscape of the Elmaugries via Grainau to Garmisch-Partenkirchen. From there, the route climbs steadily once more, past Lake Ferchen and Lake Lautersee, all the way to Mittenwald. All the while, you’ll be heading towards the rock faces of the Wetterstein and Karwendel mountains, which rise ever more impressively into the sky.

6. Mittenwald – Murnau: Schmalensee, Barmsee & Loisach

• Length: 65 kilometres
• Uphill: 480 metres of elevation gain

Today’s route is mostly downhill. Gravel and forest paths lead past the two exceptionally beautiful lakes, Schmalensee and Barmsee, to Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Later, you follow the River Loisach into the Murnauer Moos. From there, it is not far to the shores of Lake Staffelsee, where this stage – and indeed the three-day ‘Zugspitzregion’ southern loop – ends in Murnau.

The ‘Gravel Cycling with Views of the Zugspitze’ tour

• Length: 299.92 kilometres
• 3,055 metres of elevation gain
• 5 stages
• Information and GPS coordinates: zugspitz-region.de