Höllentalklamm

The Hammersbach cuts a gorge about a kilometre long and up to a hundred and fifty metres deep on the flank of the Zugspitze massif. A path was blasted through it from 1902, running on galleries pinned to the wall and through short tunnels, with the torrent below and meltwater falling across the route, so walkers get wet regardless of weather. It is the start of the Höllental route to the Zugspitze summit, one of the classic ways up. The gorge closes for winter and does not reopen until the snow and ice above have cleared and rockfall has been checked.

What you actually see

• The blasted galleries - a path pinned to the wall and cut through tunnels.
• The falling water - meltwater crossing the route from above.
• The gorge depth - walls up to about 150 metres over a narrow floor.
• The Zugspitze route - the start of the Höllental ascent to the summit.

When to go

June to October; the gorge is closed through winter and spring and its opening date shifts each year with snowmelt and rockfall clearance. Check before travelling.

Honest expectations

The walk up from the valley to the entrance takes about an hour before the gorge itself. You will get wet. Opening dates vary and closures happen after storms.

Nearby

The Eibsee lies west; Garmisch-Partenkirchen is below.