Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Hiking and Walking

There are innumerable spectacular walks on 300 km (186 mi) of marked trails through the lower slopes' pinewoods and upland meadows. If you have the time and good walking shoes, try one of the two trails that lead to striking gorges (called Klammen).

Deutscher Alpenverein. Deutscher Alpenverein Von-Kahr-Str. 2-4, Munich, 80997. 089/140-030. www.alpenverein.de.

Höllentalklamm. The Höllentalklamm route starts at the in town and ends at the mountaintop (you'll want to turn back before reaching the summit unless you have mountaineering experience).

Partnachklamm. The Partnachklamm route is quite challenging, and takes you through a spectacular, tunneled water gorge (entrance fee), past a pretty little mountain lake, and far up the Zugspitze; to do all of it, you'll have to stay overnight in one of the huts along the way. Ride part of the way up in the Eckbauer cable car (€9 one-way, €12 round-trip), which sets out from the Skistadion off Mittenwalderstrasse. The older, more scenic, Graseckbahn takes you right over the dramatic gorges (€43.50 one-way, €6 round-trip). There's a handy inn at the top, where you can gather strength for the hour-long walk back down to the Graseckbahn station.

Lohnkutschevereinigung. Horse-drawn carriages also cover the first section of the route in summer; in winter you can skim along it in a sleigh. The carriages wait near the Skistadion. Or you can call the local coaching society, the Lohnkutschevereinigung, for information. 08821/942-920.

More Sports and Outdoors

• Hiking and Walking

• Skiing and Snowboarding