Several hiking trails lead to the highest peak in Germany – Zugspitze 2,962 m. But not one of them would be covered by the average tourist in one day, i.e. without an overnight stay on the way or at the top, or without the help of a cable car on the way down. In addition, most of the routes are also technically demanding. However, one can be completed even by tourists with average fitness and no climbing skills. This route leads from the Austrian side, from the village of Ehrwald, it is called Gatterl. In addition, the Austrian side offers a ticket called the Wanderticket Gatterl, which is unique from a certain point of view. Its price includes the first smaller cable car Ehrwalder Almbahn, followed by the ascent on your own. The ascent takes at least 6 hours, overcomes a total elevation of 1,400 m, and measures approx. 11 km. After completing this part on your own, it is possible to use the last small glacier cable car, which will take the ticket holder up the last, very difficult section, which leads steeply up the rubbles to the Zugspitze. The ticket price also includes a trip down the Tiroler Zugspitzbahn cable car to the Austrian side, as well as a bus ride to the starting point – to the Ehrwalder Almbahn cable car. The price also includes visiting the “Faszination Zugspitze” museum located on top of the peak.
We completed this entire Gatterl route with a Wanderticket. It was a challenging ascent, especially considering the shorter days and the associated limited cable car rides. Also with zero possibilities of spending the night on the road or at the very top /mountain huts were already closed for the winter in October/. Well, we made it, albeit with a few minutes to spare (but we didn’t make it to the museum).
Everything is listed here: https://www.almbahn.at/en/prices-times/prices-in-summer/single-rides/.
The trail map of Gatterl hike:
