A hike up the Wank (1,780 m, approx. 5 hours, approx. 12 km), the local mountain of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. From the Wank you have a truly outstanding view of the Zugspitze massif opposite, which you unfortunately have to share with a lot of “cable car tourists”!
We chose this hike after reading that the Wank, the declared local mountain of the people of Partenkirchen, gets sun all day long. Unfortunately, that didn’t work out at all – it was overcast the whole day!
We started at the car park at the valley station of the Wankbahn cable car. On a wide path we climbed steadily, at first following the line of the cable car and passing a rope course. Up to the Eckenhütte and on, past the middle station of the cable car.
Unfortunately, the well-built path is quite heavily used by the many tourists who walk down the mountain from the cable car station or just walk the section to the middle station.
We continued briskly uphill to the summit cross of the Wank. Once at the top, you share the view of the Zugspitze massif, which looks particularly impressive from here, with a large number of tourists who have “stormed” the summit of the Wank by cable car.
The direct route from the Ameisenberg, which is not signposted, offers a quieter descent, as it is definitely not used often by tourists. The path, criss-crossed by many roots and rocks, is narrow, varied and quite steep. Trekking poles are recommended, as is a certain sure-footedness. There is, however, no serious risk of falling on this densely overgrown mountainside. Especially in damp weather, though, the path is extremely slippery.
The last section takes you back on a wide and, unfortunately, once again busy path. Past the rope course and along the cable car to the valley station and our starting point, the car park at the Wankbahn.
Details
- Distance: approx. 12 km (there and back)
- Start: Car park at the Wankbahn in Garmisch-Partenkirchen
- Duration: approx. 5 hrs (3.0 hrs ascent, approx. 2.0 hrs descent)
- Stamina: low to medium
- Difficulty: low to medium
- Hazard potential: low
- Ascent/descent: approx. 1,050 metres of elevation
- Special notes: The descent from the Ameisenberg is very slippery in the forest when wet
- Tip: Start early – the trail is very popular, especially at weekends.
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