Best Hikes In Germany (Castles And Gorges Galore)

With the Alps, more than 20,000 castles and an abundance of natural beauty, Germany has something to offer to everyone. Views of the Rhine River are a norm on most hiking trails, as are ancient ruins and even full-sized fortresses that still stand tall today.

Whether you’re looking for an easy trail that will take you to a popular historic site, or a true 15-day backpacking adventure that covers all of above sights, we have something for you! This guide to the best hikes in Germany won’t leave anyone disappointed, since it only covers the best of what this enchanting country has to offer.

Tips For Hiking In Germany

One of the things you should be aware of is that German hunters work together with the farmers to ensure that there’s no overpopulation of animals that could damage the crops. They mostly hunt in the winter – the cold season isn’t as popular with hikers, but you should be pretty careful if you decided to visit Germany when there’s snow on the ground. If you see lots of green SUVs nearby, it would be best to choose a different hike for that particular day.

Also, German farmers usually drive tractors pretty fast down the hiking trails, so keep an ear out for that. You’ll be able to hear them approaching from a mile away – stay off the road and make sure that your kids or pets do the same.

Forests in Germany often don’t really have good cell reception, so definitely tell people that you’re going on a hike and when you’re supposed to be back. You can also use various different hiking apps that use GPS signals to track your location and can send the coordinates to rescue services with a single tap – the Lifeline option from the AllTrails app is probably the best and most popular one.

Zugspitze über Höllental

Zugspitze is Germany’s highest peak. And Zugspitze über Höllental is a long and strenuous hiking trail located in Garmisch Partenkirchen in the Bavarian Alps. Although it is though, it rewards trekkers with panoramic views. On average it takes about 10 hours to do the out-and-back trail, with stops for the best sights along the way.

The first thing you should stop for is Höllentalklamm, which translated from German literally means flume of hell. If you choose to enter and walk around the structure, it will cost you about 3 Euros per person. The path is secured throughout the flume, and it is perfectly safe for children.

Continue along the trail and eventually you will reach Josefskapelle – a shrine/chapel surrounded by trees, rocks and rushing streams. It’s worth it to stop here and admire the gorgeous nature, and you can even rest for a little while in the mountain hut right next to the chapel.

After that, you will reach the first challenge of the day – a via Ferrata that takes you up Riffel Köpfe. You need technical gear for the climb since the ascent is very steep. After that, the trail continues to reward you with beautiful waterfalls and stunning views of the Zugspitze glacier. Then it’s just one more via Ferrata and a short hike and you’ll be at the top of Zugspitze, the nation’s highest summit!

Feldbergsteig

Felbergsteig is a loop hike that’s rated as one of the best hiking trails in Germany by the German Hiking Institute. That’s because the trail boasts 77 interesting sights along the way, making the total experience value