Two hiker are on a mountain ridge near Munich.

Spot on spring: Going for a hike after work

For latecomer lovers of the mountains

Getting out into nature quickly: this is not a problem in Munich even if it is already the afternoon. The last light of the day can always be enjoyed. Five five hiking tours for late risers and after-work athletes.

The sundown tour

The Jochberg mountain (1565 m) is popular as a “hangover” mountain: It enables Munich citizens who have had one too many the previous evening and therefore find it difficult to get out of bed the next day to still enjoy a hike. But the tour on the Jochberg is also suitable for those who want a sober excursion after work – there is hardly a summit in the alpine uplands that can be reached more quickly from Munich (drive approx. one hour). The benefit for those wanting to hike later on in the day: With a bit of luck, after 5 pm you will have the whole view to yourself. Lake Walchensee lies below, opposite is the Herzogstand mountain, with the red sun setting below it. Breathe out. Breathe in. If you are descending the mountain in the dark however, you should always have – as always on the mountains – headlamps with you, otherwise it will become too dangerous.

 

The facts: Ascent 1.5 to 2 hours, 750 metres of altitude difference; descent 1 to 1.5 hours.

How to get there: Take the A 95 to Kochel, continue along the Kesselbergstrasse in the direction of Lake Walchensee. Car park on Kesselbergstrasse 7.

The quick tour

Sometimes the good stuff is so much closer than you think, on the Neureuth mountain (1261 m), for example. The tour from the railway station in Tegernsee up to the mountain is comparably short – and therefore suitable for all walkers who just want to stretch their legs after work has finished. Depending on taste and skill, the ascent runs either over the well-developed Forststrasse or the steep track. Attractions at the top are the Neureuth mountain inn and a wonderful view of Tegernsee (lake). People standing here and admiring the view for the first time are usually completely blown away about just how little effort it took to get such a profound sense of Alpine spirit back.

 

The facts: Ascent approx. 1 hour, 400 metres difference in altitude; descent approx. 40 minutes.

How to get there: Take the A 8 to Holzkirchen and continue on to Tegernsee. Alternatively take the BOB (Bavarian Uplands Railway) as far as Tegernsee railway station. Behind the railway station, follow Neureutherstrasse as far as the Wanderparkplatz (hikers' car park).

Video: Lakes & Mountains

 

The multi-faceted tour

The Laber. 1686 metres high and with a name, which on first acquaintance, does not sound so quiet. However, if you are on the mountain a little later on in the day, you have a good chance of experiencing tranquil moments in nature. At the Laberhaus (laber house) you can experience the panorama, in the east the Loisachtal valley begins, in the west lies the Ammertal valley, and in the south, the Ammergauer Alps tower up into the sky. Depending on the time, you can now continue walking on to the Ettaler Mandl and Lake Soilasee. The via ferrata that takes you up there is not difficult but nevertheless is recommended only for experienced walkers. The greatest advantage of the Laber for late-in-the-day leisure walkers lies, however, in the mountain railway: its last trip down the mountain doesn’t leave until between 4.30 pm and 5 pm. So you do not need to worry whether you still have enough time for the return journey – instead of walking back down, you can make the descent in a relaxed, comfortable way on the train.

 

The facts: Ascent approx. 2.5 hours, 800 metres difference in altitude; descent approx. 1.5 hours.

How to get there: Take the A 95 and the Sindelsdorf exit. Continue over Murnau to Oberammergau. Parking spaces at the Laberbahn railway. More informations: www.laber-bergbahn.de

The three summit tour

Why only bag one mountain summit, when you can enjoy all three? The Heiglkopf (1218 m), the Blomberg (1248 m) and the Zwiesel (1348 m) all lie close to each other – and not far from Munich. From the Heiglkopf mountain, you have a beautiful rear view of the town, and from the Zwiesel you can look straight into the Alps. In between, a break on the sun terrace of the Blomberg house is ideal. Although not an insider tip, the sun terrace is blessed with an insanely beautiful outlook. The disadvantage: if you really want to conquer all three summits, you don't want to be doing this too late in the day – so it is better to end your working day in the office at midday. The advantage: If you are, however, attempting a climb once again later on in the day, you can also shorten the tour. The Blombergbahn railway will take you up the Blomberg mountain; to ascend the Zwiesel, you will then need approx. 30 minutes more. The entire route is a circular route and generally well-developed. At a number of places, particularly on the Zwiesel, the ascent and the descent can be difficult and slippery if the ground is wet.

 

The facts: Entire tour approx. 4 hours, 720 metres of altitude difference.

The journey: Take the A 8 as far as Holzkirchen to Bad Tölz, continue in the direction of Bad Heilbrunn. After the Isarbrücke bridge, continue in the direction of Wackersberg. Park at Lehen beside the Waldherralm hiking car park and follow the signs in the direction of Heiglkopf

The cycling tour

So who says that people who like to take exercise later on in the day always have to walk? Even many Munich residents forget that, in addition to the river Isar, there is a river in the city which is just as beautiful: the Würm. If you want to explore the river and the associated Würmtal valley, your best bet is to snap up a bike and follow the shore from Pasing over Gräfelfing and Gauting as far as Starnberg. On the way there are facilities for breaks and culture: historians marvel at old mill wheels and explore the Villa Rustica and the ruins of a Roman estate; comedians visit the Planegg cemetery where the great popular cabaret artist Karl Valentin lies buried; Natural history enthusiasts make a detour into the Leutstettener Moos nature reserve or dip their toes in Starnberger See (lake). A particularly pleasant perk: as soon as it is dark, you can get on the S-Bahn (suburban train) in Starnberg and be transported home in comfort.

The facts: In total approx. 26 km, 150 metres of altitude difference.

The journey: From the station square in Pasing to the Stadtpark (city park). Cross the Lindau motorway at the bridge. In Gräfelfing, follow the Würm-, Stefanus- und Steinkirchner Strasse as far as Planegg. Drive past Schloss Planegg (Planegg castle) via Krailling and Stockdorf to Gauting. Behind Wendeplatz Square at the old mill at the Lederersteg bridge, a wooden bridge takes you across the river Würm. Via the Pfarrweg, Münchner- and Leutstettener Strasse, leave Gauting in the direction of Forsthaus Mühltal (Mühltal valley forester’s lodge). After Leutstetten and the castle beer garden, follow the Schotterweg path, a turnoff points you to the Villa Rustica. The route through the Leutstettener Moos nature reserve runs partly over wooden planks. At Heimatshausen, you follow the route parallel to the motorway and the federal main road as far as Starnberg.

 

 

Text: Nansen & Piccard; Photos: Frank Stolle; Tobias Schnorrpfeil; Video: Tobias Schnorpfeil
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Two hiker are on a mountain ridge near Munich.

For latecomer lovers of the mountains

After-work hiking

Getting out into nature quickly: no problem in Munich, even in the afternoon. Five hiking tours for late risers and after-work athletes.

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