Kofel Loop Walk

Start

Oberammergau train station

Ziel

Oberammergau train station

Weg

0.00km With Oberammergau train station behind you, the supermarket on your right and the town on your left, start walking LEFT towards the town. Be aware of the traffic when crossing the intersecting road. Continue on the pavement next to the road, pass the hotel on your left and continue STRAIGHT AHEAD towards the bridge and the Ammer river.

0.10km TURN RIGHT across the road and follow the gravel stone path, taking care when crossing the road. Follow the white sign for Kofel and keep to the right of the river on the trail (Reisachweg). Do not cross the bridge.

0.40km Follow the path STRAIGHT AHEAD and ignore any side paths leading off it.

0.85km The path now meets a pavement, TURN LEFT here and cross the intersecting road a few metres in front of you. Continue STRAIGHT AHEAD on the bike and pedestrian path that runs parallel to Malensteinstraße. Do not turn onto the road that leads from the bridge.

1.20km Continue STRAIGHT AHEAD on the path with the river on your left and the road on your right.

1.30km Walk under the bridge and then take the LEFT after the bridge along the gravel stone path, walking STRAIGHT AHEAD alongside the river.

1.50km Continue following the path STRAIGHT AHEAD parallel to the road.

1.70km TURN RIGHT and walk over the grassy path, taking care when crossing the road ahead of you, continuing STRAIGHT AHEAD towards the wooden cabin, which is just a few metres in front of you. Take the paved road uphill, following the signs that say Landschaftsschutzgebiet [Conservation Area] and Kofel.

1.80km Once you’ve reached the top, you’ll see a wooden shelter to your left and an iron gate in front of you. Follow the sign towards Kofel and continue STRAIGHT AHEAD through the gate, keeping RIGHT on the meadow path leading uphill towards Kofel (mountain). You’ll find yourself in a cow pasture, so please keep your distance from the animals.

1.90km Continue following the meadow path uphill.

2.10km You’ll reach a wooden bench. Walk LEFT past the bench and follow the path uphill. The path will lead you onto some stair-like steps and then in a zig-zag motion further up the mountain. From time to time, you’ll have the opportunity to go directly uphill on straighter paths, but please ignore these short-cuts and stay on the designated path.

2.60km Continue following the path RIGHT and upwards, keeping to the arrow markers on the rocky ledge.

2.70km Now the path follows a short, very steep section over some rocks. Take care to support yourself using your hands. The path leads to the LEFT and across the mountain towards the forest. Once you’re in the forest, continue STRAIGHT AHEAD and follow the direction of the path. Please do not climb uphill over the rocks.

3.00km On your right-hand side, you’ll see a rock face. Keep to the path at this point.

3.10km Once at the top, the path meets a sort of T-junction. TURN LEFT here past the wooden shelter (on your right-hand side) and follow the signs towards Pürschling and Kolbensattelhütte Lodge. Follow the path for 2.2km where, at irregular intervals, you’ll see red markings on some of the trees to guide you.

For experienced and confident climbers:

--- By turning right at the T-junction instead and following the sign towards Kofel, you can make a detour here to the summit of Kofel (1,342m). Getting there and back takes around 40 minutes and involves following a rope-supported section. Please return to the last-mentioned waypoint after your detour to the summit and continue following the directions. ---

5.30km TURN LEFT and walk uphill. Continue following the sign for Pürschling/Kolbensattelhütte Lodge. Do not walk straight down to the rain shelter.

Continue along the path and take the wooden steps further uphill. At the fork in the path, take the lower path on your right-hand side, then continue following the signs for Pürschling/Kolbensattelhütte Lodge and walk STRAIGHT AHEAD. Do not take the path to your left towards Zahn and Sonnenspitz.

Possible short-cuts

6.00km Here, you have the option to take a detour to Kolbensattelhütte Lodge to stop for a rest. If you’ve hiked enough for today, you can also shorten your walk by taking the cable car back down into the valley.

If you want to continue hiking after your rest at the lodge, or you didn’t need a break at all, continue LEFT up the path, following the Unterammergau sign. After just a few metres, you’ll come to a wooden gate. Walk STRAIGHT AHEAD and follow the path for 1.3km through the forest. At irregular intervals, once again, you’ll see markers on the trees (white squares with blue triangles).

7.30km You’ll come to another wooden gate. Walk straight through it and continue STRAIGHT AHEAD.

8.00km Here, the path meets a wider gravel path. TURN RIGHT and walk downhill. The path leads you through some more cow pastures. Do not go uphill on the path towards August Schuster-Haus and Pürschling.

8.40km On your left-hand side, you’ll see a small chapel. Continue downhill along the path.

8.60km Continue STRAIGHT AHEAD and ignore any paths leading off to the side.

9.00km TURN RIGHT at the end of the path and follow the Unterammergau sign.

 9.10km Here, you’ll come to an iron gate. Go through it and follow the path STRAIGHT AHEAD. Please make sure to close the gate behind you.

9.20km Now, you’ll find three paths ahead of you. Take the middle path through the wooden gate and follow the Unterammergau sign with the number 3 on it. Please don’t worry about the electric fence, you can continue through the wooden gate without being shocked. Please do not follow the path leading up to your left, which is also signposted for Unterammergau.

9.70km Continue STRAIGHT AHEAD downhill and ignore any paths leading off to the side. Here, on your left, you’ll come to a rock face with a statue of Christ above it.

9.80km Continue STRAIGHT AHEAD through the iron gate and follow the path with the stream on your right-hand side. A few metres on, you’ll go over a type of wooden bridge and then downhill, with the stream now on your left-hand side.

10.20km TURN RIGHT at the end of the path and continue STRAIGHT AHEAD on the downhill path. Ignore any paths or bridges leading off to the side.

10.80km Follow the path as it continues to the RIGHT around the mountain and downhill. Be aware of any traffic you might come across.

11.40km Continue STRAIGHT AHEAD. On your left, you’ll see the Schleifmühlkapelle chapel.

11.50km Continue STRAIGHT AHEAD and leave the car park on your right. Follow the paved road and ignore any side streets. Warning: please be aware of traffic.

11.80km On your right you’ll walk past a cemetery. Continue STRAIGHT AHEAD here and stay on the mountain trail following the road.

12.40km Continue STRAIGHT AHEAD on Pürschlingstraße.

12.50km TURN RIGHT at house number 9 on Pürschlingstraße onto the cobbled street and follow the sign for Tourist Info.

12.60km Continue STRAIGHT AHEAD and take care when crossing the road onto Klammweg. Continue STRAIGHT AHEAD onto Dorfstraße and follow the signs for the Ettal cycle trail and Oberammergau.

Possible short-cuts

12.70km If you’d like to shorten your hike, you can continue by bus from here onwards through Oberammergau to the train station. Alight at the ‘Rathaus’ bus stop. Otherwise, continue STRAIGHT AHEAD.

12.80km Cross Pfarrgasse carefully and continue STRAIGHT AHEAD. Ignore any roads leading off to the side.

13.10km Cross Obere Dorftsraße carefully and continue STRAIGHT AHEAD.

13.20km Cross Liftweg carefully and continue STRAIGHT AHEAD, following the Oberammergau sign.

13.30km KEEP RIGHT and walk along the bike and pedestrian path (paved route) parallel to the main road, continuing STRAIGHT AHEAD towards Oberammergau.

13.90km Continue STRAIGHT AHEAD on the path, following the Oberammergau sign.

15.20km TURN LEFT and walk on the pavement under the bridge. Please be aware of any traffic. Follow the sign for the Ettal and Oberammergau bike trail.

(If you shortened your hike with the Kolbensattelbahn (train), you can re-join the route here).

15.30km TURN RIGHT at the T-junction and follow the Oberammergau sign.

15.40km Walk over the bridge and follow the road STRAIGHT AHEAD while keeping to the pavement. Follow the path for around 500 metres and be careful when crossing any side roads, which you can otherwise ignore.

15.90km On your left-hand side, you’ll see Oberammergau train station. Cross the road leading off to your LEFT towards the station very carefully, where you’ll reach your destination.

If you decided to shorten your hike by taking the bus, you’ll also be dropped off here at the station.