This lake is considered one of the most beautiful in Upper Bavaria due to its clear water and picturesque scenery. Surrounded by mountains, it is a popular excursion and vacation destination at any time of year. Tourists and locals alike come here for hikes, walks, boat trips, bathing days… and for weddings! Just like the Walchensee or the Hollener See, it is also known as the “Bavarian Caribbean”.
The special location of the lake
The lake is located 1,000 meters above sea level in the Wetterstein mountains, around 3.5 kilometers north of the Zugspitze near the municipality of Grainau. It is made up of two parts, the Untersee and the Weitsee. The Untersee in the north-east is almost completely separated from the Weitsee by a narrow section. The latter forms the main part of the lake.
At its deepest point, the lake is 32.5 meters deep and covers an area of 1.8 square kilometers. If you walk around it, you will cover a distance of 8.8 kilometers. In the past, the lake was surrounded by yew trees, to which the Eibsee owes its name. Today, they can only be found sporadically.
Geological uniqueness
Lake Eibsee was formed at the end of the Würm glacial period, which ended 10,000 years ago. The Isar-Loisach glacier melted and left behind a hollow that filled with water. It was only thousands of years later that a landslide created the eight small islands spread across the north side of the lake. It is rare for islands to be geologically so much younger than the actual lake in which they are located.
On one of the islands, Maximilian Island, there is a wooden log cabin that was used to hold wedding ceremonies until 2015. The local council has since abolished this option, but weddings can still be held at the Eibsee Hotel.
Lake Eibsee is now privately owned, but is freely accessible to the public. In 1884, it was purchased by August Terne for 10,000 gold marks. His sons built the aforementioned Eibsee Hotel. Today, the lake and the hotel still belong to the same family.
Leisure at Lake Eibsee
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzRerlhaHNI
Lake Eibsee offers a wide range of outdoor activities and offers that you can take advantage of. For example, take a walk along the circular path around the lake or go for a swim. You can also try stand-up paddling, hire a boat or take part in the historic boat trip. In winter, you can go snowshoeing or skiing.
The surrounding mountains are perfect for hiking tours. Climb the Höllentalklamm gorge or make your way to the Thörlehütte hut. From here you have a wonderful view over the lake. If you want to go even higher, climb the Zugspitze.