Are you longing for a short trip out of Munich, right into nature? Then the Berchtesgadener Land is a top destination for you, because there’s all sorts of things to see and experience here: Germany’s highest waterfall, the mystical Königssee, or the adventurous salt mine are just a few of the many highlights waiting for you here. But you’ll find not only mountains and bodies of water here, but also valleys and gorges. You definitely shouldn’t miss the Wimbach Valley with the Wimbach Gorge, because on this walk you’ll take a journey through time.
Short distances, long history
The path through the Wimbach Gorge is a quick walk: it takes just 20 minutes to cover the approximately 200 meters. But it’s packed with highlights. Along this short stretch, you’ll journey through about 50 million years of Earth’s history, as revealed by the various rock formations. From the Dach limestone of the Upper Triassic to the red limestones and chert of the Jurassic, the trail takes you on a journey through the Mesozoic Era. Furthermore, the fossils in the rock walls indicate that where the Watzmann rises today, there was once an ocean.
The Wimbach Gorge isn’t just geologically interesting—it’s also a real feast for the eyes. Water cascades and trickles down the moss-covered rock walls, forming small streams and genuine waterfalls. The water rushes past beneath you as you make your way through the Wimbach Gorge on wooden walkways. Even though the gorge is quite short, you can still spend a lot of time here, as there is so much to marvel at and discover.
The Wimbach Gorge: A Natural Spectacle
The Wimbach Gorge is located near Ramsau, at the foot of the Watzmann. If you’d like to experience it for yourself, it’s best to start in Ramsau, as you can only enter the gorge from this side. After you’ve walked through it, you can either return to the starting point via a parallel path or hike deeper into the Wimbach Valley. Be sure to stop by Wimbachschloss, a former hunting lodge that now serves as a restaurant.
Admission to the Wimbachklamm costs €4. There is a ticket machine on site where you can purchase your ticket. From May to October, the gorge is open daily, so you can witness this natural spectacle, either as a stop on a longer hike or as a short detour from Ramsau.
