Austria, Tyrol, Ehrwald:
difficult hiking tour to Coburger Hütte (1917 m) and Sonnenspitze (2417 m)
Arriving from Garmisch Partenkirchen, you won’t get around spotting a very beautiful and unique, rocky peak. Sonnenspitze – happy to finally meet you! Located on the western end of “Mieminger Kette” mountain range, it is directly facing Germany’s highest mountain, the Zugspitze.
If you are very fit and a mountaineer with alpine experience this is an amazing hike to go on! Beginners will want to gather more experience before going on this adventure.
Valley station Ehrwalder cable car (1108m) – Seebensee (1657m, 1.30 h) – Coburger Hütte (1917m, 2.00 h) – Ehrwalder Sonnenspitze (2417m, 4 h) – descent northwards to Seebensee (1657m, 6 h) – Valley station Ehrwalder cable car (1108m, 7.30 h)
Level of difficulty: difficult. Climbing passages UIAA I +II. Alpine experience, surefootedness and head for heights absolutely required.
Length: 7,5 hours (if you take the cable car you can save energy but not much time)
Fitness level: high
Altitude difference: 1300 m
Equipment: hiking gear + helmet
View: outstanding
Tour: trip around Sonnenspitze is possible
Map: Kompass no. 25
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How to get there
Address for GPS: Doktor-Ludwig-Ganghofer-Straße 66, A-6632 Ehrwald
From München on A95 towards Garmisch-Partenkirchen, then direction “Füssen/Reutte”. Drive to “Ehrwald”. In Ehrwald follow the signs direction “Ehrwalder Almbahn” and park your car on the parking lot of the cable car area. Parking is free here.
Preparation
Start early (6 – 7 a.m.) as it is a long hike and thunderstorms are likely to show up in the late afternoon during summertime.
Make sure you take enough food and water.
You will find two opportunities to buy food and drinks: Coburger Hütte (1917m | open June until beginning of October | Tel.: +43 664 3254714) and another, smaller hut on your way to Coburger Hütte. Most importantly, you will want to wear proper hiking shoes and a helmet for the climbing part onto Sonnenspitze. A ferrata set is not needed as there are no cables.
Also, bring sunscreen as you will be exposed to the sun most of the time.
Ascent
At the cable car “Ehrwalder Bergbahn” stick to the right side and follow the signs to “Hoher Gang” trail. Initially you walk next to the river Geißbach through the forest. You cross the river and keep following the signs to “Hoher Gang”. After a while, the trail becomes steep and some passages are backed with a cable. After approximately 1,5 hours you will reach the end of the steep path. Soon you will reach beautiful, crystal clear Seebensee. Take off your shoes and enjoy a walk in the very cold and refreshing water.
Lake Seebensee
You continue and walk around the lake on the eastern side to your left. Steep serpentines will lead you towards Coburger hut. Take a short break and enjoy incredible views on the terrace. You can spot climbers who take the difficult via ferrata onto Tajakante and watch the sparkling, turquoise water of Lake Drachensee.
From there, continue westwards direction “Biberwierer Scharte”. Make sure you stick to the path on the right side, do not follow the signs leading to Drachenkopf. After about 20 minutes you will reach the foot of Sonnenspitze. Put on your helmet! As from here, the climbing begins until you reach the peak 1,5 – 2 hours later.
The climbing passage I+II
You will have to use your hands here and concentrate as the trail markings aren’t always clearly visible. Shortly before you reach the peak there is one exposed passage that requires a high immunity to high altitudes.
Finally, a spectacular panorama view is waiting for you and compensates for all labors!
Lake Seebensee | View from Coburger Hütte
Descent
For a round trip take the easier path to the north right next to the summit cross. Surefootedness is a must but less climbing is required here. The trail becomes easier the further you go. After about 2 hours you will be back at Seebensee. You can take the same path via “Hoher Gang” or you can walk quite evenly to Ehrwalder Almbahn and take the cable car to go easy on your knees.