Towering over the village of Oberammergau is the Kofel, a Matterhorn-shaped mountain with an elevation of 1,342 meters (4,400 feet). The name Kofel means “cone-shaped mountain” in Celtic, and so hints at the different peoples who once passed through this mountainous part of Germany.
The Bavarians we’ve met in this picturesque town are well-versed in the art of hiking (known as das Wandern in German). As a result, they’re able to call off the names of these mountain peaks with the same sort of ease with which they ascend them. Coming from the Midwestern United States where hikes are typically through flat terrain, and well aware of my distaste for heights, I wasn’t sure I’d have the fortitude to reach the Kofel’s summit.
When I first came to Oberammergau and spotted the Kofel dominating the town’s landscape, I questioned if the mountain could easily be hiked. Many Oberammergau residents told us that it was “easy.” Some even mentioned that they’d taken their children along for the hike. These comments gave me some encouragement, despite the Kofel appearing to have sheer faces.
On an early summer morning, my parents, Shawn, and I set off to tackle the Kofel. Our hike would take us past a religious shrine carved into rock, then through a lush forested area where we met two hikers sporting Lederhosen. My mom and I grew intimidated when we encountered a scree field, which had to be crossed if we were to make it to the summit. Banishing all thoughts that doing so might start an avalanche, we eventually made it.
Another leg of the path wove past rock walls on which hikers had scribbled their names and the year of their ascent. With some entries dating back to the 1930s, we pondered what became of those individuals during World War II.
Eventually, nature’s canopy gave way to an unobscured view of a pristine blue sky. Here, we knew we’d made it to the leg that locals describe as being the most challenging. This part of the mountain was exposed. It had fixed metal cables attached to the rock face on which hikers could hold. We met a pair of women who said they were afraid to go further. We also encountered a man in his 70s who had just completed his third climb of the mountain. We even saw hikers accompanied by their large fluffy dog. The animal ran down the trail with ease.
As we tackled the final leg of the Kofel, which is largely devoid of vegetation, we knew that we’d reached the top when we glimpsed the wooden cross on the summit. The views of the Ammergau Valley, neighboring mountain peaks, and a dollhouse-sized version of Oberammergau made the hike well worth it.
Later, we learned that we’d forgotten to sign the guest book at the top of the Kofel, a practice that’s customary in the Bavarian hiking world. Perhaps that means a second ascent is in the cards for us soon.
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How difficult is the Kofel hike? How long does it take?
The overall elevation gain is about 505 meters (1657 feet). The Kofel’s elevation is 1,342 meters (4403 feet), and Oberammergau sits at an elevation of 837 meters (2746 feet).
If you are active, this hike is somewhat easy. However, there are a few sections that you might find difficult if you’re scared of heights. The first part of the climb takes you through a lovely forested area.
About half-way to the summit, you’ll encounter a scree field, which some might find disconcerting.
The last segment of the hike involves ascending the exposed section of the mountain. There are fixed metal cables (Klettersteige / via Ferrata) here to which you can hold on. Those with a fear of heights — something I’m not fond of — might find this leg of the hike challenging. At the time of our climb, one or two small sections of the cables had become dislodged from the rock, making it possible to get startled or off-balance. I’m sure they’ve long ago been fixed.
There are several routes that you can take to get to the Kofel’s summit. We started at the Döttenbichl parking lot, near the Oberammergau Cemetery and then crossed the Kälberplatte meadow. This more direct route generally takes approximately 1.5 hours, but it took us a bit longer since we stopped to take breaks and photographs, and to mingle with other hikers.
To return to Oberammergau, we hiked via a different path known as the Königssteig (King’s Trail). The return journey was considerably longer — approximately 2.5 to 3 hours.
As you would when going hiking in any unfamiliar area, be sure to exercise caution. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon to hear emergency rescue helicopters and personnel attending to injured hikers in Oberammergau.
- For more Kofel hiking resources see: Summit Post & Hike & Bike.
- Also, take a peek at this stunning panorama shot, which shows the Kofel and neighboring peaks at sunrise.
What should you pack for your Kofel hike?
There are no drinking fountains or vendors along the route. Even though Shawn and I had packed a few liters of water, we’d exhausted our supply by the time it came time to descend. On the way back down to Oberammergau, we stopped at the Kolbenalm, a family-owned restaurant, for cold, bubbly water.
Here’s what I recommend packing:
- a sufficient amount of water
- snacks
- trekking poles (We didn’t have any during our Kofel hike. However, we have since used them for subsequent hikes in Croatia and Montenegro, and found them to be helpful for balance and alleviating impact on our knees.)
- layered clothing. The day started out cool, so we were happy we had a bit of outerwear for the shaded climb up. However, as we kept working our way up into the sunshine, it was nice being able to take off a layer.
- sun protection: sunglasses, sunblock and hat.
- tick protection (Lyme Disease is present in Germany, with most cases being reported in the south of the country — in particular Bavaria. Note that Oberammergau is in Bavaria.)
- camera — the views are extraordinary!
Accommodation in Oberammergau
Here are accommodation options in Oberammergau, organized by theme.
Looking for more Oberammergau trip-planning inspiration?
See my comprehensive guide to Oberammergau, which covers everything from museums and more hikes to festivals and supermarkets.
Photography & text © Tricia A. Mitchell. All Rights Reserved.
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