Leutasch-Klamm Wasserfallsteig

Leutascher Geisterklamm


Useful Information

Location: Schanz in Austria to Mittenwald in Germany.
Munich A95 to Oberau, B2 to Mittenwald, exit Mittenwald south, follow signs to Leutasch.
Innsbruck A12 towards Bregenz, B177 Zirler Berg, exit Mittenwald south, follow signs to Leutasch.
Signposted.
(47.427901, 11.235311)
Open: Wasserfallsteig: MAY to OCT daily 10-17.
Klammgeistweg: MAY to first snow daily no restrictions.
Koboldpfad: MAY to first snow daily no restrictions.
[2022]
Fee: Wasserfallsteig: Adults EUR 4.
Klammgeistweg: free.
Koboldpfad: free.
[2022]
Classification: GorgeGorge
Light: n/a
Dimension: L=1,640 m, H=75 m.
Guided tours: self guided.
Wasserfallsteig: L=400 m, D=20 min.
Klammgeistweg: L=3,000 m, D=1.5 h.
Koboldpfad: L=1900 m, D=1 h.
Photography: allowed
Accessibility: no
Bibliography:  
Address: Leutaschklamm Geisterklamm, 6105 , Tel: +43 50 880 510.
Leutasch-Klamm Wasserfallsteig, 82481 Mittenwald.
Tourist-Information, Dammkarstr. 3, 82481 Mittenwald, Tel.: +49-8823-33981, Fax: +49-8823-2701. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then.
Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1880 part of the Leutaschklamm opened for the public, the first gorge with trails in the German Alps.
2003 development of the gorge above the 23-metre-high waterfall with funding from the European Structural Fund.
MAY-2006 new elevated trails and two bridges inaugurated.

Description

This gorge has several names, probably a result of marketing stunts. Most people call it just Leutaschklamm (Leutasch Gorge), which is actually simply the name of the valley. Another name is Leutasch-Klamm Wasserfallsteig, with the emphasis on Wasserfallsteg (Waterfall Trail). But the newest version seems to be Leutascher Geisterklamm (Leutasch Ghost Gorge).

The valley goes uphill from the German side towards Austria, the last village in Germany is Mittenwald, which is famous for producing handmade violins. Behind the town is the lower entrance to the gorge, which is named Leutasch-Klamm Wasserfallsteig. However, a few meters behind the ticket office is the Austrian border, and the whole gorge actually belongs to Austria. It is the beginning of a short valley which is named after its biggest village Leutasch, and the river is named Leutascher Ache. That's a strange thing: Ache is the name of actually any river in the area, which is quite impractical. To keep them apart the name of the most important town along the river is added, to make them unique. If you follow the Leutascher Ache on the elevated steel trail to the other side of the gorge, the valley widens again. The first hamlet is named Schanz and the upper entrance of the gorge belongs to this village. And here the gorge is named Leutascher Geisterklamm. So the two different names are for the same gorge, depending on which side you start your walk.

The Leutaschklamm was the first gorge which was developed with trails in the German Limestone Alps. It was opened in 1880 and was only After the rest of the gorge was developed, it is currently the longest accessible gorge in the German Limestone Alps. The entire length of the Leutasch Gorge from the Mittenwald Gorge Kiosk to the end of the Leutasch Valley is 1,640 m. The vertical walls of the gorge are up to 75 m high, cut into the white Wettersteinkalk (Wetterstein Limestone). A large part of this stretch is accessible either on modern metal footbridges at lofty heights or via the wooden footbridges of the Wasserfallsteig, which begins in the east at the Mittenwald Klammkiosk.

The Geisterklamm (Leutasch Ghost Gorge) is named after the Klammgeist (gorge ghost), who sat between the rock crevices for many millennia. He rarely shows himself, only a few residents of Mittenwald and Leutasch have seen him outside the Geisterklamm. But if you move through the Geisterklamm with the necessary respect and keep your eyes and ears wide open, you may catch a glimpse of the Klammgeist or possibly discover one of his companions. Water fairies and water gnomes support him in his pranks, celebrate wild parties at night to the sound of raging water music, perform their veil dance, or ride across the water with a tail of fire. In the mirror cabinet skillful visitors can use sunbeams to illuminate even the darkest crevices of the gorge. Near the panorama bridge visitors can follow the Koboldpfad (goblin trail) to follow the hustle and bustle of the root goblins.