Riegsee: Lakeside Paths and St. Stephen’s Village Church

Around Riegsee, different interests come together: the 12-kilometer Riegsee circular hiking trail, birdwatching from the paths by the lake, and St. Stephen’s Village Church right on the shore of Riegsee. When planning, you can choose between a hiking route with a specified distance, wildlife watching, and a cultural point of interest.

Paths, circular routes and views

The Riegsee circular hiking trail is 12 km long. In addition, marked hiking and cycling trails, as well as field and forest paths, lead around Riegsee to nearby places and viewpoints. These two types of routes offer a practical distinction for your planning: the circular hike has a stated total length, while the other paths describe connections around the lake. Riegsee itself is 2.4 km long and 1 km wide.

The birdlife can be observed with the naked eye from the paths by Riegsee. The viewpoints also offer different ways to orient yourself on an outing: the paths around the lake provide access to Aidlinger Höhe. From there, panoramic views stretch across the mountains and the Loisach Valley to the Zugspitze. Nearby, the Alpenaussichtsweg also leads via Guglhör and Perlach to Hagen.

Another route with a specified distance is the 2 km Froschsee circular trail, nearby. It leads to the small Church of St. Leonhard. This gives you two clearly different route lengths to choose from: the 12 km loop at Riegsee and the shorter Froschsee circular trail, with its church as the destination.

Lake, church and winter activities

St. Stephen’s Village Church in Riegsee is right by the lake, in the Blue Land region. It adds a cultural point of interest to the paths and viewpoints without requiring a longer route. The Traumspielplatz playground at Riegsee is also open for play.

The lake takes on a different character in winter than during the hiking and birdwatching season: it often freezes over completely for weeks, providing good conditions for ice skaters, Bavarian curling players and ice sailors. Activities on the ice therefore include ice skating, Bavarian curling and ice sailing.

More things to see and do in the wider Garmisch-Partenkirchen destination

The wider Garmisch-Partenkirchen destination offers more nature and culture experiences. At Partnach Gorge, visitors walk between massive rock walls, with rushing water below. The gorge was declared a natural monument and opened to visitors in 1912. At Wank, Partenkirchen’s 1,780-meter-high local mountain, visitors can enjoy leisurely mountain hikes with distant views. The Wank cable car takes visitors directly from Garmisch-Partenkirchen to the summit; its operation depends on operating conditions.

Garmisch-Partenkirchen’s cultural offerings also have a range of different focuses. The Richard Strauss Institute is housed in the historic Villa Christina in Partenkirchen’s Kurpark and features a permanent exhibition about Strauss’s life and work. A walking tour of Partenkirchen leads from the Garmisch Tourist Information Office along Ludwigstraße to the pilgrimage church of St. Anton. The Richard Strauss Festival takes place every June in Garmisch and includes performances of his works. Since the program may vary, check the current dates before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Grainau, Farchant, Mittenwald, Ohlstadt, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Murnau am Staffelsee, Wallgau, Oberammergau.

Go to the wider travel overview: Garmisch-Partenkirchen.