Cycling - Oberammergau to Murnau

Date: 12-June-2005
Starting Point: Oberammergau
Weather Cold (5C) with intermittent rain
Route: Munich HBf > Oberammergau – Train n/a
Oberammergau > Bad Kohlgrub – Bike 12.2KM est.
Bad Kohlgrub > Murnau – Bike 10.2KM est.
Murnau > Uffing am Staffelsee – Bike 5.0KM est.
Uffing am Staffelsee > Munich HBf – Train 17.4KM est
Map Ref.: Radwander-Karte: München – Allgägau Lechrain Ammergebirge 1:100K

This trip started out as Oberammergau to Bad Tolz; unfortunately the conspiring forces of bad weather and a mechanical break down cut the trip into half.

The train trip from Munich HBf to Oberammergau was about 1h:40m and as usual was crowded with an assortment of cyclists – even early on a wet Sunday morning. We changed trains in Murnau to Oberammergau which of course means carrying your bike down one set of bahnhof stairs and then back up the other flight.

The train station in Oberammergau is just slightly north of the town and it is well worth a short detour into town to check out this historic town. There is a thriving tourist industry such that over half the shops were open at 10.30 – on a Sunday!

Follow the river out of town to Unterammergau but stay on the West side of the river. The eastern path turns into a very muddy cow path for about 400M and is not as well serviced. The path is fairly well marked from Unterammergau all the way to Altenau. Mountains would periodically loom from behind rain clouds on this day and I suspect the valley must be fairly impressive – if I could have seen more than a few hundred metres.

Just west of Salugrub is a gravel path up into the hills that seems to lead into Kraggernau – unfortunately this was the path untaken do to the road conditions. Nevertheless, the road into Bad Kohlgrub is nice enough with lots of vistas and some up and downs in elevation.

Look for a cycle path on the east end of Bad Kohlgrub that takes you along the river. There is a junction in which you can either head south – around the Marnauer Moos or North East to Murnau itself. Somehow we missed this junction and happily cycled all the way Murnau along a good gravel trail. The trail eventually leads to the main highway into town, head north (left and uphill).

Unfortunately we got turned around in Murnau and somehow missed the downtown area. Through some route finding we finally located Weindorf/Riegsee strasse which took us toward these towns. As usual the cycling signs are best used as a guide and not an absolute.

Just as the clouds were clearing and the afternoon began to break with promise, my companions derailleur began to make ominous noises. Rather than risk the relatively unpopulated trip into Penzberg and then on to Bad Tolz we erred on the side of caution and headed west to Uffing am Staffelsee to catch the train.

Entering the bike car on the train there were probably 30 bikes sprawled about. The return trip to Munich HBf was passed playing musical bicycles.

I hope to do this trip again but have better weather and mechanical luck. There is a good general decline in elevation such that it is not too physically demanding. Next time I hope to ride out of Bad Tölz North to Walfratshausen (or even further into Munich).

Overall this is a good ride for low intermediates.

Standard Caveat: use this information at your own risk. Distances are estimates from reviewing the map after the fact. As this trip involves distances that are relatively isolated, ensure your bike is in good working condition before starting out. Always carry plenty of fluids, food and clothing in case you are stranded for a period of time. Respect the two legged creatures that share the pathways – remember, someday you may also be a pedestrian.

Thanks very much for posting - this sort of stuff is gold dust for mtb folks moving here and wanting to find some runs...