River rafting on the Isar with a rubberboat

Hello!

We are planning to go a bit Isar rafting this weekend...

We have already experience of the Bad Tölz - Wolfratshausen route
And of the Wolfratshausen - Munich...

But the problem here is that at least for our scandinvian group - these routes are just too long.. Last time the wolfratshausen - Munich took us 10 hours - and bier had nothing to do with it

But my questioin here is that would anyone know, if there is any shorter routes?

SO that we can use the public transportation

1. first to the point A where is the departure
2. and from the point B, where we get out of the water - back to munich..

IT WOULD BE REALLY GREAT, if someone could help us out here!

THanks!

Johanna

Take the 15/25 down to Grünwald and back into town on the Isar!

Lenggries to Bad Toelz is nice. I think it's only a couple of hours.

You can take the BOB train to Lenggries and then back from Bad Toelz. There's a day ticket you can use for a group.

THANKs for the tip!

How long does that trip take? But It might a bit too short - or what do you think?

Is is a long walk from the Grünwald tramstop to the river?

from the Gw tram stop to the river is probably about 10-15min. it's not hard to get b/t the tram and river and there's a road/sidewalk you can take or you can leave that behind and take the shortcut through the woods.

make sure to get off at the last stop. at Gruenwald Derbolfingerplatz (not the stops between Bavariafilm and the end of the line since those are also Gw stops).

Hello!

That Lenggries - bad tölz sounds brilliant! thanks! Because of the Alps and everything. Has anybody done it? How long way is it? How long did it take?

THanks!

Johanna

AHA! Just did a Gummiboot Fahrt for the first time last Sunday so I'm your man...

We went from Grafrath to Furstenfeldbruck along the River Amper (not the Isar).

I have to say it was a lot of fun and really relaxing. At Grafrath there is an official landing spot where you can get your boat inflated and get advice... the Wasserwacht.

It took us about 5 or so hours of very leisurely progress including a stop off at a beergarten at half way. They also have a landing spot- You just paddle up, tie your boat and step off into the garten. Just before the beergarten there is a lock so you have to land your boot, carry it 20m or so and then continue. Also there is one part where the water gets a little more "exciting" and you get a speed up, but it lasts for about 30m and its no danger really.

You only really need to paddle now and again- more to avoid the odd overhanging tree than to get forward movement. The water isn't that deep- at deepest say 2m but in general it was not more than 1m or so. In places we even ran aground. Occasionally we'd just jump off the boat and swim along side it.

Boat wise we had a proper ex-army boat but just about everyone else had one or other of the exact same model, turns out that one is from Lidl, and the other was from Aldi. I believe they cost well under €100. No-one had lifejackets.

The only pain is that you need 2 cars. One to take the boat to where you start- and one to pick it and you up where you finish.

All in all highly recommended. If you want further info just ask.

HTH

How big a raft do you need to do this? I have a 2 person raft from Walmart, I've seen quite a few people with them at the lakes. Is this suitable?

If so, anyone with any experience with this wanna go rafting from Grünwald, or something similarly shortish that takes us back to Munich?

l did the Lenggries - bad tölz trip in a cheap plastic boats a few years a go - it was great fun
get the BOB train to Lenggries and from there its 2 mins to the river - pump up the boat and off you go
take sandwiches, beer, wine etc - great way to spend a few hours
memory is hazy but l think it was 3 hours to BT - friends carried on to Munich in their boat and had a few problems and got lost in the dark somewhere but up to BT it's fine. There's one set of rapids that are too much for a small boat so you'll have to carry the boat round them - keep your eyes open for this because you'll be in trouble otherwise - its fairly obvious though
l saw a couple of proper boats with 10 people in wearing lifejackets and helmets - they did go down the rapids but its all a bit too organised for my liking
have a great trip

Hi Guys,

Would one of these Gummi Boats / Inflatables fit into a large Ruchsack, or is that not big enough for Small Wife, 10 year old boy & Large Husband ?

Interested in doing a trip weekend 15/16 th of July as the weather forcast isnt that good this weekend.

Regards

Dave

Hi Mere,

Went to Gruenwald Derbolfingerplatz tram stop, Understanding I would have about 16kg rubber boat, there is quite a drop down those steps from near the Schloss down to the river.

Is this the route you meant ?

Regards

Dave

there are 2 sets of steps. one set goes along a road and the other there are stairs then a path through the forest.

either way you have to go down since the Isar is down in the mini little valley thing.

Ok, so I'm keen for this Lenggries to Bad Tölz route, however as people have mentioned there is a section of rapids that you do not want to go over if you have a crappy boat. Would someone who knows the route be able to look on google maps and point out the section to avoid?

Here is a good starting point, from Lenggries:

http://maps.google.de/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Bad...054245&t=k&om=1

Is the rest of the trip very calm?

We went on Saturday in Bad Tölz - did the route from Lenggries to Bad Tölz. The guide called the rapidy bit the Cataract (not the eye disease I imagine) - dunno if that is a German term or what - but that was the 'big' rapidy bit that can be seen here:


It's not really that big and they had to carry the raft back up to go down again.
The other rapids were very minor at best, it is relaxing more so than an adventure ride.
But a nice way to spend a Sunday and make some decent swimming and chilling stops along the way...

This is the place that runs the tours:
Action Funtours

The boats can hold 10 plus 1 guide. They book tours in both Tirol & Bayern, and they have different styles of tours (big rafts, smaller rafts, canyoning, etc.) depending on skill level and preference. Reasonable pricing.

Here is a revised google maps link with the Rapids in the above picture centred on the map.

Lenggreis Rapids

Hope this helps!

p.s. Also interested in doing the chilled out on a dingy thing. Defo my idea of fun!

We did the Grafrath-Fürstenfeldbruck route yesterday. The part of the journey between Grafrath and the biergarten is pretty relaxing. After the biergarten the water generally gets stronger and we kept getting pulled into trees at the sides (was quite funny though) but at these parts you need a bit of strength to keep away.

@speakfreak, when you say there was a fast part for only 30m or so that was no real danger, do you mean that short rapid part full of rocks where there are warning signs saying that it is dangerous?!? If so, we decided not to as our boat is not so strong... got punctured from being pulled by the water onto stones where it was too shallow.

A little bit further there is another biergarten with grill - there are no signs, but it's the part where the road is near to the water's edge on the left-hand side. Also a good place to rest before moving on...

Was good exercise though - a good 4 hours of rowing Aching like f*ck today though!

Probably a good idea to buy a better, stronger boat now

On the Lenggries/Bad Toelz route, you can see that small rapids spot up ahead, and you have time to get over to portage the boat. It's not like it's just around a bend or something.

The day I went, there were people in kayaks who were "shooting" the rapids, but we decided to portage because we didn't want our stuff to get wet or lost.

OK, so I just got one of these from Lidl.



Gonna go try it out on Feringasee tonight to see what its like but I am now up for some Isar riding! Anyone??

Tom...

I reckon I'm keen for this Lenggries-Bad Tölz route next weekend (29th or 30th of July). I've had a look at the maps, it doesn't look too difficult. We could catch the train out there pretty easy, and could do it all on a Bayern pass so it would be cheap. Who else is keen?

Damn, I might be on call that weekend. I will see if I can swap with someone

Tom...

How much was it Tom? Is there a max rated weight? Would it support a plus sized gentleman such as myself?

It was 129€ including oars and a tiny rucksack that attatches. I think the max weight was 100kg (I will check later, its in the car)

I'd be keen for this weekend, but I'm not here so can't.. unless there is some really bad weather I'm definitely keen for this next weekend though..

So actually, I propose Sunday the 30th, seeing as you can't do anything else on a Sunday anyway, I need Saturday to do some shopping.

On a side note, unrelated to rafting down the Isar (maybe) but definately related to rubber boats in general... Do you need a licence to use them on lakes/rivers?

I find it hard to believe you do, but someone at lunch was just telling me you do. Knowing this place, it could be true. Do you really need a licence to use what is essentially a rubber dingy?

When does a boat become a full on "licenceable boat" rather than a dingy?

so when you go out on your little rubber raft thingy down the isar do you wear lifejackets?

i just thought of this and the smart thing (especially if drinking) would to wear one, but do people actually do it?

If the nuts last (nutzlast) is the weight limit, then yes, it is 100kg. I guess there is a tolerance in that too.

@mere, if I do an Isar run, I will be wanting a life jacket yeah. Just to be on the safe side like

I'd like to wear a life jacket, but where do you get one of them from, and can I get it for less than a fiver?

that's the problem. a quality jacket costs a pretty penny. my all time favorite one is my kayaking lifejacket, but it's back in the US.

I would like one for when I go wakeboarding, so I can split the cost justification... But I see your point, they can be pricy.

fyi, lidl do have some this week but they look shit and are still well over a fiver... here

edit: just realised, they are self inflating ones, hence the cost.

I've heard that the Isar around these parts are around 1 meter deep most of the time.. as long as you don't get completely drunk, what are the chances of drowning? I'm a pretty strong swimmer, but I guess if you fell out and knocked your head or something..

I'd feel very confident if sober but...

Thats the thing innit...

ever time I see this thread I keep thinking "Pete and Repeat go rafting in a rubber boat down the Isar. Pete fell out..."

sorry. carry on folks.

So, this gonna happen?

If so, I am gonna go look for a waterproof container for things-that-shouldn't-get-wet and a life jacket.

My Lidl still has some life jackets but they are 50€ so I am gonna go see what karstadt-sport and sportscheck have to offer(Can't find any in their online shops!)

Yep.. I reckon this is on for Sunday. If its pissing down with rain, maybe it'll be called off but I reckon it'll be ok.

I have a couple of people from work interested so I'm keen. Don't know about spending 50 euros on a life jacket though..

OK, I found a life jacket for 35. Thats acceptable for me. I want to do it without but as its unknown waters and all that, and my first time, I think I am better off this way. Being responsible and all that.

I also got a waterprooof bag thing so phones & shit like wallets & stuff can go in there.

You bringing a pump?

I'm gonna bring a pump, and I've got a few more people interested as well who have done it before. They are friends of a friend at work (who is coming also), but he is going to call them tonight to sort out exactly what is going on, and then I'll post on here the details. Weather is looking ok for Sunday, so this should be good.

Um yeah

Right then, off we go!

have fun! watch out the Isar is really low.

Actually, I'd say it was fairly high.



You can get river-height statistics from the Hochwassernachrichtendienst Bayern; it's probably worth a quick look at before heading out on this kind of trip.

okay perhaps overall it is, i know near me it's quite low.

Short 2Hr Isar Trip,

MadGolfer & MiniGolfer, We caught the S-Bahn from Ostbahnhof to Hollriegensels-kreuth.

Walked down the steep steps to the bridge, walked across the road that leads onto the bridge, walked down the steps by bridge to the Isar. Pumped up the boat in the shade under the bridge and put the boat in near the beer garten.

Off we went down the river, very lazy, We got out at Thalkirchen where they do the canoe practice.

Not a bad first day, messing about in a boat.

How did the early team get on ?

Regards

MG

We went well. I just got back, and it was a good day out. We did the Bad Tölz - Wolfratshausen route.

We started at about 11:30 on the Isar at Bad Tölz, stopped one time for lunch and then another time just briefly and finished around 17:00. The river level was low in parts, but maybe this is how it always is. Didn't have to get out to push though unless you went too close to the sides or something.

No big rapids on this route, and the second half is more boring than the first but still an excellent day out. See attached pics.

This one of Katti (charmed) with Tom17 in the back.

Tom17 down some of the small rapids along the way..

Some other friends from work.

Yo,

It looks like you guys had a good time, did you go up on the train, or did someone take you up in a car ?

Tom that canoe still looks bendy in the middle, went to 3 lidls last weekend looking for one or two, glad we didnt get one I think as I am on the over large size, it would look more like a Saturn 5 rocket with me in it.

We got a dingy from v-markt 17 euros including paddles, and 5 euros for a monster pump, if it dies now it has served us well, they have a nice 3 man in v-markt for 150, might invest.

That red inflatable canoe in the pics looked a sturdy craft.

Regards

MG

We took cars this time, overall I think its easier.

Tom's boat at that point didn't have enough air in it, after the stop he put more in and it stayed quite rigid after that I believe..

The red one you can get from Sport Bittl for 50 euros if you want it, but I wouldn't say its anywhere near as sturdy as the one from Lidl that Tom has. His has an outside canvas like covering over it, you would really have to hit something sharp and hard to puncture it. The red one was just standard plastic.

Indeed, that pic was before I gave the boat it proper dosage of air. It was much better after that.

What a great day out. Just a shame my legs are now in extreme pain. Why did I ignore them at the sun screen moment.

Definately up for doing this again soon!!

Tom...

Same Problem

Must admit we only did a short stint but suffering from the Sun.

Stupid thing was we had the sun stuff with us, to busy playing pirates ah ha me jim lad.

MG