Jochberg Hike Near Munich: An Easy, All-Season-Hike

Living in Munich, I hike in the German and Austrian Alps on most weekends. The Jochberg hike is one of the best hikes near Munich because:

– it`s a year-round hiking destination
– it`s only 1 hour away from Munich
– the panoramic views at the top are unbeatable
– the hiking trail is highly enjoyable and also easy

Although the Jochberg is not as famous as its neighbor, the Herzogstand – it is less crowded and equally beautiful.

To start with, this is the view at the top of the Jochberg:

Jochberg during summer…
and during the winter months

This hiking guide is about the Jochberg hike in Bavaria, including all you need to know: getting there, parking, hiking trail, viewpoints, and more. Read along!

Jochberg Hike Summary

Difficulty: Easy
Starting Point: Kesselberg Parkplatz
Parking: 7 EUR / Day
Hike Duration: Ascent 2 hours; Descent 1 hour
Length: 5,5km
Minimum-Maximum Elevation: ca. 900m-1565m
Elevation Gain: 665m
Places to Eat & Drink: Jocheralm (30-minute detour, open until 3rd weekend of Oct.)
When to Hike: Year-Round
Suitable for Kids/Dogs: Yes (no dangerous sections)

Jochberg Trail Map + Getting There

The Jochberg is a 1565m high mountain in the Bavarian Alps, located between the Kochelsee and the Walchensee. The map below shows the main points of interest of the Jochberg hiking trail:

Jochberg Wanderung Points of Interest:
– Point P: Parking Lot (7 EUR / day). If full, you can find many possibilities for parking on the road before this parking place)
– Point A: Jochberg hiking trail start (look for the yellow signs showing Jochberg)
– Point B: Jochberg (1565m altitude)
– `Food` sign: the Jocheralm, reachable with a 30-min detour

Getting there by Car

The closest city is Munich, and most visitors visit the Jochberg as a day trip from Munich. Therefore, I explain how to reach the trailhead from Munich.

Distance from Munich: 1 hour (80km)
Parking: This is the closest Parking Lot to the Jochberg hike start. Alternatively, there are several parking places along the road.
Parking Costs: 7 EUR / day

Pro Tip: The parking lot fills up quickly on the weekends (by 7-8 am).
To secure a parking lot, start the hike either very early, or late in the afternoon.

Parking lot next to the hiking trail
A day ticket costs 7 EUR (coins, card or app payment)

Getting there by Public Transportation

By public transportation, it takes 1,5 hours to reach the Jochberg trailhead from Munich. This is great in terms of accessibility: to get to most hiking routes in Bavaria, you need to travel for several hours by public transportation.

How to get to the Jochberg trail by public transportation:
1st step: in Munich, take the regional train until Kochel Bahnhof
2nd step: at Kochel railway station, take the bus no. 9608 towards Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Get off at the Kesselberg Paßhöhe bus stop.
3rd step: cross the street and the hiking trail starts right there. Look for the `yellow hiking trail signs showing Jochberg`.

The Jochberg Hiking Trail

The hiking trails in Bavaria are spectacular, and the Jochberg Wanderung is among the best if you are looking for an easy, close-to-Munich hiking trail. When I have visitors, I often take them on the Jochberg hike, too. It´s an easy and enjoyable trail that can be completed in about four hours, including a long break at the summit.

Route Overview

Following route no. 452/482, the path leads through a narrow forest trail, among tall trees, and natural staircases. It’s perfect for inexperienced hikers, as the route is clearly marked and simple to follow.

After 1 hour, we reach an intersection, where we can choose to continue to the Jocheralm to eat or drink something – or continue the ascent towards the Jochberg. This is the only intersection during the Jochberg hike. Otherwise, you can`t get lost on the trail as it is unmistakably well-marked.

The junction to continue towards the Jochberg
Jochberg hiking trail among majestic trees

After 1,5 hours, on the left, there will be several viewpoints to see the Kochelsee. At this point the Walchensee is not yet visible – we can see it once we leave the forest area, close to the Jochberg summit.

The Kochelsee is partially visible during the hike
Plant and animal species on the Jochberg

The Summit

After around 2 hours, we leave the forest pat to embark on the the final ascent towards summit cross. This final section only takes a couple of minutes.
The reward at the top is a panoramic view over two beautiful lakes: The Walchensee and the Kochelsee.

Pro Tip: Go a few meters beyond the summit cross (Gipfelkreuz) and take a well-deserved break on the ground, in breathtaking alpine scenery. To feel like a local: bring a beer (Gipfelbier) from home to enjoy at the summit. 🙂

Towards the South: the Walchensee and the Alps
To the North: the Kochelsee and the Starnberger See

Personally, I tend to stay at the summit for hours to fully enjoy the panoramic views. By clear weather, you can see as far as the Austrian Alps, or see the Bavarian capital, Munich on the other side.

Top of the Jochberg, overlooking the Walchensee and the Herzogstand

GPX file for the trail: download from Bergfex.

Jochberg Hike in Winter

The Jochberg hiking trail is well-maintained year-round. Therefore it makes a good Bavarian winter hiking destination. However, note, that when the snow is melting, the hiking path can turn to ice and become very slippery.

Pro Tip: In the winter, start the hike early. By the afternoon, the snow might turn into a slippery ice surface. Once we experienced it: the way down felt like a giant ice trail – we had great fun sliding down the Jochberg, though.

Nearby Attraction: the Walchensee

The Walchensee is often referred to as the Caribbean Sea of Bavaria: during the summer months, the Walchensee is in perfect Caribbean Blue colors which makes it attractive to swim in it. Alternatively, you can bring your stand-up paddleboard to enjoy the lake.

There are also some cafes at the lake to enjoy the sunny days.

What to Pack for the Jochberg Hike

As the Jochberg hike is relatively easy, pack as light as possible.

Water: 1,5 liters of water is enough usually

Food: if you don`t plan to hike to the Jocheralm, pack some snacks or a sandwich with you.

Shoes: If you are used to hiking, normal sports shoes or trail shoes are suitable during the summer months. Hiking shoes are of course always good to have. I have been using my Adidas Terrex shoes for years and I`m happy with it.

Hiking Poles: if you tend to suffer from knee pain, hiking poles are always good to have. The hiking trail is steep at times, therefore it`s useful to bring them.

FAQ-s about the Jochberg Hike

If they are fit: yes! I saw some kids who were around 5 years old making it to the top (with their parents, of course:) )

Absolutely. There are no dangerous sections during the hike.

The Jochberg hiking trail in Bavaria is well-maintained year round. However, during winter, if the snow melts, the trail can become slippery. My personal preference is to visit it during the fall season due to the beautiful autumn foliage.

It`s easy with no dangerous sections, also suitable for beginners. Last time, we made it to the top in two hours while taking plenty of photo breaks. As for the descent, we managed to go down in an hour.

The Herzogstand is the mountain next to the Jochberg. The hiking trail begins at almost the same point, just on the other side of the street. The Herzogstand hike takes longer (altogether 5-6 hours) and it is more visited.

Looking for further hikes near Munich?

My personal recommendations:
– A Selection of the Best Hikes in Bavaria
– Best Mountain Lake: Schrecksee, Allgäu
– Hike and Sleep in a Mountain Hut: Stöhrhaus, Berchtesgaden
– Secret Viewpoint: Plansee Viewpoint, Austria
– Off-the-beaten-path: Archenkanzel Viewpoint above the Königssee
– Overall Best:: Zittauer Hütte Hike, Austria (a bit further away from Munich)

I hope you found my article helpful and wish you great fun on the hiking trails of Bavaria! Should you have any questions, leave a comment, or send me a message.