Wimbachklamm
White-water gorge at the entrance to the Wimbach valley
Photo: Frühstücksdrache / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Address
Wimbachklamm, Parkplatz Wimbachbrücke, 83486 Ramsau bei Berchtesgaden, Bayern
GPS
47.5956, 12.9203
The Wimbachklamm lies at the mouth of the Wimbach valley in Ramsau, in the Berchtesgaden National Park. Since 1847 a roughly 200 m path has led over walkways and bridges through the gorge carved out by the Wimbach.
Highlights
- Roaring Wimbach with eddies, pools and waterfalls in a tight space
- Historic walkways and bridges right above the white water
- Entrance to the wide Wimbach valley towards the Wimbachschloss
- In the middle of the national park, a short and family-friendly walk
Good to know
| Length | approx. 200 m (gorge section) |
| Developed since | 1847 (bridges and wooden walkways) |
| Location | Wimbach valley, Ramsau, Berchtesgaden National Park |
| Watercourse | Wimbach (mountain stream) with pools and small waterfalls |
| Status | designated geotope |
Practical info
Getting there: By car to the Wimbachbrücke car park (Ramsau); by public transport bus line 846 to the Wimbachbrücke stop.
Best time: Season roughly late April to late October; especially water-rich after rain
Duration: The gorge itself is a short walk; extension to the Wimbachschloss approx. 2 hours
Cost: Admission approx. 4 € from age 7 (please verify); parking fee separate (please verify)
Tips:
- Check opening times and fares in advance on the Ramsau municipal website
- The walkways are narrow and damp, so non-slip shoes are advisable
- Easily combined with a hike into the Wimbach valley
Background & History
Near the tranquil mountaineering village of Ramsau, in the heart of the Berchtesgaden National Park, the Wimbach has created one of the most impressive gorges in the Bavarian Alps. Wedged between the Watzmann and the Hochkalter, the water plunges through a narrow ravine in which, over thousands of years, it has ground the limestone smooth and washed out deep potholes. From countless crevices in the rock walls the water gushes and sprays, so that the whole gorge lies in fine mist and constant roaring.
The Wimbach Gorge became accessible towards the end of the 19th century, when bold wooden walkways and tunnels were built into the sheer walls, leading visitors close above the roaring water through the narrows; it is considered one of the oldest developed gorges in the region. Above the gorge opens the wide Wimbachgries, a vast scree basin in which the stream seeps away in the summer rubble and flows on invisibly, only to come to light again in the gorge. The surrounding Ramsau has been regarded since the 19th century as the cradle of mountain tourism in the Berchtesgaden region, and the picturesque parish church of St. Sebastian, set against the backdrop of the Watzmann, is one of the most photographed scenes in the Bavarian Alps. The Wimbach Gorge thus tells of the untameable power of water, which conquers even the hardest rock over time.
To make your trip run smoothly , our guides and gear tips for this destination:
