The rock pulpit (also known as iron pulpit and iron pulpit) is a small viewing platform on the Kramerspitze, which is located at an altitude of 1,238 meters and was built around 1900. From the rock pulpit, you can enjoy a wonderful view of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, the Wetterstein and Karwendel Mountains. A circular trail leads from the Bayernhalle via St. Martinshütte up to the rock pulpit.

Tour profile

Difficulty level: easy to medium
Route length: 12 km (total)
ascents: 520 hm
descents: 520 hm

11:30 a.m.: Today we are on the road a bit later than usual, but our mountain tour is not too long at around 9 km and we expect around 3 — 4 hours of hiking time with appropriate breaks. We start our hike at the Bayernhalle, which is located behind the Garmisch cemetery at Brauhausstraße 19. We follow the path and turn off at the first junction towards Kramerplateauweg, Pflegersee. Always slightly uphill, the trail leads us up via hairpin bends.

11:50 a.m.: We reach the Kramerplateauweg, which we cross and take the path that leads uphill towards Grasberg across the street. We are now walking on the so-called Kellerleitensteig. On this road, we climb steadily uphill, down and on there are some fairly level passages. After a few bends, we come to an intersection and keep left to hit the “Grasberg” trail again later. We reach this after a further 5 minutes.

12:15 p.m.: We come to the fork in the road, which also marks our later circular route. But now it's time to climb the Grasbergweg uphill on the right. We take a short drinking break at some tree trunks, then it's time to walk up the last stretch and the last bends, which then take us to the St. Martin mountain restaurant.

12:40 p.m.: We reach St. Martinshütte, which is 1,040 meters above sea level. The hut, which has been managed since 1920, is very popular with hikers in summer and sledgers in winter. From its beautiful terrace, you can enjoy a wonderful view of the whole of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. We're lucky and the terrace isn't fully occupied yet, so we can sit down at a free table and enjoy the view first. The restaurant offers hot food, but also coffee and cake as well as an iced coffee, which I now treat myself to while my companion opts for a specialty and a cup of coffee.

1:10 p.m.: After a nice long and sunny break, we start our mountain tour again. About half an hour's walking time and a further 200 meters of altitude difference separate us from our current hiking destination, the rock pulpit, which is also known as the iron pulpit. The path becomes narrower and stonier, it goes over tree roots and sometimes further up over a fallen tree. On the last stretch, you can already enjoy fantastic views.

1:40 p.m.: We have reached the rock pulpit and can enjoy it all to ourselves. The hiking trail was generally not very crowded; most hikers have the St. Martinshütte as their destination. However, it's worth taking the extra half hour up if you've already made it to the mountain restaurant. We enjoy the view and the fresh mountain breeze that is blowing here for another half an hour until the next hikers arrive and are now heading back.

2:45 p.m.: As is well known, it is much faster downhill than uphill and we reach the fork in the road again, which would lead us back to the Kellerleitensteig trail on the left. But now we continue straight downhill along the wide forest road and soon reach the Kramerplateau trail near the memorial chapel.

3:15 p.m.: We follow the signs for “Brauhausstraße” and take the path that leads left below the Kramerplateauweg down to Garmisch-Partenkirchen. On the toboggan run, it's time to continue straight ahead and a short time later we've reached the Bayernhalle again, our start and end point of the hike. It was a nice mountain tour that invites you to walk another hour or an hour and a half next time to reach the summit of Königsstand. But then it's time to start earlier.

Our video: Hiking to St. Martinshütte & Burgruine Werdenfels

Tips & info:

• Travel to Bayernhalle by Eibsee bus from Hotel am Badersee (free of charge with spa card): The nearest bus stop with the Eibsee bus is “Kurpark” at the GAP Center. From here, walk into Parkstraße and follow it via Alleestraße until you reach the intersection on the B23. There you cross the street and walk past the Thai restaurant “Rambutan” into Fürstenstraße. From there, follow the signs for Bayernhalle. It takes about 10-15 minutes to get there. Alternatively, you can get off at “Marienplatz” and follow the B23 road past the Alte Apotheke until you reach the Thai restaurant “Rambutan”.
• parking spaces: We recommend taking the Eibsee bus to the starting point of the hike, but if you want to take the car, depending on the holiday season, you will find parking spaces at the Garmisch-Partenkirchen cemetery or use the large parking spaces on Alleestraße and at the Kurpark.
• Opening hours Berggaststätte St. Martin am Grasberg: Summer & winter 10:00 — 17:45, kitchen from 11:30 — 16:00. Closed on Tuesdays. More information on the St. Martinshütte website.
• Hike to Königsstand: If you want, you can continue hiking up to Königstand or take a circular trail across Königsstand. For the circular trail, continue along the Kellerleitensteig and then branch off later on the Mauersteig, which leads to Königsstand. The descent is then via the Felsenkanzel and St. Martinshütte back to Bayernhalle. Alternatively, follow the path behind the rock pulpit further uphill and reach Königstand after approx. 1 — 1 ½ hours.
  

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