Unterammergau in winter: ski area, cross-country trails and whetstone tradition

Downhill skiing, cross-country trails and tobogganing

The ski center on Steckenberg has two beginner rope tows, three platter lifts and two drag lifts. They serve around five kilometers of downhill runs for all ability levels. The specifically named beginner rope tows and the stated range of ability levels give groups with different levels of experience a first point of reference. However, snow and lift operations vary by season.

The downhill skiing options are complemented by many kilometers of cross-country ski trails. This gives you a choice of two different winter sports in Unterammergau. If you are planning a specific day of skiing or a cross-country skiing loop, check the latest information on snow conditions and operations for your chosen dates. Another winter activity is the natural toboggan run, which has hosted international toboggan races, among other events.

Hiking trails and Schleifmühlklamm Gorge

In addition to winter sports, Unterammergau has many kilometers of well-maintained hiking trails. These include the “Wiesmahdweg” meditation trail. Another trail leads through Schleifmühlklamm Gorge, past crystal-clear pools—natural basins in the streambed—and waterfalls. A different hiking route leads to the former whetstone quarries and to a viewpoint high above the village. The destinations are different: one focuses on the gorge and water, the other on historic whetstone quarrying and the viewpoint.

The starting point of the trail through Schleifmühlklamm Gorge is a 15-minute walk from the Unterammergau Rathaus bus stop and a 20-minute walk from Unterammergau train station. These times refer to the walk to the trailhead. If you are arriving by bus or train, also check the timetables for your travel date.

A long-distance hiking trail is also connected with the history of whetstone making: it links the former whetstone-making villages of Schwangau, Trauchgau, Unterammergau and Ohlstadt, as well as the Glentleiten Open-Air Museum. The named places make clear that this route extends beyond a stroll around a single village.

Whetstone tradition and village history

The Village and Whetstone Museum features a permanent exhibition on whetstone making, which shaped Unterammergau for centuries. Since 2011, a restored grinding mill has been open to visitors in Schleifmühlklamm Gorge, at its original historic location. This lets you encounter the same craft tradition both as an exhibition topic and at its historic site. The museum’s seasonal opening hours may change; check them before visiting.

The parish church also offers a chronological reference point for the village’s history: it dates from 1710, while the bell tower was built in its present form as early as 1688. The two dates refer to different parts of the church complex.

Festivals and the Leonhardi Ride

Local associations hold festivals and events throughout the year. These include forest festivals, evenings celebrating local culture and customs, brass band concerts, and performances by the local farmers’ theater. Individual dates vary. If a particular event is important to your stay, check its date for your travel period.

The Leonhardi Ride takes place every year on the last weekend of October; the specific program may vary. The procession travels from the village center to the Kappel Pilgrimage Church. A Mass with a blessing is held there, and the horses are blessed. Its fixed time of year distinguishes the ride from the association events held throughout the year, whose individual dates change.

Discover more destinations: Wallgau, Bad Kohlgrub, Ohlstadt, Saulgrub, Mittenwald, Oberau, Grainau, Ettal

Go to the regional travel overview: Garmisch-Partenkirchen district.