Kienjoch

Overview

Kienjoch is the highest summit within the Notkarspitze – subgroup of Ammergau Alps.

This subrange, located in the eastern part of Ammergau Alps, is, with the exception of Notkarspitze itself – which is a quite popular hike from Garmisch-Partenkirchen or Ettal, a rather lonely and remote region.

Especially in spring and early summer the region is full of innumerable wildflowers and a paradise for those who love them.

Kienjoch is only the second best known summit of the Notkarspitze subgroup. Summited quite often from Graswang, Kienjoch is located in the western part of the U-shaped subgroup at the south end of a rugged and rocky, south – north running arête between Geißsprüngkopf in the southeast and Kieneckspitze in the north.

Kienjoch has a steep east slope down to the Kühalpental and an equally steep, rugged and rocky west slope high above Elmautal. The summit is a good lookout for the whole Ammergau region and provides great looks to Wettersteingebirge in the south and to parts of Lechtaler and Allgäuer Alpen in the west.

Getting There

There are two main trailheads in the valleys:

Graswang in the Graswang / Ammer valley

Use highway A 95 from Munich to its end and follow the road B 2 to Oberau. At Oberau take B 23 to Ettal. After Ettal follow road St 2060 direction Graswang / Linderhof until you reach the eastern part of the little village of Graswang.

There is a little chapel on the right. On the left there is a small parking area in front of the bridge over the creek Linder.
This is the trailhead. Leave your car there.
If the parking area is complete cross the village and follow the signposts to "Wanderparkplatz" (hikers parking area) at the opposite end of the villages (parking fee required). Walk back to the trailhead.

Pflegersee / Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Use highway A 95 from Munich to its end and follow the road B 2 / 23 to Garmisch. It is the right hand road branching off after the Farchant road tunnel.
After the eye-catching Grandhotel Sonnenbichl at the entrance of Garmisch turn right (Thomas-Knorr-Straße) and then right again (Pflegerseestraße). Pflegersee should be signposted. Follow Pflegerseestraße up to the parking area at Pflegersee.

Wildflower meadow at Kühbach Alm

Centaurea montana

Geranium sylvaticum

Route & Trail Overview

Summit route from Graswang

For Hikers

Graswang trailhead - forester´s lodge “Dickelschwaig” - Kühalpenbachtal - Kuhalm Diensthütte

For Mountain Bikers

Graswang Trailhead – forest road to Kuhalm Diensthütte. Leave your bike here.

Western ascent

go on: Kuhalm Diensthütte - right trail (signposts Kienjoch) - col between Geißsprüngkopf and Windstierlkopf - Geißsprüngkopf

go on: col between Geißsprüngkopf and Kienjoch - Kienjoch

Eastern ascent

Kuhalm Diensthütte – forest road and trail with signposts Notkarspitze – western limitation of northern cirque below Brünstelkopf – off trail and unmarked trail to col between Brünstelkopf and Großer Zunderkopf – Großer Zunderkopf

go on: west ridge of Großer Zunderkopf - col - Vorderer Felderkopf

go on: west ridge of Vorderer Felderkopf - east end of meadows of Felderkopf

go on: col between Felderkopf and Windstierlkopf - Windstierlkopf

go on: col between Windstierlkopf and Geißsprüngkopf - Geißsprüngkopf

go on: col between Geißsprüngkopf and Kienjoch - Kienjoch

Ascent via Kieneckspitze

Graswang - trail to Kieneckspitze via northeast ridge - col between Kieneckspitze and Kienjoch - Kienjoch

Panorama with Kienjoch, Kieneckspitze, Geißsprüngkopf and Ammergau Alps from Windstierlkopf

Summit Route from Pflegersee

Pflegersee - forest road - Lahnenwiesgraben - Enning Alm - col between Felderkopf and Windstierlkopf - Windstierlkopf - col between Windstierlkopf and Geißsprüngkopf - follow Graswang western ascent to Kienjoch.

Pflegersee - forest road - Lahnenwiesgraben - Rechberg south slopes - east ridge of Brünstelkopf - Brünstelkopf - col between Brünstelkopf and Großer Zunderkopf. Continue as described in the Graswang trail section, eastern ascent.

Red Tape

The German part of Ammergau Alps is a protected area (Naturschutzgebiet Ammergauer Alpen). I did not find an official web site of this NP. If you know one, let me know about it.

There are no entrance fees or permissions required.

It is forbidden

to disturb animals

to collect plants or parts of them

to leave the trails

open fire

overnight camping

Ammergau Alps contain many rare plant species, please respect them. Take nice pictures and let them grow.

Cypripedium calciola

(to me) unknown orchid

Gentiana acaulis

External Links & Accomodations

To find accommodations, try the following homepages:

Ammergauer Alpen
Ammergauer Alpen
Gemeinde Ettal


A good overview and more hiking tips can be found on:
Ammergauer Alpen

Check the current weather conditions here

Maps & Guide Books

Maps

The most detailed maps are:

Alpenvereinskarte Bayerische Alpen, 1 : 25.000, number BY 7, Ammergebirge Ost, Pürschling, Hörnle, München, 2009

Topographische Karte 1 : 50.000, UK 50-50
Werdenfelser Land, Ammergebirge
Landesamt für Vermessung und Geoinformation, München

Useful hiking map:

Kompass Wanderkarte 05, 1 : 35.000
Oberammergau und Ammertal

Guide Book

Dieter Seibert
Alpenvereinsführer
Allgäuer Alpen und Ammergauer Alpen
Rudolf Rother Verlag, München

Images

View Kienjoch Image Gallery - 14 Images