The Isar is certainly the Bavarian Alpine river with the greatest contrasts on its banks. From the rugged high mountains of the Karwendels to the metropolis Munich the bandwidth is sufficient here. In between there is a lot of landscape as well as cozy towns and villages to discover.
Route profile
- Length: 290 km
- Signposting: Standardized with the text "Isarradweg" on arrow signs
- Slopes: no essential
- Path condition: well, lots of paved sections
- Traffic load: The cycle path runs south of Wolfratshausen on roads with little traffic in hilly terrain, otherwise mostly close to the river and away from roads on usually easily navigable paths.
- Suitable bike: Trekking bike
- Family suitability:
- Inline suitability: rather not
getting there
Public transportation
railroad
Scharnitz, directly behind the German-Austrian border, is on the Garmisch-Partenkirchen - Innsbruck route (Mittenwaldbahn KSB960) and thus connects to the European long-distance network. Regional trains (regional trains) with bicycles leave from Munich about every two hours, the travel time from Munich is approx. 2 hours.
Route description with sights
The Isar cycle path leads from Scharnitz im Karwendel Mountains via Mittenwald and around the mountain range to the Sylvenstein reservoir. The route continues through the foothills of the Oberland via Bad Tölz and along the well-known Pupplinger Au nature reserve to the state capital of Munich. Behind Munich it goes on quiet Auwege over Freising and Landshut to the mouth of the Isar Deggendorf. There is a connection to the Danube Cycle Path here.
Tour to the source of the Isar: 24 km
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From Scharnitz you can undertake a demanding tour to the source of the Isar, 12 km away and 200 meters higher. The source of the Isar is 1162 meters above sea level in the Hinterautal, a beautiful high valley in the Karwendel mountain range. The well-developed stretch, for the most part near the river, offers overwhelming views of the high mountain panorama of the Karwendel.
We leave Scharnitz on the Hinterautalstrasse and pass that Scharnitz Nature Park Information Center. After the bridge over the Isar tributary Karwendelbach follows a steep ascent to Wiesenhof (cultivated), the paved road ends here. It continues on a slightly ascending gravel forest path to the Gleirschhöhe. It is about 70 meters above the river and offers a magnificent view of the Hinterau valley ahead of us. We drive back down to the level of the river and follow the Isar on the gently rising forest path near the river to the source area. A large display board along the way marks the source of the Isar. The actual source area is to the left of the hiking trail and extends over a few hundred meters. The narrow natural paths between moss and rocks can only be explored on foot.
If you like, you can then cycle 2.5 km further into the Hinterautal and enjoy the cultivated Kastenalm Strengthen for the way back. Bicycles are not allowed on the property of the Alm, you have to leave them about 500 meters in front of the Alm. The way back to Scharnitz is much faster, rolling slightly downhill we reach the starting point of our tour.
Scharnitz - Mittenwald - Lenggries: 54 km
The scenic and varied route leads from the Karwendel Mountains into the Alpine foothills, consistently on very well-developed bike paths or roads with little traffic. We pass the tourist center of Mittenwald, the Sylvenstein reservoir and picturesque villages in the Isarwinkel.
- Scharnitz - is located in the middle of the famous winter sports area Olympiaregion Seefeld. We leave the village on a path along the banks of the Isar, change over a wooden bridge to the left at the end of the village and cross the Austrian-German border unnoticed. To the left in the forest are ruins of the Porta Claudia, a border fortification from the Thirty Years' War. We continue cycling on an easily navigable level path through the nature reserve Riedboden in the direction of Mittenwald, cross a bridge again and reach the place on a beautiful riverside path on the right side of the river.
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- Mittenwald - a well-known tourist center at the foot of the Karwendel Mountains with a town center well worth seeing on the left side of the Isar. The facades adorned with Lüftlmalerei are typical of the region. After Mittenwald, the cycle path moves away from the river and partly follows the B2. Before Krün we cross under the B2 and cycle through a beautiful meadow landscape to the center of the village. On the way it is always worth taking a look back at the panorama from Wetterstein and Karwendel.
- Krün - At the Isar reservoir Krün most of the water from the Isar is branched off and over the Obernachkanal the Walchensee supplied with the Walchensee power plant.
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- Wallgau - In the center of the village we cross the Obernach Canal. Behind the village square with its beautiful half-timbered houses (Lüftlmalerei) we drive briefly on the B11 (Walchenseestrasse), soon turn right, then left again, and cross a golf course. The path then leads over a narrow, gently sloping and moderately traveled toll road (bicycles free) on the steep slope of the Isar valley. The path offers a wonderful view of the wild landscape with waterfalls and gorges of the Isar tributaries. After an initial up and down in the forest, we descend to the level of the river. There are some parking spaces on the right-hand side of the street. If you like, you can get to the river from there via narrow paths and take a break on the banks of the shimmering turquoise Isar.
- In Front crack A bridge leads us to the right side of the river. From here we have to drive directly on the gently ascending B307 to Sylvensteinsee. The main road is not very busy, but unfortunately does not offer a separate cycle lane. On the left side of the road there are some paths that lead to a gravel path on the steep bank of the lake. For people who do not ride a racing bike, this may be an attractive alternative to the main road. In case then take a short detour back to the B307.
- Sylvenstein reservoir (Sylvenstein reservoir) - was created in the 1950s for flood protection in the Isar valley. It also ensures that the Isar has sufficient water flow during dry periods. Two hydropower plants on the dam are used to generate electricity. The bike path crosses the reservoir on the Sylvenstein Bridge (Faller Klamm Bridge) and continues on the B307 to the 44 meter high dam. At the end of the dam, a bicycle tunnel was blasted into the rock for cyclists. A steeply sloping cycle path along the rock face then takes you back to the level of the river. It continues gently sloping on a well-developed bike path in the Isar Valley, partly through forest areas and partly along the B13. Behind spot We cross under the B13 and cycle on a path close to the river through the Isar floodplains to Lenggries.
- Lenggries - a picturesque village on the right side of the Isar, a former rafters' settlement. On the left side of the river the 1,555 meter high rises Brauneck, its summit can be reached with the Brauneck cable car or on a 1½ hour hike.
Lenggries - Bad Tölz - Wolfratshausen: 36 km
After Lenggries, the cycle path continues on the right-hand side of the Isar through the beautiful Isar floodplains, past the "Isar waterfall". In the district Obergries it goes over a bridge on the left side Arzbach past, and on through a juniper heather to Bad Tölz.
- Bad Tölz - Health resort and tourist center. A worthwhile detour over the bridge to the right into the historic old town. Many cafés and restaurants invite you to take a break on Marktstrasse (pedestrian zone) with its magnificent town houses (Lüftlmalereien). The cycle path continues on the left bank, past the Isar reservoir Bad Tölz.
Between Bad Tölz and Geretsried, the cycle path moves away from the river and there are major inclines to be overcome. The official route runs partly on unpaved roads. Alternatively, you can drive on the country road via Königsdorf.
- version 1: The official route.
- Turn left behind the Isar power station Rothenrain turn. On the quiet country road it goes up and down through the hill country, through Rothenrain and on to the confluence with a larger road. Turn right here, after a few hundred meters left again and through the forest Rothmühle and Highland youth settlement past. The following route to Geretsried runs on a natural forest path with some steep inclines. Behind the Hochland youth settlement, we turn into a field path and drive steeply up into the forest. Behind the Yard shot a clear view of the Isar loop about 50 meters below us opens up (at the “Malerwinkel”) to the right between the trees. The gravel forest path then leads downhill to Geretsried.
- Geretsried - We drive around the place on a forest path, cross the busy road ST2369 to the right and follow a gently sloping unpaved forest path to Gartenberg.
- Variant 2: About 3 km longer, runs on country roads and has fewer gradients.
- Behind the Isar power station, continue straight ahead on the country road (busy) in the direction of Königsdorf. Behind Huppenberg right, through the forest Rothmühle and Highland youth settlement over (like variant 1) and continue on the road to Königsdorf. Here to the right and over the districts grasslands and stone down to Geretsried. Through Geretsried through to the ST2369, here you meet the official route again.
- Gartenberg - The cycle path leads along the Isardamm on the outskirts, crosses the Loisach-Isar Canal and continues gently sloping to Wolfratshausen.
- Wolfratshausen - former rafting town. The historic city center is worth seeing on the Isar tributary Loisach, about 2 km to the left of the cycle path.
Wolfratshausen - Munich - Ismaning: 44 km
In Wolfratshausen we change to the right side of the Isar to Puppling.
- Puppling - Behind the village we turn left and drive on an asphalt path through the nature reserve Pupplinger Au to a weir system that divides the Isar into a natural arm and a canal. We pass the Loisach estuary, but it is not visible from the path. The paved, level path continues on the right bank of the Isar Canal, where Aumühle over to the bridge to Schäftlarn monastery.
- Schäftlarn monastery - the Benedictine abbey with monastery church, prelate garden, monastery parlor and a large beer garden, founded in the 8th century, is about 1 km away on the left side of the Isar and is worth a visit.
- The Isar cycle path continues on the right bank of the canal and bends in front of the Mühltal hydropower plant on a tarred path up to the right in the direction Straßlach.
- Grünwald Forest - is an approximately 20 km² forest area south of Munich and an important local recreation area in the metropolis.
- The official route bends from the uphill road Straßlach left into the forest and leads over a steep, unpaved forest path with a few switchbacks, past the 620 meter high horn, into the Grünwald forest. There is a point on the Horn from which you can see all the way to the Zugspitze in good weather. Alternatively, you can stay on the paved path to Straßlach and only turn left into the Grünwalder Forest at the edge of the village.
- Once at the top, we drive straight to the Munich suburb of Grünwald on a well-developed, level forest path.
- Grünwald - The medieval Grünwald Castle is well worth seeing. The cycle path turns left at the market square in the direction of the castle, passes the castle and continues down to the Isar. The well-developed, quiet bike and hiking path on the right bank of the Isar is isolated from the noise of the big city by a wooded slope and leads us to the center of Munich.
- Munich - The Bavarian metropolis offers many sights and is easy to explore by bike. New Town Hall, Marienkirche, Liebfrauendom, German Museum, Viktualienmarkt, English garden with the "Chinese Tower," and much more.
- The official Isar cycle path remains on the right bank of the Isar. If you want to cycle into the city center, you can switch to the left over the Ludwigsbrücke at Museum Island. The English Garden is an attractive option to continue your journey on the left-hand side. You cross the garden parallel to the Isar and then switch back to the right side. Alternatively, you can stay on the left side, from Munich the Isar is accessible on both sides.
- Ismaning - Castle (with magnificent state rooms from the early 19th century, but not easy to visit, contact via Castle Museum, Tel. 089960900153) and its historical parks, with churches, Kallmann Museum in the orangery and Castle Museum (in an outbuilding).
Ismaning - Landshut: 64 km
- Freising
- Moosburg a.d. Isar - Between Viecht and Landshut, the Isar cycle path runs along the busy main road.
- Landshut
Landshut - Plattling: 69 km
- → Connection to the Bockerlbahn cycle path to parish churches
- Plattling - Rail connection to the main Regensburg-Passau line.
Plattling - Deggendorf / Niederalteich: 23 km
Other places to stay
trips
GPS data
- GPS data of the official route in the formats .gpx, .kml, .gdb, .kmz and .ovl isarradweg.de
- Route profile with GPS data and Google Earth KMZ file in Bike tour wiki. Partly different from the official course.
References to literature and maps
- Cycling map - Leporello Isarradweg, Scharnitz - Deggendorf, 1: 50,000, Publicpress-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-89920-170-3
- Zoomable map: OpenStreetMap · The Isar cycle path is almost completely drawn on the map.
- bikeline bike tour book: Isar cycle path. From Scharnitz to the Danube. Verlag Esterbauer, 10th edition, 2020. ISBN 978-3-85000-891-4
Web links
- Isar cycle path - Official website of the Isar Cycle Path working group. GPS data, route description, overnight stays, current route closures, travel service, brochure shop.
- Plug-in info & zoomable map of Bayern-Info - Bavarian network for cyclists
- Isar cycle path on fahrrad-tour.de, detailed descriptions of the stages, overnight accommodation.
