The Kofel is a mountain in the Bavarian Alps of

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

. With its distinctive white head it is the signature mountain of the town of

Oberammergau Oberammergau is a municipality in the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in Bavaria, Germany. The small town on the Ammer River is known for its woodcarvers and woodcarvings, for its NATO School, and around the world for its 380-year tradition of ...

, from which the summit is only about one km away. Due to its prominent location and unique shape it can be identified from a considerable distance both from the direction of

Ettal Ettal is a German municipality in the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in Bavaria. Geography Ettal is situated in the ''Oberland'' area in the ''Graswangtal'' between the ''Loisachtal'' and '' Ammertal'', approx. 10 km north of Garmisch-Pa ...

and that of

Unterammergau Unterammergau is a municipality in the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in Bavaria, Germany. It is the site of the 11th-century Chapel of St Leonhard, patron saint of horses, which is the terminus of the annual ''Leonhardritt'' and Blessing of t ...

Routes

The direct route starts at the Döttenbühl parking lot (altitude ), near the Oberammergau cemetery. After crossing a meadow called the ''Kälberplatte'', with a view looking up to the imposing end of the climb, the greater part of the ascent is a wooded switchback footpath (with one clamber across a scree field) up to a rain shelter. From there, one starts climbing to the rocky summit. Another possibility for the ascent is a traverse over the ''Kolbensattelalm'' (, double chair lift) and the ''Königssteig'' (King's trail). By combining different routes the Kofel may be circumambulated.

Secured route to the summit

The last hundred meters of elevation are covered in a summit climb which is suitable even for families with children, provided they are sure-footed and have a

head for heights To have a head for heights means that one has no acrophobia, an irrational fear of heights, and is not particularly prone to fear of falling or suffering from vertigo, the spinning sensation that can be triggered, for example, by looking down fro ...

. Steep and exposed sections are secured by fixed steel cables. After rain there is an increased risk of slipping in the rockier sections. In the ''Hüsler Alpine Climbing Atlas'' the ascent is rated a KS1 secured climb. From the cross at the peak there is, weather permitting, an outstanding panoramic view including Ettal and both Ober- and Unterammergau.

External links

Mountains of Bavaria Ammergau Alps Mountains of the Alps {{Bavaria-geo-stub