Geisterklamm Leutasch – ticket, access & 3 trails

Some places you don't really understand from Google Maps – the Leutasch Spirit Gorge (Leutascher Geisterklamm) is one of them. A 75-metre-deep gorge, criss-crossed by airy steel walkways and bridges, ending at the 23-metre-high waterfall of the Wasserfallsteig. Anyone on holiday in Leutasch who skips this has missed something. From the Wilderer Chalets it's about 8 minutes by car – the gorge sits at the northern end of the valley, in the Schanz district right at the border crossing to Mittenwald.

What is the Leutasch Spirit Gorge?

The Leutasch Spirit Gorge – also known as Leutaschklamm – is a gorge carved out by the Leutascher Ache stream in the Wetterstein range, on the border between Tyrol and Bavaria. 75 metres deep, 1,640 metres long from the valley head to the Klammkiosk. Since 2005, a modern steel walkway system has made the gorge accessible – where there used to be unclimbable cliffs, bridges and platforms now float above the water. In 2023 the whole concept was redesigned: three themed characters (Spirit Gorge, Einstein, Flora) explain water, stone and nature at stations along the trail – turning a walk into a family experience.

© Region Seefeld

Three trails through the gorge – which one fits you?

The Spirit Gorge offers three official trails. Which one fits depends on how much time and fitness you have, and whether you bring a stroller or dog:

• Small Gorge Loop – 500 m, 15 minutes, 10 m elevation, barrier-free. Ideal with stroller or for a short taste.
• Large Gorge Loop – 3.2 km, 1.5 hours, 129 m elevation. The classic loop across the Höll and Panorama bridges with all theme stations.
• Waterfall Trail (combined) – 5 km, 2.5 hours, 225 m elevation. Includes the 200 m path to the 23 m waterfall. Sure-footedness required.

For a first visit, and for families, we recommend the Large Gorge Loop. It has the most spectacular bridges, the most themed stations and combines nicely with a break at the Klammkiosk. If you still have time afterwards: add the Waterfall Trail.

Waterfall Trail – 23 m waterfall behind the iron gate

The Waterfall Trail (Wasserfallsteig) is the only paid section of the Spirit Gorge – and the only one with restricted opening hours. Behind a large iron gate, a 200-metre wooden walkway leads through narrow rock walls, past whirlpools and cascades, to the platform at the foot of the 23-metre-high waterfall. Admission: €4 per adult, €2 per child. Open May to mid-October, daily 10 AM to 5 PM. Outside those hours the gate is locked.

© Region Seefeld

Spirit Gorge, Einstein and Flora – the theme concept since 2023

In 2023 the whole gorge got a narrative overhaul. Three spirits guide the way: the Spirit Gorge (water) explains how the canyon was carved over millennia; Einstein (stone) shows the geology of the Wetterstein range; Flora (nature) tells the story of the plants and animals living in the gorge. The stations have signs, small games and stories. Works for kids from age four, but adults stop too – the texts are clever, not childish.

With kids, dog and stroller – what actually works

The steel walkways have grid floors – you can see up to 75 metres straight down. For most kids that's a highlight; for sensitive dogs it's a problem (paws and seeing through the grid). Concrete rules: with a stroller only the Small Gorge Loop is possible – it's officially barrier-free. Strollers, wheelchairs and bikes are not allowed on the Large Loop or Waterfall Trail. Dogs should not cross the steel walkways – the Small Loop and forest-trail sections are allowed on a leash.

© Region Seefeld

Opening hours and season

• Main trails (Klammgeistweg, Koboldpfad, Höll & Panorama Bridges): 1 May – 31 October, accessible 24/7
• Waterfall Trail: May to mid-October, daily 10 AM – 5 PM
• In winter (November – April): fully closed due to rockfall and ice danger
• In heavy rain or thunderstorms the Waterfall Trail may close at short notice
• Main trails: free of charge
• Waterfall Trail admission: €4 adults, €2 children

Best time to visit

The Spirit Gorge sits between two busy spots – Leutasch and Mittenwald – and in July/August it's crowded mid-morning and late afternoon. If you want quiet: early morning from 9 AM or around 4 PM (the Waterfall Trail closes at 5). September and October are quieter, the light in the gorge turns warmer, and after rainy days the waterfall runs especially strong. Autumn is photographically the strongest season.

© Region Seefeld

Practical info for your visit

• Location: Schanz district, 6105 Leutasch, at the Mittenwald border crossing
• Gorge depth: 75 m – waterfall 23 m high
• Three loops: 500 m (15 min), 3.2 km (1.5 h), 5 km (2.5 h)
• Admission main trails: free – Waterfall Trail: €4 / €2
• Parking at the Klammkiosk: €6 car, €20 bus
• Klammkiosk at the entrance: snacks, drinks, toilets, souvenirs
• Sturdy footwear required – steel walkways slippery when wet
• With stroller: only the Small Gorge Loop (barrier-free)
• With dog: only the Small Loop and forest sections (leash), not over steel walkways
• Also accessible from Mittenwald – cross-border trail

From the Wilderer Chalets to the Spirit Gorge

The Spirit Gorge is reachable from the Wilderer Chalets in Leutasch-Weidach in about 8 minutes by car – simply through the valley towards Mittenwald, the Klammkiosk in the Schanz district is signposted. By bike: around 15 minutes, slightly downhill. A great half-day outing: leave in the morning, do the Large Loop, take a break at the Klammkiosk, optionally add the Waterfall Trail, return to the chalet in the afternoon. In summer, best to visit before 10 AM or after 3 PM – at midday it's full, especially in peak season.

“

The Spirit Gorge is one of the few Tyrolean gorges that really works for families: walkways instead of mud, stories instead of crampons, and a kiosk with fries at the end for everyone who is just exhausted enough to feel happy.

— Wilderer Chalets Team

There are sights that just about live up to their reputation. The Spirit Gorge is one of those rare ones that flip the script – the little sister no one expects much from, and which then surprises with 75 metres of depth, floating bridges and a 23-metre waterfall. If you stay at the Wilderer Chalets, you have it practically on your doorstep – one of those location perks that Booking.com can't squeeze into a number.