Some places you don't really understand from Google Maps – the Leutasch Spirit Gorge (Leutascher Geisterklamm, sometimes called the Ghost Gorge) is one of them. A gorge up to 75 metres deep, 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 15 minutes by car – the gorge sits at the northern end of the valley, in the Schanz district right at the border crossing to Mittenwald.
The Spirit Gorge at a glance
- Depth: up to 75 m; total length of the gorge around 1.65 km
- Small Gorge Loop: 500 m, approx. 15 minutes, 10 m elevation gain, pushchair-friendly
- Large Gorge Loop with themed trail: 3.2 km, 1 to 1.5 hours, around 130 m elevation gain
- Loop via the Waterfall Trail on the Mittenwald side: 5 km, approx. 2.5 hours, 255 m elevation gain
- Admission: gorge trails free – only the Waterfall Trail costs €4 (adults) or €2 (children)
- Season: early May to end of October, gorge trails open 24 hours; Waterfall Trail daily 10 am–5 pm; closed in winter
- Parking: car park P19 “Leutascher Geisterklamm” in Schanz, €6 per day (car)
- Bus: line 431 to the “Leutasch Geisterklamm” stop – free with the guest card
- Pushchairs: only on the Small Gorge Loop
- Dogs: only the Small Gorge Loop and part of the forest path, not across the grid walkways
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. Up to 75 metres deep and around 1,650 metres long in total – according to Wikipedia the longest accessible gorge in the Eastern Limestone Alps. The lower section with the waterfall has been open to visitors from Mittenwald since 1880. The steel walkways and bridges of the Spirit Gorge itself – around 970 metres, built as a German-Austrian EU project – have been open since May 2006: where there used to be unclimbable cliffs, bridges and platforms now float above the water. Since summer 2023 there has been a redesigned themed trail: three nature spirits (the Gorge Spirit, Einstein and Flora) explain water, stone and nature at around 25 stations – turning a walk into a family experience.
Three trails through the gorge – which one fits you?
The Spirit Gorge offers three signposted trails, all starting at car park P19 in Schanz. Which one fits depends on how much time and fitness you have, and whether you bring a pushchair or dog:
- Small Gorge Loop – 500 m, 15 minutes, 10 m elevation gain, pushchair-friendly (not suitable for wheelchairs). Ideal with a pushchair or for a short taste.
- Large Gorge Loop – 3.2 km, 1 to 1.5 hours, around 130 m elevation gain. The classic loop with the themed trail “The Legend of the Gorge Spirit”: along an 800-metre walkway to the Panorama Bridge, back through the forest. A head for heights and sure-footedness required.
- Loop with the Waterfall Trail – 5 km, 2.5 hours, 255 m elevation gain. Through the gorge to the Mittenwald side, including 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 and the most themed stations, and it ends back at the car park, where the Leutascher Klammstüberl is a good spot for a break. If you still have the time and energy: add the loop via the Waterfall Trail.
Waterfall Trail – 23 m waterfall behind the iron gate
The Waterfall Trail (Wasserfallsteig) is the only paid section of the gorge – and the only one with restricted opening hours. It is on the Bavarian side: you pay at the Klammkiosk at the Mittenwald entrance, then, behind a large iron gate, a wooden walkway of around 200 metres leads through narrow rock walls, past potholes and cascades, to the platform at the foot of the 23-metre-high waterfall. It is a dead end, so you return the same way. Admission: €4 per adult, €2 per child. Open in the summer season until mid/late October, daily 10 am to 5 pm. Outside those hours the gate is locked. In September and October the Waterfall Trail is closed on Fridays (as of 2026 – check briefly before your visit) – if you are coming specifically for the waterfall, check with the Mittenwald tourist office first.
Gorge Spirit, Einstein and Flora – the theme concept since 2023
Since summer 2023 the gorge has also had a new story to tell. Three nature spirits guide the way: the Gorge Spirit (Klammgeist, water) explains how the gorge was carved over millennia; Einstein (stone) shows the geology of the gorge; Flora (plants) tells you about what grows in and around it. The stations have picture boards, puzzles, small games and stories. It works for nursery and school-age children, but adults stop too – the texts are clever, not childish.
With children, dog and pushchair – what actually works
The steel walkways have grid floors – you can see a long way straight down. For most children that's a highlight; for many dogs it's a problem (paws and seeing through the grid). In practice: with a pushchair only the Small Gorge Loop is possible – it's barrier-free. On the Large Gorge Loop, the path to Mittenwald and the Waterfall Trail, pushchairs, wheelchairs and bikes won't get through because of stairs and grid walkways. According to the tourist board, dogs are only suited to the Small Gorge Loop and part of the forest path – we recommend keeping them on a lead there. Travelling with family and dog? Chalet Rothirsch with its fenced garden is a good place to let everyone run free again after a day like this.
Opening hours and season
- Gorge trails (Klammgeistweg, Koboldpfad, Höll and Panorama Bridges): early May to end of October (2026: from 1 May), accessible 24 hours
- Waterfall Trail and Klammkiosk: in the summer season until mid/late October, daily 10 am – 5 pm
- In winter (roughly November to April): closed for safety reasons
- In severe weather the gorge may close at short notice
- Gorge trails: free of charge
- Waterfall Trail admission: €4 adults, €2 children
Getting there: car, bus and parking
By car, drive through the Leutasch valley to the Schanz district just before the border. That's where you'll find the official car park P19 “Leutascher Geisterklamm”, right at the start of the trails: €6 per day for cars, €20 for coaches. The car park is only open during the gorge season. There are toilets and the Leutascher Klammstüberl at the car park.
Without a car, take the regional bus: line 431 runs from Leutasch-Weidach (Weidach Zentrum stop, with connections to lines 430 and 433 from Seefeld) roughly hourly during the day, taking around 15 minutes to the terminus “Leutasch Geisterklamm” at the car park. With the guest card you receive as an overnight guest in the Seefeld region, the ride is free. Note: line 431 no longer runs to Mittenwald – if you walk from Leutasch through the gorge to Mittenwald, plan to walk back. More on the valley's location and how to get here: Location & getting here.
Best time to visit
The Spirit Gorge sits between two popular places – Leutasch and Mittenwald – and in July and August it gets busy on fine days; in Mittenwald the car parks are often full by late morning. If you want quiet: come early in the morning or around 4 pm (the Waterfall Trail closes at 5 pm). September and October are quieter, the light in the gorge turns warmer, and after rainy days the waterfall runs especially strong. Autumn is the best season for photos. Just bear in mind: the season ends in late October, and the gorge stays closed until spring.
Practical info for your visit
- Location: Schanz district, 6105 Leutasch, at the border crossing to Mittenwald
- Gorge depth: up to 75 m – waterfall 23 m high
- Three loops: 500 m (15 min), 3.2 km (approx. 1 h), 5 km (2.5 h)
- Admission gorge trails: free – Waterfall Trail: €4 / €2
- Car park P19 Geisterklamm in Schanz: €6 per day (car), €20 (coach)
- At the car park: toilets and the Leutascher Klammstüberl; the Klammkiosk is at the Mittenwald entrance by the Waterfall Trail
- Sturdy footwear essential – steel walkways are slippery when wet; a head for heights needed on the Large Loop
- Pack a jacket: it's noticeably cooler in the gorge, even in high summer
- Bring some cash for the Waterfall Trail
- With a pushchair: only the Small Gorge Loop (pushchair-friendly)
- With a dog: only the Small Gorge Loop and part of the forest path, not across the grid walkways
- Bikes stay at the car park – they are not allowed between Leutasch and the Klammkiosk in Mittenwald
- Also accessible from Mittenwald – the path through the gorge links both sides
Frequently asked questions about the Leutasch Spirit Gorge
How much is admission to the Leutasch Spirit Gorge?
Most of the Spirit Gorge is free to access – the Klammgeistweg, Koboldpfad, Höll and Panorama Bridges, and the Small and Large Gorge Loops. Only the Waterfall Trail on the Mittenwald side (200 m to the 23 m waterfall) is paid: €4 per adult, €2 per child. Car park P19 in Leutasch-Schanz costs €6 per day per car.
When is the Spirit Gorge open?
The gorge trails are accessible 24 hours a day from early May to the end of October (in 2026 from 1 May). The Waterfall Trail is open in the summer season until mid/late October, daily 10 am to 5 pm – outside those hours the iron gate is locked. In winter the whole gorge is closed for safety reasons.
Is the Spirit Gorge open in winter?
No. The gorge can only be visited from early May to the end of October, and car park P19 is only open in summer too. In winter it is closed for safety reasons. If you're in Leutasch in winter, you'll find alternatives on our region page.
Which trail in the Spirit Gorge is best with children?
For small children and pushchairs the Small Gorge Loop is ideal: 500 m, 15 minutes, pushchair-friendly. Nursery and school-age children enjoy the Large Gorge Loop with the Gorge Spirit, Einstein and Flora stations most: 3.2 km, 1 to 1.5 hours, plenty of bridges high above the water. The Waterfall Trail is exciting too, but narrow in places with steps – very doable from school age.
Are dogs allowed in the Spirit Gorge?
According to the tourist board, the steel walkways with grid floors aren't suitable for dogs – most paws struggle with them and seeing through the grid is stressful for many animals. The Small Gorge Loop and part of the forest path work with a dog, ideally on a lead. For longer dog-friendly walks in Leutasch see our Dogs in Leutasch guide.
Is the Spirit Gorge suitable for pushchairs?
Only the Small Gorge Loop (500 m) is level and doable with a pushchair (not suitable for wheelchairs). The Large Gorge Loop, the Koboldpfad (Goblin Path) and the Waterfall Trail have stairs, narrow grid walkways and changes in height – pushchairs, wheelchairs and bikes won't get through there.
How tall is the waterfall in the Spirit Gorge?
The waterfall at the end of the Waterfall Trail is 23 metres high. The path leads around 200 metres through narrow rock walls to the platform at the foot of the waterfall. It isn't difficult, but it is narrow, damp and has steps – sure footing and sturdy shoes are enough. After rainy days the waterfall carries especially much water.
How long does a hike through the Spirit Gorge take?
It depends on the route: 15 minutes for the Small Gorge Loop (500 m), 1 to 1.5 hours for the Large Gorge Loop (3.2 km, around 130 m elevation gain) and about 2.5 hours for the loop via the Waterfall Trail (5 km, 255 m elevation gain). To see everything at leisure, plan half a day including a break.
Can you get to the Spirit Gorge by bus?
Yes. Regional bus line 431 runs from Leutasch-Weidach roughly hourly during the day to the terminus “Leutasch Geisterklamm”, right at the car park. With the Seefeld region guest card the ride is free. The line no longer runs to Mittenwald.
How far is the Spirit Gorge from the Wilderer Chalets?
From the Wilderer Chalets in Leutasch-Weidach it's about 10 kilometres to the Geisterklamm car park (P19) in the Schanz district. By car around 15 minutes, by bike about 35 minutes. Parking at the gorge costs €6 per day. One of the closest outings from our chalets, full stop.
From the Wilderer Chalets to the Spirit Gorge
The Spirit Gorge is about 15 minutes by car from the Wilderer Chalets in Leutasch-Weidach – simply through the valley towards Mittenwald; the Geisterklamm car park in the Schanz district is signposted. By bike: around 35 minutes, slightly downhill; the bike stays at the car park. A great half-day outing: leave in the morning, do the Large Gorge Loop, take a break at the Klammstüberl, add the loop via the Waterfall Trail if you like, and head back to the chalet in the afternoon. In summer, best to go before 10 am or after 3 pm – at midday it's full, especially in peak season. For the other days in the valley we've collected more outings in the region.
The Spirit Gorge is one of the few Tyrolean gorges that really works for families: walkways instead of mud, stories instead of crampons, and somewhere to stop 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 up to 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.
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