Walchensee

Area

16.27 km²

Max. depth

189.5 m

Altitude

801 m

From Munich

1.3 hrs

Walchensee: a lake in Tölzer Land and Blue Land at 801 m, covering 16.27 km² and up to 189.5 m deep. Walchensee glows like the Caribbean in the Alps: turquoise, up to 189.5 m deep and with winds that draw surfers from across southern Germany.

About Walchensee

At just over 16 km² it is one of Germany’s largest and deepest Alpine lakes. Clear, chalky water gives it its colour. Since 1924 it has driven the Walchensee hydroelectric power station at Kochelsee through a drop of about 200 m, so its level changes slightly. The village of Walchensee is on the west shore; Urfeld on the north shore once hosted Goethe.

Can you swim here?

The shallow bays near Einsiedl, Sachenbach and Niedernach are popular, though access is partly via toll roads and fills early on summer days. The water stays fresh. Windsurfers and kiters often find reliable morning thermals.

Which walks are there?

The Herzogstand cable car rises from Walchensee, and from the top station it is about 45 minutes to the summit view. The ridge to Heimgarten is a popular route for sure-footed walkers. Jochberg is the quick hike from Urfeld.

• Herzogstand and Heimgarten: 13 km, Difficult
• Jochberg: 8 km, Moderate

How do you get there?

Buses run from Kochel over the Kesselberg to Walchensee. By car take the B11 via Kochel; it gets busy on summer weekends and roadside parking fills fast.

Towns on the shore: Walchensee, Urfeld, Einsiedl, Jachenau. Travel time from Munich is a rough estimate by car or train. Area, depth and altitude from Wikipedia and Wikidata.