Josefsthal: Winter Hike, Bike Tour and Waterfalls

Josefsthal offers a range of routes that fit easily into your travel plans: a winter hike with a sled ride downhill when there is enough snow, and a cycling route that continues towards the village. When planning your trip, it is worth distinguishing between the routes in Josefsthal and the additional excursion destinations in the wider Schliersee area.

Winter Hiking and Getting to Josefsthal

The winter hike from Josefsthal to Neue Spitzingstraße is about 1.5 kilometres long and takes approximately 45 minutes uphill. When there is enough snow, you can sled back down. Snow and weather determine whether this seasonal option is available, so check the conditions before your excursion. The duration given applies to the route uphill and gives you a specific point of reference for this part of your plans.

There are two described ways to reach the hiking trails in Josefsthal by public transport: take the train to Fischhausen-Neuhaus station and then continue on foot along the Bockerlbahnweg. Alternatively, RVO bus route 362 takes you to the Josefstal Abzw. Aurachstraße stop. Public transport services and stopping patterns may change, so check the timetable and the stop for your connection before setting off.

Cycling to the Josefsthal Waterfalls

The 16.9-kilometre cycling route from Miesbach to Neuhaus follows the shore of Schliersee and continues towards Josefsthal. From there, cyclists can leave their bikes and reach the Josefsthal Waterfalls on foot in just a few minutes. So allow time for this short walk as well as the ride. Signage and trail conditions may change; check the route before setting off. This lets you combine the bike tour with a walk to the waterfalls without treating the walk as part of the cycling distance.

More Destinations in the Wider Schliersee Area

The museums in the wider Schliersee area also offer a variety of insights. Markus Wasmeier’s Open-Air Museum Schliersee is designed as an Upper Bavarian farm village, with historic buildings faithfully reconstructed. Traditional crafts such as shoemaking and blacksmithing, as well as beer brewing based on historical methods, are presented there. Which demonstrations take place may depend on the date. Since 1916, the Schliersee Local History Museum has been housed in Schredl House, a building dating from the 14th century.

St. Sixtus Church is also part of Schliersee’s architectural and art history. It was built between 1712 and 1715 on the site of a medieval predecessor church. The ceiling frescoes and stucco work were created by Johann Baptist Zimmermann. Another work in the church is the Throne of Mercy by Erasmus Grasser, dating from 1490. The dates mark different stages in the site’s history: the medieval predecessor building, the construction of the new church and the earlier work of art.

Loop Trail around Schliersee

For an excursion in the wider Schliersee area, consider the approximately seven-kilometre loop trail around the lake. It is mostly flat, predominantly paved and easy to navigate; a companion is recommended because of a few short climbs. There are benches for resting, viewpoints by the water and swimming coves along the way. A tree discovery trail is also part of the official lakeside loop. The route combines a variety of trail features, so you do not have to commit to a single viewpoint or section.

Vitalwelt in Schliersee can serve as the starting point for the loop trail. The adjacent Kurpark lets you choose which direction to walk. When adding the loop to your day’s plans, you can weigh its length and mostly flat profile against the short climbs. Every year on 31 December, the Schliersee local history association invites people to a year-end event at the Schliersee Local History Museum.

Discover more destinations: Spitzingsee, Fischhausen

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