Wildensee – Mountain Lake and Hiking Trails

Wildensee as a Mountain Lake

Wildensee is a small mountain lake northwest of Mittenwald, at an elevation of 1,136 meters above sea level, facing the Karwendel Mountains. The access route passes through green alpine meadows and mountain forests. From the nearby Wildensee mountain inn, you can see across the Wetterstein, Karwendel and Estergebirge mountain ranges. The lake, alpine pastures and mountain panorama define the setting; at the same time, routes vary depending on your destination and the season. When planning your trip, it is worth keeping Wildensee and the mountain inn in mind as separate destinations.

Hiking with Clear Destinations

The easy route known as the “Hike from Mittenwald to Wildensee” starts at the parking lot for the Luttensee ski area and ends at the lake. It is 2.1 kilometers long, takes about 45 minutes and climbs 145 meters. At the destination, there is a large playground, a raft and a place to stop for refreshments. From the “Luttensee” parking lot, it takes about 1.5 hours to walk to the Wildensee mountain inn. The time estimates refer to different destinations: about 45 minutes to the lake and about 1.5 hours to the mountain inn.

More Trails and Tours

The Kranzberg ski area is very close to Wildensee. The winter hike starts at the valley station of the Kranzberg chairlift and goes through the Kranzberg ski area. The Kranzberg Panorama Loop follows a hiking trail to the Wildensee mountain inn; the mountain bike tour on Hoher Kranzberg runs through the Rossgraben to Wildensee. The options vary by season, mode of travel and destination: a winter hike through the ski area, a hiking trail to the mountain inn, or a mountain bike tour to the lake.

Mountain Lake and Swimming Lake

Wildensee is one of the warmest swimming lakes in the area. Its maximum depth is about two meters. The lake is therefore both a hiking destination and a distinctive part of the travel destination as a swimming lake.

The Chapel and the History of the Hut

The small Marienkapelle chapel stands right beside Wildensee. Anton Tiefenbrunner built it in 1960 out of gratitude for his safe return from the Second World War. In 1933, the hut above the lake was known as the “Goaßoim” (goat pasture). Hanni and Anda Tiefenbrunner served the first beers at the Wildenseehütte in 1951. The chapel and hut thus represent different historical milestones at Wildensee.

Getting There and Returning

Day visitors can use the hiking parking lot at Luttensee or the parking lot at the chairlift valley station. From Mittenwald-Gries, you can walk or cycle to the Wildensee mountain inn. After the winter hike to Wildensee, you can take the ski and guest bus from the Luttensee lifts’ valley station back down to the valley. Check the timetable in advance, as service details may vary by season. The access routes have different destinations: the short hike from Luttensee ends at the lake, while the route from Gries leads to the mountain inn.

Discover more destinations: Triefenstein, Hasloch, Hafenlohr, Esselbach, Thüngen, Burgsinn, Zellingen, Partenstein

Return to the main travel overview: Main-Spessart.