Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen: Trails, Rafting and Tradition

In Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen, themed trails, local history and rafting are complemented by a long-standing horse pilgrimage. As a tourism brand, Tölzer Land represents all 21 towns and municipalities in the district of Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen. Trails and nature, historic sites and the Leonhardi horse pilgrimage each offer a different focus. If you are looking for a hotel, it may help to first choose the places whose experiences you want to shape your trip.

Trails with different focuses

The Tölzer Land Health Climate Park includes 37 routes across a network of more than 340 kilometres between Bad Heilbrunn, Bad Tölz, Kochel am See, Wackersberg and Lenggries. The hiking options also include six signposted Nordic walking routes ranging from 2 to 8.6 kilometres. As the number of routes may change, check these details before making current plans.

A separate themed trail forms a meditative circular route around Benediktbeuern Abbey in the Loisach-Kochelsee Moor. At twelve stations, visitors learn about the teachings of Saint Benedict; QR codes and audio files provide more in-depth information. The easy Loisach Trail in Wolfratshausen offers a different focus: this 3.34-kilometre walk follows the Loisach River past traces of the rafting trade, the Kastenmühlwehr weir and the raft landing. The stated walking time is 49 minutes.

Wolfratshausen: Rafting and Local History

The MeinBankerl Trail starts in the old town, directly in front of the Loisachhalle in the heart of the town, and leads to familiar filming locations from the TV series “Hubert und/ohne Staller”. The full route is about six kilometres long; a shorter option is about four kilometres. This lets you choose a route to suit your preferred distance, without assuming a walking time or difficulty level.

Anyone interested in Wolfratshausen’s history can take a walking tour of the historic town centre. It traces the town’s thousand-year history and that of its residents, and includes stops such as St. Andreas Parish Church, built in 1484, the Humpelbräu and the craftsmen’s houses. The Wolfratshausen Museum uses objects large and small, donated by local residents, to present a cross-section of domestic culture, arts and crafts, trades, commerce and contemporary history.

There are also several ways to explore rafting: the Rafting Audio Trail presents this traditional craft through audio and video files. Raft trips from Wolfratshausen to Munich are a tourist attraction for visitors from across Europe; check availability for your travel dates. In the Waldram district, the BADEHAUS memorial site focuses on regional contemporary history. An audio guide takes visitors through the permanent exhibition or on a historical walking tour of the area.

Tradition in Bad Tölz

The Leonhardi horse pilgrimage in Bad Tölz is considered the largest of its kind in Upper Bavaria and one of Germany’s most beautiful horse pilgrimages. Every year, it attracts tens of thousands of spectators. The procession follows a set route through Marktstraße up to Kalvarienberg and the Leonhardi Chapel. A church service with a blessing for the participants takes place there; the procession then circles the Leonhardi Chapel, built in 1718, twice before returning to Marktstraße. Check dates and the programme before your visit.

Nature and Outdoor Activities

The Pupplinger Au nature reserve lies just north of Wolfratshausen. Extensive gravel banks and ancient alluvial forest at the confluence of the Loisach and Isar rivers define this landscape. In Wolfratshausen, the Bergwald nature trail explains the importance of the forest ecosystem at 19 stations and invites visitors to experience the forest with all their senses.

At Blomberg, the discovery trail has stations for trying things out and solving puzzles, wooden telescopes for viewing environmental features, and stories for children. The trail is accessible from spring through autumn. A road cycling tour to Walchensee starts in Wolfratshausen, passes through Bad Heilbrunn, by Kochelsee and over Kesselberg to Walchensee, then returns to Wolfratshausen via Bad Tölz. Check road and access conditions before setting out.

Choosing a Place and Getting Around

The X970 express bus connects Bad Tölz, the Isar Valley, Geretsried, Wolfratshausen and Starnberg, with stops at various locations for sightseeing.

Wolfratshausen is connected to Munich by S-Bahn line S7. According to the municipality, Munich is about 25 kilometres north of Wolfratshausen and can be reached within 30 minutes. Trains operated by Bayerische Oberlandbahn depart hourly from Munich Central Station for Blomberg; from Bad Tölz station, bus routes 9612 and 9591 go to the “Blombergbahn” stop. Check train and bus schedules before travelling.

Discover more destinations: Bad Heilbrunn, Bad Tölz, Kochel Am See, Münsing, Schlehdorf, Lenggries, Benediktbeuern, Egling, Icking, Dietramszell, Geretsried, Jachenau, Eurasburg, Wolfratshausen, Gaißach, Wackersberg, Sankt Heinrich, Bichl, Greiling, Königsdorf, Reichersbeuern, Sachsenkam

For the main travel overview: Bavaria.