For every nature lover, it is a dream to be on a mountain peak at sunset. But this means either spending the night on the mountain or descending again in the dark. For this reason, not every hike is suitable.
An easy hike that anyone can do at sunset is on the Wallberg at Lake Tegernsee in Bavaria. Since almost the entire ascent takes place on a wide forest path, the descent in the dark with headlamps is no problem and easy to do.
In this blog post, I tell you everything you need to know about the sunset hike on the Wallberg:
1. Route up the Wallberg for sunset
2. What time should you start?
3. When should you descend at the latest?
4. Can you take the Wallbergbahn up or down?
5. Is it still possible to stop for dinner?
6. What equipment do I need?
7. What else do you need to bear in mind for a sunset hike up the Wallberg?
1) Route up the Wallberg at sunset
Take the same route as for a daytime hike up the Wallberg. This route starts at the valley station of the Wallbergbahn cable car and leads up in serpentines on a wide forest path to the mountain station of the Wallbergbahn cable car and the Wallberghaus. You pass the small chapel, where you can stop for a snack as there are two benches and a phenomenal view of Lake Tegernsee, and then walk on for another half hour or so to the summit cross.
The ascent takes about 2.5 hours and the descent a little less. The hike covers 900 metres in altitude, so you should be in good shape, but the hike up the Wallberg to the sunset is easy and you don’t have to be an experienced hiker.
The detailed route description can be found here.
2) What time should I set off so as not to miss the sunset on the Wallberg?
You should start at least 3 hours before sunset, possibly even a little earlier. Depending on the season, this can be a very different time of day.
3) When should you descend at the latest?
If you don’t want to descend in complete darkness, you should set off just after the sun has disappeared from the horizon, then you will have a little more light for the first part of the descent.
If you don’t mind walking the whole way in the dark, you can enjoy the unique atmosphere at the summit cross for as long as you like and then set off with your headlamp.
4) Can you also take the Wallbergbahn up or down?
You can take the Wallbergbahn up and then only do the descent on foot. Unfortunately, you can’t take the Wallbergbahn down to avoid the descent in the dark.
The Wallbergbahn is open daily from 8:45 am to 4:30 pm and even operates in winter. In very bad weather conditions, however, the cable car may not run in winter. The best thing to do is to check the Wallbergbahn website for the current operating times: https://www.wallbergbahn.de/
5) Is it still possible to stop for dinner?
The Wallberg Panorama Restaurant, which is located directly at the top station of the Wallbergbahn, is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in summer and from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in winter. In autumn or winter, you could stop there for dinner and then continue on your way to the summit cross, which takes another half an hour.
Alternatively, there is the Berghotel Altes Wallberghaus, which is 15 minutes from the Wallbergbahn mountain station (in the other direction) and has a terrace with a magnificent view.
The easiest way is to pack a snack and enjoy it either on the benches by the Wallberg chapel or during the sunset.
6) What equipment do you need?
A well-functioning headlamp and, if necessary, a spare battery or spare batteries are indispensable. And of course hiking boots and a snack. Apart from that, you don’t need any other equipment.
7) What else should you bear in mind for a sunset hike on the Wallberg?
The Wallberg is a very popular and well-visited mountain at any time of year. Strangely enough, you usually meet few to no people at sunset. It’s best to plan the hike on a Sunday evening or a weekday, then with a bit of luck you’ll have the summit cross all to yourself.
And for those who still have some respect for the descent in the dark, it is never completely dark on the Wallberg. Just how densely populated Lake Tegernsee becomes particularly impressive at night: the lights of Rottach-Egern, Tegernsee and Bad Wiessee shine all the way up to the summit of Wallberg.
All in all, a sunset tour on the Wallberg is simply fantastic and highly recommended to everyone! Have you ever been on the Wallberg in the evening? Then tell me about your experience in the comments below!
