A Tannenhütte Sunset

            Garmisch-Partenkirchen had a long fall this year, so we have had ample opportunity to enjoy the changing leaves and beauty that the season offers. One of our absolute favorite destinations, The Tannenhütte, promotes a fun weeknight event where the mountainside restaurant stays open for dinner to allow for sunset viewing. This event is called the Tannenhütte Sundowner. It occurs once a week on Wednesdays throughout the summer and into the fall when the weather permits. Exact dates for hut evenings are determined week to week based on weather conditions. As such, it is always wise to check their website prior to embarking.

Austin and I initially discovered the Tannenhütte about two years ago after moving to the area and hearing many positive reviews. Since then, we have made an effort to visit as many times as possible. We actually attended the Sundowner event four times this year (and I am sad we can’t squeeze in one or two more visits before the snow comes!) The Tannenhütte sits at an altitude of 934 meters and is located on the Wank mountain which is on the Northeastern edge of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. It serves as the perfect place to watch a warm fall sunset behind the iconic Garmisch mountain range.  

The hike to the Tannenhütte begins in Partenkirchen, on the opposite side of town. On this particular fall evening, we enjoyed a leisurely across-town walk as a warm-up before beginning the ascent. We passed historic Ludwigstraße and strolled uphill past quaint village homes until coming to the tail head. The trail itself took us approximately 35 minutes to hike, with about 700 feet of elevation gain. In order to achieve a desired vantage point and view in the Alps, you should always be prepared for a solid incline hike.🙃 While there is definitely verticality, the Tannenhütte trail is technically easy because of the well-maintained path. I’ll admit that I was sweating by the time we approached the Tannenhütte! 

The trees open up in the last few meters of the trail, revealing sun-drenched panoramic views of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, backdropped by the Alpspitze and Zugspitze across the valley. There was already a crowd of visitors gathered for the event, enjoying the beautiful view and fun DJ music. The scenery and curated atmosphere make you almost instantly forget about the effort of the climb. Other than the hike up, the following features can be expected on select Wednesday ‘Sundowner’ evenings at the Tannenhütte:

• Closing time pushed until 10pm (normally 6pm close)
• Hot kitchen service available until 9pm
• A DJ or live music
• A beautiful mountain sunset

The Tannenhütte is a super clean and cozy structure. It was recently rebuilt in 2018. The newness is evident in the modern design, but it still keeps a nod to traditional Bavarian style. Clean wood lines are used in the space to create a simple frame bringing attention to stunning panorama views. Another feature of the Tannenhütte is that it is self-service. This is unique for a mountain hütte in the region. Patrons order at the bar area, taking drinks back to individual tables from there. You are issued a beeper for any prepared kitchen items. I find this nice because you can operate at your own pace and never really have to wait around for service or to pay. For dinner, I had a salad with cooked mushrooms and Austin got a soup. Both were delicious! The Tannenhütte menu features regionally sourced ingredients with a refreshing twist on traditional German cuisine.

Between the views, warm fall sunset, and music, I can confirm that the Tannenhütte Sundowner vibe was on point. There is something for everyone, from the panorama junkie to those who are mainly in it for the food.🙂 The trailhead is easily accessible and the hike is short enough to be completed in an evening. We brought our headlamps for the descent, as it was dark by the time we reached town again, however, phone lights always suffice in a pinch.😅 

Daylight savings time ended here on October 26th (interestingly one week earlier than the EST clock change for all my Cincinnati people). It’s nice to have the morning sun back, but I am still adjusting to the evening darkness. It feels like you can squeeze so much more out of a summer day! I am not sure that I am ready for the shorter days of winter yet, but I am thankful to experience the beauty of all four seasons here. The changing leaves this year had me stopping in awe on multiple occasions, reflecting on the simple magnificence of it all. Hopefully we can all take a few moments this fall to observe nature on a large and small scale, from the far out constellations on a clear night to the beauty in every leaf around us.

The evening Sundowner experience is definitely not to be missed, but if you have more time to explore the surrounding area near the Tannenhütte, I also highly recommend it. There is plenty to enjoy no matter the season or time of day including an impressive suspension bridge, kid’s playground, and vending machines offering ice cream and other unique options. It makes a good pause point before proceeding on to additional hiking routes on the Wank Mountain.  The Tannenhütte is located about a quarter of the way up the Wank Mountain. We hiked the whole Wank on a different occasion and it took us approximately 2 hours with 3500 feet of elevation gain. The trails are all well marked with estimated hiking times and difficulty levels listed on yellow signage. And if you aren’t already convinced, the Wank is usually a great place to view cows and other grazing animals if that sparks your interest… In my opinion, cow bells are the best soundtrack for hiking!