Scharnitz, shortly behind Mittenwald on the way to Innsbruck, is the first borrough after having crossed the Austrian border. Often one doen't stop on the way south, but head of the Isar river is well worth a stop, on foot or by bike. Right at the bridge in the town centre the streets leads through the town into the Karwendel, the massif, which sometimes seems a little frightening due to its big size.
The four mountain chains of the Karwendel comprise three valleys and hence represent one of the wildest spots of the Northern Alps. Just to anticipate one thing: the trail to the river head is a nice hike though, but by mountain bike the 30 km round trip are far easier to experience, also for the less trained.
The Isar's green and crystal clear water flatters the landscape which is marked by rough rocks and dense woods. Having passed the last houses of Scharnitz the street goes up steeply and the river is lost sight of. At the first rest area with banks and a wonderful view, being the highest point of our little excursion, it comes back to sight in its full splendor – the Isar river covering a distance of 285 km from Tyrol to its estuary in Lower Bavaria.
The tour leads back to the vally after a short break, just to return up to the river head again. Passing mountain pastures with grazing cows the the way leads along the river where canoeist find a great area for their hobby.
The glacier green water, which cleaves its way through the pebble banks, gives you an idea why Hermann Hesse has written about the Isar: "A very beautiful river. I have often listened to it, and looked into its eyes, and I have always learnt from it."
Another rest should be taken below the Kastenalm. There, at the real river head, you will find a few banks and runlets of the river. From here it's almost only downwards so that you safe your power on the bike. Except for the ascent to the first rest area before it goes down to back to Scharnitz.
Three to four hours should be calculated for this eventful tour. Bikes can be rented fo a low fee in Scharnitz or in the close towns of Mittenwald or Seefeld, this way you can spare the transport by car or train. From the Frederics Serviced Apartments you take the motorway A95 passing Garmisch towards Mittenwald or by train to Mittenwald and then to Scharnitz.
by Dietmar Stanka
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Apartment house
Hohenzollernplatz:
Hohenzollernplatz 7
80796 Munich
Apartment house
Dantestrasse:
Dantestrasse 18
80637 Munich
Office Frederics:
Ohmstrasse 18
80802 Munich
Telephone 089 21 18 70 50
Fax 089 21 18 70 55
