Zugspitze / Wetterstein Alpenglühen

About this spectacle

As the sun dips low over the Wetterstein massif, the great limestone walls of the Zugspitze and surrounding peaks ignite in a spectrum of gold, deep orange, and crimson — a phenomenon known as Alpenglühen. Visitors watching from the summit plateau or mountain stations witness the rock faces appearing to burn from within, the colour deepening with every passing minute as the sun descends. On cold, clear days with high cirrus cloud, atmospheric ice crystals split sunlight into shimmering halos, sundogs, and arcs that frame the mountain panorama. The experience is intensely visual and fleeting: the glow typically lasts only a few minutes at dawn or dusk before fading to grey. Cold alpine wind, thin air at nearly 3,000 metres, and the immense silence of the high peaks add a raw, elemental quality. Photographers and casual visitors alike find themselves holding their breath as the light transforms one of Germany's most dramatic ridgelines.

When to go

Jan — Dec, peak Oct — Mar

Getting there

Nearest airport: MUC. Nearest city: Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

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