Isartrails North

This classic Munich loop tightly hugs the river Isar on marvelous flow trails that run just below the official walking paths for most of the route. It definitely doesn’t ever feel like you are in the middle of a bustling city, which makes it one of my favorites. The trails are easy, sometimes moderately technical, and always fun, therefore well suited to beginning trail runners. A juicy little hill marks the half-way point, but if the near half-marathon length is too long (or too short) for you, there are plenty of bridges to adjust the circuit.

Starting on a relaxed park trail in the Isarauen on the river’s right bank, the exciting, moderately technical river trail is accessed by cutting hard left down a steep slope just after the bridge underpass below Max-Joseph Brücke (there is a gap in the railing) – it runs almost 10k to the highest point of the route.

Cutting across to the path running along the small lake Poschinger Weiher leads to a short, but steep ascent up to a viewpoint overlooking the city with the Alps visible in the far distance.

Crossing the Isar via a footbridge, we can soon leave the path again for a trail through a meadow to jump across a canal and resume an intricate slalom along the left bank – this is the most technical part of the run. The remaining 6km bring us back to the starting point along well-maintained, official paths.