Stand Up Paddling auf der Loisach: Natur pur zwischen Kochelsee und Schönmühl

2025-07-13 2 minute read

I recently went stand-up paddling (SUP) with my son on the Loisach. The route from Kochelsee to Schönmühl leads through a wonderfully tranquil moorland landscape, with the panorama of the Bavarian Alps in the background. Between moor meadows, forest and small gravel banks, the Loisach offers a varied nature experience on this section. The gentle current makes the tour ideal for relaxed half-day trips. Perfect for finding peace and quiet and experiencing a little adventure at the same time.

Arrival and start

This time we took the train from Penzberg to Kochel, the starting point of our tour. As an alternative to taking the train, you can also leave a bike in Schönmühl and take the bus to Kochel from there. From the train station in Kochel, it’s about a ten-minute walk to the Loisach bridge on Schlehdorfer Straße. On the way there, we treated ourselves to an ice cream at Eiscafé Da Michele.

Once we arrived at the entry point, we quickly pumped up the SUP (a team effort was required here) and stowed the equipment in two waterproof bags before heading straight onto the water. The entry point is located shortly after a sill, from where the Loisach takes on its river form again after the Kochelsee.

Part 1: Kochelsee to the beginning of the forest

The Loisach meanders through an open moorland landscape for the first few kilometers. The scenery with the mountains towering behind it makes this section particularly attractive and photogenic. When the water level is normal, dry gravel banks appear again and again, perfect places for a break or a small picnic right by the water. Many fish can also be observed in the clear water.

Part 2: Beginning of the forest to Lainbach tributary

From about a quarter of the way along, the Loisach leads through a shady, wooded area. The atmosphere changes - instead of wide views, the picture is now characterized by quiet banks and overhanging trees. Shortly after a pedestrian bridge, you reach the only place where the SUP has to be transferred: a threshold shortly before the confluence with the Lainbach. It is marked with signs as a transfer point and is easy to reach.

Part 3: Lainbach tributary to the bridge on the B472

After the transfer point, the river initially becomes a little shallower, but we made good progress through the sword despite the deep draught. Further downstream, you eventually approach the B472 bridge. There are rapids directly below that look a little more exciting than they actually are. If you paddle in the middle and keep an eye out for possible obstacles such as branches or floating wood, you can easily negotiate this section.

Part 4: Bridge on the B472 to Schönmühl:

After the bridge on the B472, things got a little uncomfortable: as on an earlier tour, there were a lot of brakes on this section. We tried to stay as central as possible and spontaneously switched on our “turbo”, which worked quite well. Towards the end you reach the drawbridge and shortly afterwards the Loisach splits into two arms. The exit is located in the left-hand arm of the river in the direction of flow and is well signposted.

Conclusion

The stretch from Kochelsee to Schönmühl is a scenically varied and technically easy SUP tour, ideal for half a day. With a gentle current, only one transfer point and good accessibility, it is ideal for beginners and families.