· By Eisbach Riders
Isar SUP Camping: A 2-Day Paddle from Wolfratshausen to Munich
You've paddled the Isar through Munich. You've done the Floßlände stretch, maybe even the English Garden wave. But there's a wilder version of this river waiting upstream — two days of flatwater cruising, riverside camping, and one of the most rewarding multi-day SUP trips in Bavaria. The route from Wolfratshausen to Munich is 45 kilometres of braided channels, gravel banks, and dense riverside forest, all without ever leaving the city's backyard.
This is a practical trip report for that route. Day-by-day breakdown, campsite logistics, portage points, and what to pack. No fluff — just what you need to plan the trip and actually do it.
The Route Overview
The Isar from Wolfratshausen to Munich covers roughly 45 km of paddleable river. The upper section — Wolfratshausen to Bad Tölz or Geretsried — is popular with traditional Flößerei (log rafting) and is fast-moving in high water. The stretch from Wolfratshausen south toward Schäftlarn and on to Grünwald is calmer, braided, and ideal for loaded boards. The final push into Munich brings more current and, in summer, significantly more river traffic.
Water level matters enormously. Check the Pegelonline gauge at Wolfratshausen before you launch. Below 50 cm you'll be dragging through gravel. Above 120 cm the current is powerful and some passages become pushy. The sweet spot is 60–90 cm — enough water to float a loaded board through the shallows, not so much that you're fighting the river the whole way.
Day 1: Wolfratshausen to Schäftlarn Abbey (approx. 20 km)
Launch Point
Put in at the Loisach-Isar-Kanal confluence just south of Wolfratshausen, near the public car park at the Flößerei Museum. There's a gentle gravel ramp that works well for inflatable boards. Parking is free and the area is easy to reach by S-Bahn (S3 to Wolfratshausen) if you're shuttling your car to Munich.
The Paddle
Day 1 covers the most scenic section of the route. The river runs through the Isarauen nature reserve, a protected floodplain of willow forest, gravel islands, and crystalline water. You'll find yourself navigating braided channels — take the main flow wherever possible, but don't be afraid to explore side channels if the water level allows. Watch for submerged gravel bars in low water; the river gives clear visual cues but a glance ahead saves dragging.
At around the 10 km mark you'll pass under the old Pupplinger Au forest — one of the last intact lowland gravel-bed river ecosystems in Central Europe. Paddle slowly here. The birdlife alone is worth the stop.
Portage: Mühltal Weir
Before Schäftlarn you'll encounter the Mühltal weir (roughly km 18 from Wolfratshausen). This is a mandatory portage — do not run it. Pull out river-left onto the gravel bank 50 metres upstream of the weir, carry your board and gear down the footpath, and relaunch below the outflow. The carry is short, maybe 80 metres, but the bank can be slippery after rain. Take your time.
Camp: Schäftlarn
The recommended overnight stop is the gravel bank just downstream of Kloster Schäftlarn, the Benedictine abbey visible on the hillside to the right. There's a large open gravel bar on river-left that offers flat ground for tents, firepit remnants from previous visitors, and easy access back to the water in the morning. No formal campsite infrastructure — this is a wildcamp. Bring everything you need: water filter, trowel, and leave-no-trace discipline. The nearest toilet is at the abbey garden café (open seasonally; check hours). The village of Schäftlarn is a 15-minute walk up the hill if you need resupply.
In summer, this spot fills up on Friday and Saturday nights. Arrive by 5 pm to claim a good pitch. Midweek it's often completely deserted.
Day 2: Schäftlarn to Munich Floßlände (approx. 25 km)
The Paddle
Day 2 is longer and noticeably more varied. The river quickens through the Grünwald gorge section — a beautiful stretch of wooded limestone walls where the Isar narrows and the current picks up. This is not whitewater, but a loaded touring board needs confident edging through the faster bends. Keep your weight centred, use your fin for tracking, and don't rush it.
Past Grünwald the river widens and flattens as you approach the southern city boundary. You'll start to see the first riverside bathers, kayakers, and the occasional SUPer. The Flaucher area — Munich's famous urban riverside — is your signal that you're nearly there. Keep paddling another 3 km to the Floßlände takeout.
Portage: Auer Mühlbach Diversion
At the northern edge of Grünwald, just before the river passes under the Grünwald bridge, watch for the Auer Mühlbach diversion weir on river-right. Stay river-left and take the main Isar channel. The weir is signed but easy to miss when the water is high and your vision is focused downstream. When in doubt, pull over and scout on foot.
Takeout: Floßlände
The Floßlände car park on the west bank at Munich-Thalkirchen is the standard takeout for this route. There's a concrete ramp, adequate parking, and the U3 (Thalkirchen station) is a 10-minute walk away. If you're retrieving a car from Wolfratshausen, the S3 connects back in about 40 minutes — one of the cleanest shuttle logistics of any river trip in Germany.
What to Pack
On the Board
- Dry bag (30–40 L) for tent, sleeping bag, and clothing — lash it to the nose or tail bungee
- Smaller 5–10 L dry bag for food, stove, and camp kitchen
- Water filter (Sawyer Squeeze or similar) — the Isar looks clean but filter anyway
- Lightweight tarp or bivy if you want to travel minimal
- Headlamp, first-aid kit, phone in a waterproof case
- Trowel and waste bags — the Isarauen is a nature reserve
On Your Body
- PFD — mandatory on moving water and just sensible when loaded
- Wetsuit top or drysuit in spring and autumn; the Isar runs cold year-round
- Sun protection — the flat water reflects UV hard
- Paddle leash for the faster sections
Choosing the Right Fin for a Loaded Touring Board
A two-day river trip changes your fin requirements compared to a day paddle. You need tracking stability for long flatwater sections, enough flex to survive shallow gravel bars without snapping, and reliable drive when you're pushing a heavy board through slow sections. The wrong fin on a loaded board turns an enjoyable cruise into a constant correction battle.
For this specific route — mostly flatwater with gravel bars, one gorge section, and light current — we recommend either the Touring Fin for maximum tracking efficiency on the long open stretches, or the Flexible River Fin if you're paddling in shoulder season when water levels can drop and gravel scrapes are more frequent.
Logistics Cheat Sheet
- Best season: May–September. June and July offer the best water levels and longest days.
- Water gauge: Pegelonline Wolfratshausen — aim for 60–90 cm. Check the morning of your trip.
- Shuttle: Leave a car at Floßlände (Thalkirchen), take U3 to Marienplatz, S3 to Wolfratshausen. Total shuttle time ~55 minutes.
- Permits: No paddling permit required on the Isar. Wildcamping in the Isarauen is tolerated but not formally permitted — practice strict leave-no-trace.
- Emergency contacts: DLRG Munich covers the urban Isar. Save the number before you go: +49 89 723 606 0.
- Weather window: The Isar drains a large Alpine catchment. A single afternoon thunderstorm in the mountains can raise river levels by 30–40 cm within hours. Check Alpine weather as well as Munich's forecast.
Final Word
The Wolfratshausen-to-Munich route is one of those trips that looks modest on a map and reveals itself completely differently on the water. Two days, one night under the stars beside a Bavarian abbey, 45 kilometres of river to yourself — this is what flatwater SUP touring actually is when you strip away the lake day-trip version. Do it once and you'll start eyeing the Isar upstream of Wolfratshausen, toward Bad Tölz, toward the mountains. The river keeps giving.
Gear up, check the gauge, and go.