· By Eisbach Riders
SUP Touring the Isar: The Best Day Trips South of Munich
You've paddled the Eisbach, you've done the standing wave — now it's time to take your board upstream and explore the river that feeds it all. The Isar is one of Bavaria's great paddling corridors, and in summer it becomes a living waterway threading through alpine foothills, beer gardens, and quiet forests. If you're based in Munich and own a SUP, a day trip on the Isar is one of the best things you can do with it.
The Classic Route: Wolfratshausen → Thalkirchen
This is the benchmark Isar day trip — roughly 35 km of paddling through some of the most varied river scenery in Bavaria. Most paddlers break it into two legs at Bad Tölz or Schäftlarn, but committed paddlers do the whole stretch in a long summer day.
Launch Point: Wolfratshausen
Put in at the Loisach confluence just south of Wolfratshausen town centre. There's roadside parking on Loisachstraße and a gentle gravel bank that makes for an easy launch. The current is lively here — the Loisach adds volume — so clip your leash before you step on.
The Upper Stretch: Wolfratshausen → Bad Tölz (~20 km)
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate (Class I–II)
This section flows through shallow alpine foothills. Expect gravel bars, braided channels, and occasional log jams on the bends. The current does most of the work — you'll average 6–8 km/h without hard paddling. Watch for submerged rocks in low water (avoid July drought weeks when depth can drop below 30 cm in places). The reward: the river runs cold, clear, and green through a corridor of alder and willow that feels nothing like the city waiting downstream.
- Take-out option: Bad Tölz bridge (Isar-Loisach-Kanal area) — parking nearby, easy egress
- Beer garden stop: Gasthof zur Flößerei in Wolfratshausen before you launch, or carry snacks
- Shuttle: Wolfratshausen S-Bahn (S3) connects back from Thalkirchen/Munich
The Lower Stretch: Bad Tölz → Thalkirchen (~15 km)
Difficulty: Easy (Class I), with one notable exception
Below Bad Tölz the Isar widens and mellows considerably. The current is steadier, the banks more open. You'll pass the famous Flößerei (rafting) section at Schäftlarn — historically Bavaria's logging highway — and enter the city green belt south of Munich. The Isar corridor through the Isartal nature reserve is stunning in June and July when the riverbanks are bright with wildflowers.
Caution: The Ickinger Wehr (weir) requires a portage — take out river-left well in advance. There is signage, but current can make it deceptive. If in doubt, portage early.
- Take-out: Thalkirchen canoe landing (Tierpark area) — well-signed, easy beach egress
- Parking at take-out: Tierpark München has a large public car park
- Bonus: cold Augustiner at the Flaucher beer garden, 500 m from take-out
Other Day Trip Options South of Munich
Bad Tölz → Schäftlarn (~10 km) — The Family-Friendly Half-Day
Difficulty: Easy (Class I)
This is the most approachable stretch for beginners and families. The river is wide, the gradient gentle, and the Isartal forest keeps you shaded on hot days. Launch from the gravel beach just south of Bad Tölz near the Isar-Loisach-Kanal head. Take out at the monastery at Schäftlarn (Kloster Schäftlarn) — the monks run a beer garden that makes an ideal finish line.
- Launch: gravel beach, Bad Tölz (south end of Flößerstraße)
- Take-out: Kloster Schäftlarn — gentle bank, parking in monastery car park
- Distance: ~10 km / 2–3 hours
- Best for: beginners, families, first Isar day trips
Schäftlarn → Thalkirchen (~12 km) — The Green Corridor Run
Difficulty: Easy (Class I)
Start at the Schäftlarn monastery egress (also works as a launch) and follow the Isar north through the protected Isartal corridor into Munich's southern green belt. This section is almost entirely flatwater — good for technique work, pace practice, or just zoning out in nature. The first city infrastructure appears around Pullach. Take out at Thalkirchen as above.
Downstream of Munich: Thalkirchen → Grünwald (~6 km) — The Urban Quick-Hit
Difficulty: Easy (Class I)
If you just want an evening float, launch at Thalkirchen and paddle south (upstream) or float north toward the Isar bridges. Alternatively, many paddlers use the Flaucher island stretch — short, accessible, and perfect for a 90-minute session after work. This is also a great spot to practice flatwater technique before committing to a full day trip.
Practical Information
Launch Points & Parking
- Wolfratshausen: Loisachstraße gravel bank — free street parking, 5-min walk to water
- Bad Tölz: South end of Flößerstraße — free lot, direct river access
- Schäftlarn: Monastery car park — small fee, easy bank launch
- Thalkirchen: Tierpark München car park — paid parking, signed canoe egress
Best Season: June–September
The Isar runs cold even in summer (10–16°C) — a wetsuit top is wise before July. Peak conditions are late June through August when snowmelt from the Alps has levelled out, water temperature is most comfortable, and days are long enough for the full Wolfratshausen run. September is excellent for colour and fewer paddlers, but check water levels — dry autumns can leave the upper sections too shallow. Avoid high-melt periods in early June when the river can run fast and silty with limited visibility into hazards.
- June: High water, fast current, cold — experienced paddlers only on upper sections
- July–August: Optimal. Warm days, stable levels, great visibility
- September: Beautiful, quieter, watch water levels
- Check before you go: hnd.bayern.de (Bavarian water levels, Gauge: Wolfratshausen)
What to Watch Out For
- Weirs (Wehre): Always portage. Ickinger Wehr is the main hazard on the classic route. Take out river-left, early.
- Log jams: Common after high water on the upper stretch. Scan ahead on bends.
- Gravel bars in low water: Mid-July drought can strand inflatables. Check the gauge.
- Cold water: The Isar is glacially fed. Even in August, an unexpected swim is cold. Wear a leash, consider a wetsuit top.
- Fishing restrictions: Some banks are reserved for anglers — stay on the water and give them space.
The Right Fin for the Isar
River paddling puts specific demands on your fin setup. On the Isar's gravel riverbed, a rigid fin will get snapped on underwater rocks — sometimes on barely-submerged shelves that look fine from above. The Flexible River SUP Fin is built specifically for this: it deflects on impact and springs back to shape, protecting both the fin and your fin box. It's the fin to use anytime you're leaving flatwater.
Get Out There
The Isar is one of Munich's best-kept secrets — and once you've done the Wolfratshausen run, you'll wonder why it took you so long. Pick a stretch that matches your level, check the gauge the morning before, and get on the water. The Alps drain into this river all summer; all you have to do is point your board north and let it carry you home.
Browse our full SUP fin range and gear up for your next Isar day trip.