Lake Eibsee Stone Cliff, Braxeninse & Zugspitze

This image was taken in front of a cliff along Lake Eibsee with a view of Braxeninsel & Zugspitze mountain in the background. There isn't a guided path to get to this particular vantage point, so reference the following GPS coordinates to guide you along the path. It will take you about 30 minutes to complete the trail hike. Start by parking at the lot of the Eibsee-Hotel (47.457736, 10.991698) then head south on Am Eibsee toward Eibseestraße. Once you reach Eibseestraße, take a left. Follow the path toward Eibsee Runwig (go over the bridge) until you get to the GPS coordinates: 47.4620457, 10.9772193. Continue around the shore along the trail until you get to the next GPS coordinates: 47.4611902, 10.9769665. From there, you can walk to the final spot where I stood to get this view of the lake, island and mountain — and you should see the rock a model can stand on.

The summer and fall months are the most suitable times to photograph Lake Eibsee — especially from May to October. During these months, the sun will come in from the left and will light up the island in the morning, which will look great in your image. Be aware that in the winter and early spring the lake will be frozen.

Visit this location in the early morning to have the place to yourself. Sunrise brings the best conditions for a nice reflection and bright sunlight, but you can get great shots here any time of day. The lake will be very crowded during midday and evening, so expect to have other hikers in your shot if you visit during these times. Check the weather a day before you go. The lake is the most beautiful with a good sunrise, but it's also stunning with a moody atmosphere and light rain.

I recommend using a wide-angle lens (16-35mm) so you can incorporate the stone cliff, lake and mountains in the background.

Bring along a model who can stand or sit on the stone. This will make the picture more interesting and add a sense of scale.

Try not to stand directly in front of the stone cliff on the ground. There is a little "hill" (3m high) where you can climb up to find the perfect elevated perspective of the cliff and lake.

Enjoy the breathtaking views of the Zugspitze mountain and Lake Eibsee as you hike the path. I recommend walking along the northern banks and you'll be able to find many benches to kick back, relax and take in the view.

I also suggest walking through the beautiful forest around the lake. The more you walk, the more you'll find cute little islands with quaint cabins.

Visit the other nearby lakes: Geroldsee, Rießersee, & Partnachklamm Gorge.