Hochgratbahn, Cable car system in Oberstaufen, Germany

The Hochgratbahn is a small-cabin aerial lift whose base station stands at 856 m in Steibis, a district of Oberstaufen. It spans 850 vertical metres to a mountain station at 1,706 m on the Hochgrat ridge. Each cabin holds up to four people or 320 kg, and the line runs at a maximum of 3.5 m/s. From the top station a half-hour walk leads to the 1,832 m summit.

On 4 October 1963 the 5,600-hectare Hochgrat ridge was designated a landscape protection area. Construction of the gondola lift by PHB Pohlig-Heckel-Bleichert of Cologne and Rohrbach/Saar began in 1971, and the Hochgratbahn opened in 1972. It is owned by the princely Waldburg-Zeil family.

The lift is owned by the princely Waldburg-Zeil family. In summer, six signposted hiking routes start at the mountain station, including the Gipfelweg and the roughly seven-hour Nagelfluh ridge traverse, which is reserved for experienced, sure-footed alpinists.

The small cabins hold at most four people or 320 kg and travel at up to 3.5 m/s, covering the 850 metres of height between the base station at 856 m and the top station at 1706 m. From the top station, the 1832 m summit is about a half-hour walk; a mountain restaurant with a children's playground stands beside it. In summer six signposted hikes start here, including the roughly seven-hour Nagelfluh ridge traverse for sure-footed alpine hikers only.

The lift is owned by the princely Waldburg-Zeil family. Its cabins are coupled to the haul rope by a gravity clamp developed and licensed by Giovanola, and a magnetic-inductive monitor prevents coupling on the rope splice, so the chain conveyor waits until the splice has left the station.