From "Wimbachgrieshütte" to the Funtensee

Leaving the Wimbachgrieshütte follow the Wimbach Valley to a pass called Trischübelpass (1.764 m). This will take you about 1 ¼ hours. On the other side of the pass descend the debris slopes until you meet the “Oberlahnersteig”, a trail the you then follow to your right.

A trail, which is partially equipped with cables for your safety, leads you to the mountain lake called “Funtensee” and the alpine hut of the German Alpine Club “Kärlingerhaus”

  • Trail: 421
  • Distance (one direction): 9,3 km
  • Elevation gain: 775 m
  • Time: 4 ½ hours
  • Difficulty: difficult
  • Starting point: Wimbachgrieshütte (the approach to Wimbachgrieshütte is explained seperately here)

Schärtenspitze (2,153 m)

Partners in close vincinity to the starting point

The "Hochalm" (Descent via Wimbachschloss)

From the parking, follow a forest road to the “Eckaualm” (1 ½ hours). To reach the Hochalm, plan another 1 ½ hours on a simple trail. The descent to the Wimbachschloss (1 ½ hours) is steep and exposed.

From the Wimbachschloss it is an easy hike along good trails and roads to the Wimbachbrücke. Follow the trail (Nr 2.) along the river to reach Ramsau.

  • Trail: 486 und 2
  • Distance: 13,5
  • Elevation gain: 870 m
  • Duration: 6 Std.
  • Degree of difficulty:
    to Hochalm: simple
    descent to Wimbachschloss: difficult
  • Starting point: public parking at Pfeiffenmacherbrücke

From the Hochalm to the hut Blaueishütte

Follow the forest road until you reach the Eckaualm (1 ½ hours) and continue to the alpine meadows of the Hochalm at 1.500 m (1 ½ hours, no board or lodging).

Follow the path to the right, which soon leads you the steep clearings of the Hochalm just below a debris cone. A steep rocky gully (partially euqipped with steel cables) leads to a large col, the “Eisbodenscharte” (2.049 m).

  • Trail: 486 (partially)
  • Distance: 3,3
  • Elevation gain: 1400 m
  • Duration: 5-6 hours to the Blaueishütte
  • Degree of difficulty: difficult
  • Starting point: Public parking Pfeiffenmacherbrücke

Follow the broad and very scenic ridge to the south towards the Schärtenspitze.

Soon you will meet up with a trail that would lead you straight down into the cirque and the alpine hut Blaueishütte. If you want to include the Schärtenspitze into your itinerary, turn right at this point and follow the ridge to the summit.

The descent follows the trail down to the hut and along the forest road to the Hintersee lake.

Kühroint and Achenkanzel

Follow the forest road, which lead you through a beautiful valley, through the alpine meadows of the Schapbachalm to the alpine hut “Kührointhütte”.

From the hut it is an easy walk to one of the most rewarding viewpoints of the region. From the “Archenkanzel” you have a breathtaking view of the entire Lake Königssee far below.

  • Trail: 443
  • Distance (one way): 9 km
  • Elevation gain: 850 m
  • Duration: 4 hours
  • Degree of difficulty: simple
  • Starting point: public parking Wimbachbrücke

The descent takes you along the “Rinnkendlsteig” all the way to St. Bartholomä, a beautiful chapel at the shore of the Lake Königssee.

The Watzmann loop

The main goal of the trip is to reach the shores of the Lake Königssee and the beautiful chapel of St. Barholomä. To get there it is a long, but simple, walk through the impressive alpine valley Wimbachtal until you reach the alpine hut Wimbachgrieshütte. From there you have to pass a difficult section (the so called “Sigeretsplatte”) and descent to St. Bartholomä.

  • Trails: 411; 419; 421
  • Distance: 20 km
  • Elevation gain: 1.250 m
  • Total Duration: 10 hours
  • Degree of difficulties: advanced
  • Starting point: public parking Wimbachbrücke

Another beatiful treat is jet to come: a scenic boat ride across the unique Lake Königssee. A public bus will take you via Berchtesgaden back to Ramsau.

Hocheck (2,651 m)

The trail Nr. 441 takes you past the alpine meadow of Stubenalm and Mitterkaseralm. Both farms are operated during the summer months and produce special cheese products. Another alpine meadow (the Falzalm) awaits the hiker until you reach the Watzmannhaus”:1759-1-Watzmannhaus.html at 1.930 m.

Easy scrambling will bring you to the top of the Watzmann-Hocheck (2.651 m).

  • Trail: 441
  • Distance: 9,5 km
  • Elevation gain: 2.050 m
  • Total duration: 6 ½ Std.
  • Degree of difficulty:
    until Watzmannhaus: advanced
    from Watzmannhaus to Hocheck difficult
  • Starting point: public parking Wimbachbrücke

For those that are planning a larger and more challenging alpine trip, the Hocheck is just the starting point: the spectacular must-do traverse of the Watzmann. Find more detailed information about the traverse here.

Ridge traverse of the entire Watzmann-Massive

This long ridge traverse is a very special treat for the well trained and experienced mountaineer – like frosting on the cake and a cherry on top!

The legendary ridge traverse starts at the public parking at “Wimbachbrücke”. The first goal is the ascent on an easy hiking trail to the “Watzmannhaus”, a guarded and well maintained hut of the German Alpine Club.

The ridge traverse starts at the Hocheck and continues to the “Central peak” and “Southern peak” of the Watzmann. The descent down into the Wimbach Valley is challenging and partly exposed, the rest of the descent is simple, but very long.

  • Trail: 441
  • Length: 22,4 km
  • Elevation gain: 2.365 m
  • Duration: 11 – 14 Std.
  • Difficulty: experts only, exposed scrambling up to grade II
  • starting point: Public parking at Wimbachbrücke

The ridge traverse is a serious and long, but highly rewarding alpine outing. The traverse itself is exposed, which requires experience in mountaineering and rock climbing. At the most difficult parts of the traverse metal cables and iron steps are available for protection. However, the trip should not be confused with a Via Ferrate, as for the most part this protection is not available.

In order to fully enjoy this trip and be on the safe side, spend the night before the trip at the Watzmannhaus. However, it still remains a challenging outing, which should not be underestimated.

Further information on this trip is available in a broschure of the German Alpine Club, which is available at the Tourist Information in Ramsau or as a download (in German).

Kammerlinghorn (2,483 m)

From the Parking pass the Visitor’s Center of the National Park and follow the asphalt road for about 300 meters. Continue the gravel road to Engertalm and further to Bindalm.

From Mai to early October you can also use a shuttle transfer to the Bindalm, the so called AlmErlebnisBus.

  • Trail: 2/481
  • Length: 12 km
  • Elevation gain: 1.750 m
  • Duration: 7 hrs
  • Difficulty: to Hirschbichl simple, to Kammerlinghorn advanced
  • Starting point: public parking Hirschbichlstraße

At the beautiful Bindalm follow Trail Nr. 481 via Mittereisalm and Karlkopf (2.195 m) to the Kammerlinghorn.

The way back can be done the same way or descent via Karlboden (1.815 m) to the Kammerlingalm and then to Hirschbichl. There the shuttle bus will take you back to the starting point.

The only public tansport that takes you into the National Park! It takes you from the Lake Hintersee through the Klausbach Valley to the Hirschbichl Pass and further to the minicipality of Weißbach bei Lofer – also a Mountaineering Village!

Reiter Steinberg (Böslsteig)

From the parking pass the Visitor’s Center of the National Park and follow the asphalt road for about 300 m. Turn right and follow a gravel road to Halsalm/Böslsteig. At the “Halsgrube” turn left, slightly descending.

Continueing west, ascent along steep alpine meadows until you reach the foot of rock walls.

  • Trail: 472
  • Length: 6.8 km
  • Elevation gain: 1,300 m
  • Duration: 5 hrs
  • Difficulty: difficult
  • starting point: Public parking Hirschbichlstraße

A path, partially equipped with steel cables, leads you into the cirque “Unteres Wagendrischelkar” and lateron to the Reiter Steinberg.

The descent will take you down the “Steinberggasse” and across a beautiful alpine meadow to the alpine hut Neue Traunsteiner Hütte.

Mayrbergscharte (2,053 m) via Schaflsteig

From the bus stop Engert-Holzstube (AlmErlebnisBus Linie 847) follow the paved road for another 250 m, just before reaching the Engertalm, the “Schaflsteig” starts to the right.

Steep hairpin turns lead you through the mountain forest and up on a ridge between the Stadelgraben and Mühsturzgräben. The trail continues along a ridge until finally at 1,800 m you can traverse to the left to the base of the “Stadelmauer”.

  • Trail: 473
  • Length: 3.8 km
  • Elevation gain: 1,125 m
  • Duration: 3 hours
  • Difficulty: difficult
  • Starting point: Engertalm (take the Alm-ErlebnisBus from the parking Hichbichlstraße and get off at Engert-Holzstube)

You pass a little rock tower on your right and reach the start of the little Via Ferrata to the saddle Mayrbergscharte.

The Maybergscharte, again, is a starting point for various peaks, such as the Wagendrischlhorn and Stadelhorn.

The Hochkalter-Traverse

This is a long and alpine outing on one of the most significant peaks of the Berchtesgaden Alps!

Our journey starts at the Lake Hintersee from where we ascend straight to the Blaueishütte. From the hut continue towards the dominant large cirque with one of the last bavarian glaciers. Before getting to the glacier a path leads to the right and up a faily steep gully and a slab. Turn left (south) onto the ridge and continue to the so called “Schöner Fleck (2,015 m)” and Rotpalfen. To reach the Hochkalter main peak some easy scrambling is involved.

  • Trail: 482
  • Distance: 13 km
  • Elevation gain: 1,375 m
  • Duration: 9 hours
  • Degree of difficulty: experts only
  • Starting point: Public parking Seklause, Hintersee

The descent follows the very remote “Ofental”. This descent should not be underestimated, as there is some exposed scambling involved.