Walking in the Bavarian Alps

70 mountain walks and treks in southern Germany

By Grant Bourne, Sabine Körner-Bourne

ISBN

9781852849290

Availability

Published

19 Jun 2018

Reprinted

13 Jul 2023

Edition

Fourth

Pages

336

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.85cm

Weight

380g

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Guidebook to mountain walks and treks in the Bavarian Alps, on the border of Germany and Austria, between Lake Constance and Berchtesgaden. Accessible from Munich, Salzburg and Innsbruck, these 70 routes range from half-day walks to 3-day hut-to-hut treks. Highlights include the Konigssee and Breitach, Partnach and Hollental gorges.

Seasons

most valley walks can be attempted early in the season (April-May); the majority of routes are best walked from June-September; lower altitudes until mid-October

Centres

Oberstdorf, Riezlern, Tannheim, Füssen, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Mittenwald, Walchensee, Lenggries, Tegernsee, Bayrischzell, Marquartstein, Reit im Winkl, Ruhpolding, Inzell, Bad Reichenhall, Ramsau, Berchtesgaden

Difficulty

valley walks suitable for all abilities; main routes are graded 1-3; none of the routes require climbing skills, and no special equipment required

Must See

the Zugspitze (Germany's highest peak), Königssee (a stunning mountain lake), karst landscapes, picture-book towns Oberammergau and Mittenwald, wild mountain gorges, alpine meadows, Neuschwanstein Castle, folklore traditions, opulent baroque churches, scenic rack railways and exhilarating multi-day tours

ISBN

9781852849290

Availability

Published

19 Jun 2018

Reprinted

13 Jul 2023

Edition

Fourth

Pages

336

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x 1.85cm

Weight

380g

Overview

A comprehensive guidebook detailing walks in Germany's Bavarian Alps. Lying along the German-Austrian border in a thin sliver of land roughly 300km long, this area contains some of the most spectacular walking and beautiful scenery that Germany has to offer.

70 graded walks explore mountain landscapes, wild mountain gorges and alpine meadows as well as the region's picturesque villages, opulent baroque churches and fairy-tale castles like Neuschwanstein. There is also the northernmost glacier in the Alps (Blaueis), Germany's largest ice cave (Schellenberg) and its highest mountain, the Zugspitze, all visited on walks described in this guide. The walks are divided into six mountain areas, grouped around base towns to make planning a walking holiday as easy as possible. Bases include Oberstdorf, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Mittenwald, Marquartstein, Inzell, Oberammergau and Ramsau among others.

The walks are mainly between 3 and 8 hours in duration, though some longer walks are included staying at mountain huts. The guidebook gives an outline of two multi-day tours and suggestions for shorter valley walks of less than 3hrs are also included. The Bavarian Alps make an ideal destination for an easy-to-organise and affordable walking holiday.

Table of Contents

CONTENTS

Overview map

Map key

Preface

Introduction

History

Culture

Plants and wildlife

Getting there

Getting around

Accommodation

Mountain huts

Climate

Clothing and equipment

Safety in the mountains

Food and drink

Language

Expenses

Using this guide

Maps

Part I The Allgäu Alps

Walk 1 The Nagelfluhkette: a ridge walk between the Mittagberg and Stuiben

Walk 2 Over the Großer Ochsenkopf to Riedberger Horn

Walk 3 A ridge walk between Sonnenkopf and Falken Alpe

Walk 4 The Rubihorn

Walk 5 Edmund-Probst-Haus to the Oytal

Walk 6 Prinz-Luitpold-Haus to Landsberger Hut/Tannheim

Walk 7 Gerstruben

Walk 8 From the Gerstrubental to the Oytal

Valley walks from Oberstdorf

Walk 9 Kanzelwandbahn to Fellhorn and Söllereck

Walk 10 Fiderepass Hut

Walk 11 Gottesacker Plateau

Walk 12 Around the Großer Widderstein

Walk 13 Tannheim to Vilsalpsee

Walk 14 Tannheimer Höhenweg: Füssener Jöchl to Bad Kissinger Hut

Part II The Ammergau Alps

Walk 15 Kalvarienberg

Walk 16 A walk above Hohenschwangau

Walk 17 Bad Kohlgrub to Oberammergau

Walk 18 Over the Laberjoch to Ettal

Walk 19 The Kofel

Walk 20 Along the Sonnenberggrat to August-Schuster-Haus and Linderhof

Walk 21 The Notkarspitze

Part III The Wetterstein, Ester and Walchensee Mountains

Walk 22 Wank, Esterberg Alm and Gams Hut

Walk 23 Partenkirchen to the Krottenkopf

Walk 24 Wamberg, Berggasthof Eckbauer and the Partnachklamm

Walk 25 Schachen Haus and the Königs Haus

Walk 26 Schachenhaus/Meiler Hut to Leutasch

Walk 27 The Zugspitze

Walk 28 Kreuzeck, Knappenhäuser and the Höllentalklamm

Valley walk from Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Walk 29 Soiern Haus, Schöttelkarspitze and Seinskopf

Walk 30 Hochland Hut and Wörnersattel

Walk 31 Kranzberg, Grünkopf and Ederkanzel

Walk 32 The Brunnsteinspitze

Valley walks from Mittenwald

Walk 33 Herzogstand and Heimgarten

Walk 34 The Jochberg

Part IV The Tegernsee and Schliersee Mountains

Walk 35 Brauneck, Achselköpfe and Benediktenwand

Walk 36 The Seekarkreuz

Valley walk from Lenggries

Walk 37 Above Tegernsee

Walk 38 Wallberg and Risserkogel

Walk 39 Wildbad Kreuth to the Schildenstein

Walk 40 The Blauberge

Walk 41 The Roßstein

Walk 42 The Wendelstein

Walk 43 The Breitenstein

Walk 44 Taubensteinbahn to Soinsee and Taubenstein Haus

Walk 45 Jägerkamp, Taubenstein and Taubenstein Haus

Walk 46 Tatzlwurm to Brünnstein and Tatzlwurm

Valley walks from Bayrischzell

Part V The Chiemgau Alps

Walk 47 From the Kampenwand to the Geigelstein

Walk 48 Marquartstein to the Hochgern

Valley walk from Marquartstein

Walk 49 To Hindenburg Hut, Straubinger Haus and the Fellhorn

Walk 50 Winklmoos Alm and Dürrnbachhorn

Walk 51 Winklmoos Alm to the Kammerköhr (Steinplatte)

Walk 52 The Hochfelln

Walk 53 The Rauschberg

Walk 54 From Inzell-Adlgaß to the Zwiesel

Walk 55 Around the Inzeller Kienberg

Valley walks from Ruhpolding and Inzell

Part VI The Berchtesgaden Alps

Walk 56 The Lattengebirge (Predigtstuhl)

Valley walk from Bad Reichenhall

Walk 57 To the alm meadows above Ramsau

Walk 58 The Reiteralpe massif: Hintersee to Neue Traunsteiner Hut

Walk 59 The Hochkalter massif: Ramsau to Blaueis Hut

Walk 60 Wimbachklamm, Wimbachtal and Wimbachgries Hut

Walk 61 Kühroint Alm and Watzmann Haus

Valley walks from Ramsau

Walk 62 The Untersberg massif

Walk 63 Schellenberg Ice Cave

Walk 64 The Almbachklamm

Walk 65 Kehlstein: the Eagle’s Nest

Walk 66 Jenner

Walk 67 The Hagengebirge above Königssee

Walk 68 A three-day hike through Berchtesgaden National Park

Part VII Multi-Day Tours: The Via Alpina

Walk 69 Via Alpina: the Bavarian section of the Purple Trail

Walk 70 Via Alpina: the Bavarian section of the Red Trail

Appendix A Route summary table

Appendix B Further reading

Appendix C Alpine hut accommodation

Appendix D Useful addresses

Appendix E Glossary

Maps

Maps

The route maps are only intended to serve as an initial means of orientation. They should not be used in place of a proper walking map.

Beautiful baroque churches are a typical feature of the landscape

The relevant maps are listed at the start of each route description to enable walkers to quickly locate the map they need. The maps listed are all to the scale 1:50,000. In researching this guidebook the Kompass maps were used as a basis for describing routes, although it should be possible to follow them using maps from other publishers. All the maps mentioned are readily available at bookshops in Germany or from:

Edward Stanford Ltd 12–14 Long Acre, London WC2E 9LP www.stanfords.co.uk The Map Shop 15 High Street, Upton-upon-Severn, Worcs WR8 OHJ www.themapshop.co.uk Mapsworldwide (UK online map shop) www.mapsworldwide.com Omni Resources 1004 South Mebane Street, PO Box 2096, Burlington, NC 27216–2096, USA; inquiries@omnimap.com, www.omnimap.com

Apart from the two main series listed below there are also maps produced by smaller, locally based publishers, often in conjunction with local tourist offices. These maps are usually of a high standard and are often available at a scale of 1:25,000.

Kompass-Wanderkarten 1:50,000 (for certain areas also 1:30,000 or 1:25,000). A useful feature of the Kompass series is the fact that the map legend is in both German and English. All the trails are very clearly marked, and the maps frequently updated.

Kompass has also brought out some digital maps that are relevant to the area covered. Particularly useful is Über die Alpen, which covers the entire region described in this guide. The digital maps can be used in conjunction with a GPS device, and with suitable software the maps can be transferred to a smartphone (Android/iOS) or tablet.

Umgebungskarten (UK) Bayern (Area Maps Bavaria) 1:50,000. The Bavarian State Survey Office (Landesamt für Vermessung) puts out excellent maps. The topographical detail exceeds that of the Kompass maps, but there are not as many tracks shown with numbering. Maps published together with the German Alpine Club (Alpenvereinskarte Bayerische Alpen) are available at 1:25,000. For an overview of the areas covered, visit www.ldbv.bayern.de.

In the Hölltobel (Walk 7)

Fast facts

Currency Germany belongs to the Euro (€) zone, as does most of Central Europe including Austria. €1 = 100 cents. Formalities Members of EU countries with either a valid passport or national identity card do not require a visa to enter Germany. Citizens of the USA, Canada, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand and Australia do not require a visa for stays of up to three months. South African nationals do require a visa. Language German or dialects of German are spoken in Bavaria and Austria. English is widely spoken. Health No special health precautions are necessary for travel in Germany. UK residents are covered by reciprocal health schemes while in the country – although Brexit might cause changes. In order to receive coverage a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is required, available via your local post office. For more information visit www.nhs.uk. Not all expenses are covered by these schemes and so it is wise to take out extra insurance in case of accidents. International dialling code The international dialling code for calls to Germany from abroad is 0049 and to Austria 0043. When dialling the UK from Germany the code is 0044, then drop the first zero of the following area code. Most public phones in Germany are card-operated. Telephone cards (Telefonkarten) can be bought at post offices, newspaper kiosks and some bookshops. Location The Bavarian Alps are located in Germany along the border with Austria. More specifically they are situated in Oberbayern (Upper Bavaria), the southernmost region of the state of Bavaria. The Allgäu, at the western extreme of the region, is treated as a separate entity. From the Bavarian capital, Munich, all destinations are quickly reached.

Updates

September 2021

Author updates

Walk 3

At one point on this route there is a turn-off that is, at present, easily missed. It is situated on the climb up to the Sonnenkopf, a little less than half-way up from where the trail swings left and climbs near Entschen Alpe.

At a bend marked by a sign ‘Stopp – Sackgasse’ (stop – dead end) and, nearby, a wooden sign with ‘Sonnenköpfe’ on it, continue uphill a short distance – the trail is more a four-wheel drive track here. At a tree with a red arrow on it go right and uphill along a narrow track. This is easily missed! The trees are waymarked with faded red dots on this section. Eventually you will arrive at another wooden sign marked ‘Fußweg’. From here on the trail to the summit should be clear enough.

Walk 22 Wank, Esterberg Alm and Tannen Hut

The old Gams Hut has been rebuilt as Tannen Hut (Tannenhütte). The walking signs on the trail have been changed accordingly.

When the hut is closed you will find snack and drink dispensers in an outbuilding.

Walk 65 Kehlstein: the Eagle’s Nest

Variant: With the Obersalzbergbahn to Kehlstein (2½hr to bus stop below Kehlstein Haus) (Corrected Version. GPX file below)

This alternative makes use of the Obersalzbergbahn from Berchtesgaden. From the upper station of the gondola lift walk a short distance uphill from Café Sonneck. Leave the asphalt road at the signposted trail to Kehlstein on the right. The track climbs into the woods and soon comes to a forestry road. This is crossed and the track climbs in the direction of Ligeret and Scharitzkehl alms (signposted).

At the next signposted junction go right (Ligeret - Scharitzkehl) and continue climbing until at another signposted junction our route goes left towards Kehlstein and Ofnerboden. After climbing awhile, the sealed Kehlsteinstraße is crossed, and the trail now follows the signs in the direction of Untere Kehl Alm - Kehlstein. On arriving at another fork go first left and then follow the signs right, uphill, along path 39a to Kehlstein. After a short descent the trail meets up with the routes from Dokumentation Obersalzberg and Ofnerboden. Go right here and continue up to Kehlstein Haus along path 40.

Walk 66 Jenner

The time given should read as 6hr.

Walking Times: It is important to remember that the times given in this guide are the simple walking times without pauses of any kind. They are not the total time required for the walk; it is essential that you factor in the time required for pauses. For every hour that you walk it is necessary to add at least 5 to 10 minutes for pauses – I would suggest 10 minutes if you are unfamiliar with the walk or uncertain of your fitness. On top of this add at least an hour for lunch breaks or unforeseen circumstances; for example, a very slippery descent or pathfinding if waymarks or signs are missing. Taking all this into account for Walk 66 would give you a total time of at least 7½ to 8hr.

When the days are shorter make sure the added time necessary for breaks allows you to reach your destination with at least an hour to spare before it starts to get dark – the bigger your time buffer, the better. On longer walks it is wise to carry a head torch for emergencies.

Bear in mind that a mountain walking holiday is not a chance to get fit; you should be properly fit before you go. Lack of adequate fitness can significantly increase walking times, decrease your enjoyment of a walk and add to the risk of injury. If a climb of 300m at home leaves you panting and red-faced, then a climb of 1000m in the mountains is to be avoided. It is important to match your abilities to the walk.

Tip: The restaurant at the upper station of the Jenner lift offers takeaways; good to know if you forgot to take snacks or would rather picnic somewhere. Don’t forget to take your rubbish with you.

Walk 67 The Hagengebirge above Königssee

Note: The first shady section of the steep and rocky descent from Seeleinsee to Priesberg Alm can be very slippery. This can slow you down quite a bit, as extra care is necessary.

Walk 65 Variant Obersalzbergbahn to Kehlstein corrected gpx (7.007 KB)

Reviews

Some of the most spectacular walking and beautiful scenery that Germany has to offer

Germany's Bavarian Alps run from Lake Constance in the West to Salzburg in the East. Lying along the German-Austrian border in a thin sliver of land roughly 300km long, this area contains some of the most spectacular walking and beautiful scenery that Germany has to offer. Seventy graded walks explore mountain landscapes, wild mountain gorges and alpine meadows as well as the region's picturesque villages, opulent baroque churches and fairy-tale castles like Neuschwanstein. The walks are divided into six mountain areas, grouped around base towns to make planning a walking holiday as easy as possible. Bases include Oberstdorf, GarmischPartenkirchen, Mittenwald, Marquartstein, Inzell, Oberammergau and Ramsau among others.

The mountain walks are mainly between 3 and 8 hours duration, though some longer walks are included staying at some of the many mountain huts. The guidebook gives an outline of two multi-day tours and suggestions for shorter valley walks of less than 3 hours are also included. Relaxing beer gardens, colourful local traditions and excellent tourist infrastructure add to the region's charms, and make the Bavarian Alps the perfect destination for a walking holiday. It is many years since I was last in this area whilst staying at Oberammergau for the Passion Play held at the end of each decade and whilst there I was highly impressed with the beauty of the surrounding countryside and particularly the Kofel mountain behind the village, part of the Ammergau Alps.

Having read this new guidebook it is certainly an area that I would like to return to sometime in the next few years. As well as the seventy routes mentioned in the book there are interesting appendixes covering details of hut accommodation, useful addresses of tourist offices plus a glossary of German words and phrases. There is also information about the history, culture and hotel and guest house Accommodation.

John Burland

Downloads

Walking in the Bavarian Alps - GPX File

Grant Bourne

Grant Bourne is a New Zealander whose fascination with other lands and cultures has taken him through much of Asia, Africa, the Near East and Europe. He has written and illustrated numerous travel guides, the main focus being on Germany and New Zealand. His love of the outdoors has taken him not only along the magnificent tramping tracks of his native country, but also up the slopes of Mt Kenya in Africa, through the steamy jungles of Yucatan, the hills of northern Thailand and the trekking trails of Nepal. Now living in the beautiful Rhine Valley, Germany, he keeps himself (and his dog) fit by walking the many excellent trails along the Rhine, together with frequent walking holidays in the Bavarian and Swiss Alps. Visit Grant on Instagram under grantsbavarianalps

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Sabine Körner-Bourne

Sabine Körner-Bourne is a native of Germany and, like her husband Grant, is a keen hiker. Together they have explored numerous trails in exotic parts of the world. Nevertheless, Sabine has never lost her affection for the many beautiful tracks to be found in her home country.

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