Trekking in the Bavarian Alps: hiking in Southern Germany

ByTravesía Pirenaica
Berchtesgaden, Germany / Photo: Felix Mittermeier (unsplash)
Berchtesgaden, Germany / Photo: Felix Mittermeier (unsplash)

The Bavarian Alps lie on the border of Germany and Austria, between Lake Constance and Berchtesgaden. Situated along the German-Austrian border in a thin strip of land about 300 km long, this area contains some of Germany's most spectacular hiking and scenic landscapes.

READ ALSO: The best trekking routes in Germany". 

Index

Practical guide

Arriving and departing

Accessible from Munich, Salzburg and Innsbruck.

When to go?

Most valley walks can be done early in the season (April-May); most routes can be done from June-September; lower altitudes until mid-October.

Cities & Services

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

Not to be missed

Zugspitze (Germany's highest peak), Königssee (an impressive mountain lake), karst landscapes, wild mountain gorges, alpine meadows, picture-postcard towns like Oberammergau and Mittenwald, fairytale castles like Neuschwanstein, folk traditions, Baroque churches, picturesque cogwheel railways and exciting multi-day excursions. Highlights include the Königssee and Breitach Gorges, Partnach and Höllental.

Relaxing beer gardens, colourful local traditions and an excellent tourist infrastructure add to the region's charms and make the Bavarian Alps the perfect destination for a trekking holiday.

The routes

The routes are divided into six mountain areas, grouped around the base camp towns of Oberstdorf, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Mittenwald, Marquartstein, Inzell, Oberammergau, Ramsau and others.

The Allgäu Alps

  • The Nagelfluhkette: a ridge walk between Mittagberg and Stuiben
  • Großer Ochsenkopf to Riedberger Horn
  • A ridge walk between Sonnenkopf and Falken Alpe
  • The Rubihorn
  • Edmund-Probst-Haus to the Oytal
  • Prinz-Luitpold-Haus to Landsberger Hut/Tannheim
  • Gerstruben
  • From the Gerstrubental to the Oytal
  • Walks in the valley from Oberstdorf
  • Kanzelwandbahn to Fellhorn and Söllereck
  • Fiderepass Hut
  • Gottesacker Plateau
  • Around Großer Widderstein
  • Tannheim to Vilsalpsee
  • Tannheimer Höhenweg: Füssener Jöchl to Bad Kissinger Hut

The Ammergau Alps

  • Kalvarienberg
  • A walk above Hohenschwangau
  • Bad Kohlgrub to Oberammergau
  • Over the Laberjoch to Ettal
  • The Kofel
  • Via Sonnenberggrat to August-Schuster-Haus and Linderhof
  • The Notkarspitze

Wetterstein, Ester and Walchensee

  • Wank, Esterberg Alm and Gams Hut
  • Partenkirchen to Krottenkopf
  • Wamberg, Berggasthof Eckbauer and the Partnachklamm
  • Schachen Haus and Königs Haus
  • Schachenhaus/Meiler Hut to Leutasch
  • The Zugspitze
  • Kreuzeck, Knappenhäuser and the Höllentalklamm
  • Through the valley from Garmisch-Partenkirchen
  • Soiern Haus, Schöttelkarspitze and Seinskopf
  • Hochland Hut and Wörnersattel
  • Kranzberg, Grünkopf and Ederkanzel
  • The Brunnsteinspitze
  • Through the valley from Mittenwald
  • Herzogstand and Heimgarten
  • The Jochberg

Tegernsee and Schliersee

  • Brauneck, Achselköpfe and Benediktenwand
  • The Seekarkreuz
  • Through the valley from Lenggries
  • Above Tegernsee
  • Wallberg and Risserkogel
  • Wildbad Kreuth to Schildenstein
  • The Blauberge
  • The Roßstein
  • The Wendelstein
  • The Breitenstein
  • Taubensteinbahn to Soinsee and Taubenstein Haus
  • Jägerkamp, Taubenstein and Taubenstein Haus
  • Tatzlwurm to Brünnstein and Tatzlwurm
  • Through the valley from Bayrischzell

The Chiemgau Alps

  • From Kampenwand to Geigelstein
  • Marquartstein to Hochgern
  • Through the valley from Marquartstein
  • To the Hindenburg Hut, Straubinger Haus and the Fellhorn
  • Winklmoos Alm and Dürrnbachhorn
  • Winklmoos Alm to the Kammerköhr (Steinplatte)
  • The Hochfelln
  • The Rauschberg
  • From Inzell-Adlgaß to Zwiesel
  • Around the Inzeller Kienberg
  • Walks in the valley from Ruhpolding and Inzell

The Berchtesgaden Alps

  • The Lattengebirge (Predigtstuhl)
  • Through the valley from Bad Reichenhall
  • Towards the almond meadows above Ramsau
  • The Reiteralpe Massif: From Hintersee to Neue Traunsteiner Hut
  • The Hochkalter Massif: Ferry from Ramsau to Blaueis Hut
  • Wimbachklamm, Wimbachtal and Wimbachgries Hut
  • Kühroint Alm and Watzmann Haus
  • Through the valley from Ramsau
  • The Untersberg Massif
  • Schellenberg Ice Cave
  • The Almbachklamm
  • Kehlstein: the Eagle's Nest
  • Jenner
  • The Hagengebirge over Königssee
  • A three-day trek through the Berchtesgaden National Park". 

Traverses: The Alpine Way

  • Alpine Way: the Bavarian section of the Purple Trail
  • Via Alpina: the Bavarian section of the Red Trail