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The following examples range from alpine tours and shorter trail sections to regional excursion destinations in the Berchtesgadener Land. This makes it easier to distinguish between your daily itinerary and the length of tour you want to take.

Comparing tours by length and terrain

Berchtesgaden National Park has 260 kilometres of hiking trails and alpine routes. The range extends from accessible circular trails to high-alpine peaks. The routes therefore differ considerably in terrain and time required. When planning a tour, elevation gain and alpine character are important points of comparison alongside distance.

One challenging example is the normal route up the Hoher Göll via the Purtschellerhaus. It is considered a very demanding mountain tour and covers 8.8 kilometres, 1,296 metres of elevation gain and around 6.5 hours. A much shorter time is given for the route from the Enzianhütte to the Eckersattel: it takes about 30 minutes. This duration is a planning estimate and may vary depending on conditions; alpine conditions and safety requirements can also change.

In the national park, cycling is restricted to designated routes; there are no downhill routes or singletracks. The season also matters when choosing a tour: a large part of the trail network runs through alpine terrain and cannot be traversed in winter without special equipment.

Trails, alpine pastures and regional highlights

The Untere Ahornalm can be reached on foot from Obersalzberg. From there, a route leads via the Eckersattel to the Purtschellerhaus and Rossfeld. At the Purtschellerhaus, the state border between Salzburg and Bavaria runs right through the building. The Ahornkaser has parking for cars, motorcycles and buses. The Rossfeld Panoramic Road is used by road cyclists and mountain bikers.

The alpine pasture also has a regional culinary specialty: the milk from the cows at the Untere Ahornalm is processed into butter and cheese on site. Schüsselkas is a low-fat cheese made particularly on the alpine pastures of the Berchtesgaden area. Alongside the trail connections, products from alpine farming are therefore another distinct aspect to consider when planning your trip.

Excursion destinations in the Berchtesgadener Land

In the wider destination of the Berchtesgadener Land, you will find a variety of landscapes and excursion options. Around the Haus der Berge, a panoramic trail brings the materials and plants of four habitats—water, forest, alpine pasture and rock—to life. It also offers views of the Watzmann, Hochkalter and Jenner. The trail thus combines nature themes with views of well-known peaks in the region.

The gorges also differ in their routes. A hike through the Almbachklamm passes over 29 bridges and footbridges, 320 steps and a tunnel blasted through the rock. Seasonal opening dates and weather-related closures may change. In Ramsau, by contrast, a short walking path of around 200 metres runs through the Wimbachklamm, crossing bridges and footbridges along steep rock faces. The comparison makes it clear whether you are interested in a more fully described gorge hike or a short section of trail.

Another excursion option is the Berchtesgaden Salt Mine: visitors cross the underground Mirror Lake on a raft, 130 metres below ground, and see sparkling salt crystals. The salt mine has been active for over 500 years and illustrates the journey of the brine, from extraction in the mountain and transport to Bad Reichenhall through to processing into table salt. This underground experience and the history of salt production complement the hiking and landscape themes of the Berchtesgadener Land.

For your planning, you can compare tour details by time and terrain and choose regional excursion destinations to suit your preferred daily itinerary. Before visiting the Almbachklamm, check its current opening status and any weather-related closures.

Discover more destinations: Ainring, Freilassing, Piding, Marktschellenberg, Berchtesgaden, Ramsau near Berchtesgaden, Bad Reichenhall, Schneizlreuth

See the overview of the wider destination: Berchtesgadener Land.