I'm trying to gauge how feasible this hike is, since there doesn't appear to be a pre-mapped route for it on AllTrails. I created this route myself using AllTrails’ auto-routing feature, which suggests that parts of the trail have been done by others, but not this exact path.

The full route is about 7 hours total with 3,700 feet of elevation gain.

The plan is to start at Königssee, hike up to Gotzenalm for lunch and some beers, then descend to Salet.

I'd get on the first boat at 830 am, last boat is 18:35pm, which I plan to jump in the Obersee after and take a boat back to the starting point.

Any suggestions, warnings?! Thanks 🙂

by payinexactchange

10 comments

  2. Only do this if you are really, really experienced and have appropriate fitness.

    Otherwise chances are high you end up being the protagonist of a „mountain guard had to rescue an inexperienced hiker who overestimated the personal capabilities“-radio report.

  4. I will tell you that whatever time they have listed for how long it takes is probably 2 hours longer. I swear people must be running through the trails.

  5. I wasn’t aware that the boats stop at Kessel on the way in?! Pretty sure thay don’t. Also, hiking up Kessel is no fun. It’s better to start at the Jenner lift and go up to Gotzenalm via Hochbahnweg. Then, descent down to Kessel, take the boat back to Schönau.

  6. That’s a really long hike in mountainous terrain, given the altitude difference. Be aware of possibly difficult passages along the way, where you may end up navigating difficult climbs with 100 meter cliffs to fall down if you happened to stumble. Better to start out with less demanding hikes and work your way up.

  7. This seems like a difficult hike in terrain which you obviously do not know in a country which you seem to not know well.

    I don’t know this exact route. So I can’t even say if it is doable. But in my opinion, creating your own route in an area that you do not know at all is a bad idea usually. It is much safer to stick to routes which have been done by others (use komoot), and also I would not do an 8 hour hike in an area which I do not know at all, on a non-normal route. You should at least plan something like a hike for a part of the route just to know at least some of it. All in all, I would not recommend doing it at all. Stick to something that other people have done before, and then still put a safety margin on top of it because you are obviously a foreigner.

    I don’t know this specific route, but I know the area. The area East of Königssee is steep, parts of it can be wet even in summer.

  8. Hi ! I did a part of this a few years ago with a couple of friends. We wildcamped ( no tent, just slept on sleeping mats) by the lake half a kilometer before Kessel ( won’t recommend wild camping as rangers do a thorough check late evening and early morning, and there’s literally no where to escape). And then next day, we walked to Goztenalm and a bit further before we wildcamped (with tents) in a forest ( much easier to remain discreet). Next day, we walked back to Berschtesgarten via a regular hiking trail.

    What you want to do is definitely possible, but it’s going to be rather adventurous in some parts I think if it’s not a popular route. You should definitely plan for it 2+ hours than you initially planned for. And if your only choice is to take a boat back on the same day, it might be more stressful than fun. I would maybe carry warm emergency sleeping bag just in case 🙂

    The trails close to the lake will probably be not so good at parts. I remember almost slipping into the lake a few times. Maybe it’s better now, but would definitely recommend good shoes and poles as backup too

  9. I did a similar hike last year, except I started at Salet and, rather than descend to Kessel from the Gotzentalalm, continued towards the north, ending at Hinterbrand. There are some interesting passages in the lower part of the Kaunersteig – the one that would take you back to the lakeshore – with several short vertical climbs, secured with steel steps and ropes. I didn’t have any real issues with it, though, and as an experienced hiker I think you should be fine going down that trail as well. Once I got out of there, it was mostly easy going. (I did eventually turn east into the “Hirschenlauf”, which was another “interesting” passage, but it doesn’t look like that’s on your route.)

  10. I think there is strictly protected area around there too…

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