Discover Eck: Hiking, culture and culinary delights in the Berchtesgadener Land

For planning your trip, the wider destination of Berchtesgadener Land provides a broader setting: in southeastern Upper Bavaria, it stretches from the gently rolling Rupertiwinkel in the north to Berchtesgaden National Park on the Austrian border. In the south, the landscape is shaped by high-alpine mountain scenery and the natural surroundings of Lake Königssee. The Berchtesgadener Land Biosphere Region encompasses the entire district.

Hiking and cycling

Berchtesgaden National Park has a network of 260 kilometres of hiking trails and alpine paths, ranging from accessible circular trails to high-alpine summits. Cycling in the national park is subject to a clear restriction: bicycles are permitted on designated routes; there are no downhill routes or singletrack trails. Much of the network lies in alpine terrain and is not passable in winter without special equipment.

Specific routes include the trail from Enzianhütte to Eckersattel, which is listed as taking about 30 minutes. This is an estimate and may vary depending on conditions. From Obersalzberg, you can hike to Untere Ahornalm. From there, a route continues via Eckersattel to Purtschellerhaus and on to Rossfeld. The state border between Salzburg and Bavaria runs right through Purtschellerhaus.

The standard route up Hoher Göll via Purtschellerhaus is considered very challenging: it covers 8.8 kilometres, climbs 1,296 metres and takes 6.5 hours on foot. Alpine conditions and safety requirements may vary. There is parking for cars, motorcycles and buses at Ahornkaser. The Rossfeld Panoramic Road is used by road cyclists and mountain bikers. The Berchtesgaden Radstern starts in Berchtesgaden and follows four signposted routes radiating out through the Berchtesgaden Valley.

Alpine pastures, regional cuisine and special places

At Untere Ahornalm, the cows’ milk is processed on site into butter and cheese. Schüsselkas is a sour-milk cheese made especially on the alpine pastures of the Berchtesgaden area. These regional specialities add a culinary touch to the tours and scenery.

A panoramic trail around the Haus der Berge brings the materials and plants of four habitats—water, forest, alpine pasture and rock—to life. Along the way, there are views of Watzmann, Hochkalter and Jenner. Many hiking tours into the national park start at Klausbachhaus, at the entrance to Klausbachtal in the national park community of Ramsau; an accessible circular trail also begins here.

Almbachklamm leads through a deep gorge via 29 bridges and walkways, 320 steps and a tunnel blasted into the rock. Seasonal opening hours and weather-related closures may change. In Ramsau, the approximately 200-metre-long walking trail through Wimbachklamm follows the steep rock walls over bridges and walkways.

The region’s cultural and industrial history also offers specific places to visit: the pilgrimage church of St. Bartholomä, built in 1134, is located on the Hirschau peninsula in Berchtesgaden National Park on Lake Königssee. High above Berchtesgaden, the Kehlsteinhaus combines panoramic mountain views with insights into history. The Obersalzberg Documentation Centre explores the history of Obersalzberg and the Nazi dictatorship through multimedia exhibits; the historic bunker complex is accessible as part of the permanent exhibition.

At the Berchtesgaden Salt Mine, visitors cross the underground Mirror Lake on a raft, 130 metres below ground, and see glittering salt crystals. The mine has been active for over 500 years. It illustrates the modern journey of brine, from its extraction in the mountain and transport to Bad Reichenhall to its processing into high-quality table salt. The Royal Castle of Berchtesgaden features valuable art collections and the deer collection of Duke Albrecht of Bavaria; the small rose garden may also be open to visitors, depending on the weather.

During opening hours, a signposted tour at the Grassl Distillery visitor centre in Unterau takes visitors through the distillation of gentian, juniper, gin and masterwort. A free tasting of 40 specialities is included. Opening hours and the tasting offer may change; check the latest information before visiting.

Choose accommodation to suit your trip

A day in the high Alps requires different time planning from a visit to a museum or gorge. Choose your accommodation location based on the places you actually want to include in your holiday.

Discover more destinations: Marktschellenberg, Schneizlreuth, Berchtesgaden, Freilassing, Bayerisch Gmain, Bad Reichenhall, Ramsau Bei Berchtesgaden, Piding.

See the overview of the wider destination: Berchtesgadener Land.