Watzmann

The Watzmann is the signature mountain of Bavaria's Berchtesgaden Alps, a jagged double-peaked massif rising above Lake Königssee and the villages of Ramsau and Schönau. At 8,901 feet (2,713 m), it is the highest mountain lying entirely within Germany and the centerpiece of Berchtesgaden National Park. Most visitors admire it from the valley or hike to the Watzmannhaus mountain hut, while experienced climbers tackle one of the classic ridge traverses of the Eastern Alps.

Why the Watzmann is famous

The massif has a highest summit, the Mittelspitze (2,713 m), along with the Südspitze (2,712 m), the Hocheck (2,651 m), the Kleiner Watzmann or "Watzmann's Wife" (2,307 m) and a row of smaller peaks called the "Watzmann Children." It is Germany's third-highest main peak after the Zugspitze and the Hochwanner.

Its east face above Königssee rises about 5,900 feet (1,800 m), the tallest rock wall in the Eastern Alps. It was first climbed in 1881, and more than 100 climbers have died on it. Local legend says a cruel king named Watzmann, his wife and children were turned to stone by a peasant woman's curse, which explains the peaks' names.

Hiking to the Watzmannhaus

The most popular hike leads to the Watzmannhaus hut at about 6,330 feet (1,930 m):

• Start: Wimbachbrücke parking lot in Ramsau
• Round trip: 9 miles (14.6 km), about 7 hours
• Elevation gain: about 4,270 feet (1,300 m)
• Recommended for children from about age 12

The hut operates only in the summer half of the year; its last overnight stay of 2026 was on October 8. The summit ridge beyond the hut is for very experienced mountaineers only: the full traverse involves UIAA grade II climbing and usually takes 12 to 15 hours, so a mountain guide is strongly recommended. The Eiskapelle ice cave at the foot of the east face largely collapsed in September 2025, and authorities warn against entering it.

How to get to the Watzmann

• From Munich: Berchtesgaden is about 2 hours by car or roughly 2.5 to 3 hours by regional train via Freilassing.
• From Salzburg: About 30 minutes by car.
• Local bus: RVO bus line 846 runs from Berchtesgaden to the Wimbachbrücke stop; the WatzMobil on-demand shuttle supplements it.
• Alternative trailhead: Hammerstiel parking in Schönau am Königssee.

Is it worth visiting?

Absolutely, even if you never set foot on the summit. The best views come from a boat on Lake Königssee, from the pilgrimage church of Maria Gern, or from the gentle Wimbach valley trail. Combine the Watzmann with St. Bartholomä, the Kehlsteinhaus (Eagle's Nest) or the Jenner cable car for a full day in the national park.