Berchtesgadener Hochthron

The Berchtesgadener Hochthron far above Berchtesgaden and Königssee is the highest peak on the Untersberg massif and is characterized by great distant views and a technical trail descent.

Description

The tour ideally starts in Bischofswiesen, a little away from Berchtesgaden. After a few gentle rolling meters, a challenging climb begins at the fork in the road towards Stöhrhaus. The steep uphill on a rough forest and farm track is a real challenge for the legs. The so-called Stöhrweg leads idyllically through forests and ends at a path at almost 1200 meters above sea level.

From here, the path is reminiscent of a war path from the Dolomites: narrow, but still easy to pedal. The path meanders steadily upwards in serpentines until pedaling is no longer possible. From the steeper serpentines onwards, the bike is pushed or carried until you reach the Gatterl at 1602 meters above sea level. From there, the carrying passage continues to the Stöhrhaus. After a short stretch, you reach the summit at just under 2000 meters above sea level. The view at the summit is stunning: Watzmann, Königssee, Kehlstein and the surrounding Alpine panorama are impressive, especially in autumn when the view is clear and the landscape glows in warm colors.

The descent from the summit is technically demanding and is in difficulty level S3 throughout. A few sections are smoother, but the majority of the route requires full concentration and good technique. The numerous hairpin bends with wooden steps in particular demand everything from riders. Hairpin bend after hairpin bend, you descend meter by meter until you reach the high trail again. The Höhenweg is a relaxed ride with a short counter-climb before turning off towards the Dürrlehen restaurant. This is the start of a flowing section with difficulty levels S1 to S2, which rides to the hamlet of Dürrlehen. Another short counter-climb on a trail introduces the finale.

The last descent starts on a gravel road, which becomes increasingly narrow and finally turns into a trail with difficulty level S2, occasionally S3. The trail is slightly exposed in places, which requires additional caution. This technically demanding descent ends at the Berchtesgadener Ache, near the Kugelmühle. From there, you can use the cycle path to return to the starting point in Bischofswiesen via Berchtesgaden.

Notes:

This tour is very demanding and should be completed outside of the main tourist and hiking season and anti-cyclically to avoid traffic jams on the narrow trails.
The tour is not recommended in wet or bad weather, as the wooden steps and other wooden elements become slippery and difficult to negotiate.

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