Reith offers two distinct starting points for a stay: walks along the Saalach and to Innersbachklamm, as well as historic landmarks at the church, chapel and former places of use. You can choose which of these aspects you want to shape your stay according to your interests: riverside scenery, a walk through the gorge or local history.
Church, chapel and former uses
Reith Church was built in 1670 and dedicated to Saint Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor. On the other side of the Saalach, Brechler Chapel stands near Reith Bridge, close to a bus stop and a short distance towards Lofer. It is believed to be at least 300 years old, quite probably. The two buildings represent different historical time references: a dated year of construction and a cautious estimate of age.
On the way to the “Zu den Drei Brüdern” inn, you pass an old Brechel or Badstub’n. In Unken, heated Brechelstuben were generally used as sweat baths until the 18th century, and in some cases even longer. In the 16th century, the Innersbach served as a small feeder stream for floating timber from the Reith mountains to the Reichenhall salt works. This involved transporting timber downstream over water; the stream thus had a specific role in transport at the time.
The Innersbach is also a destination on a circular walk to Innersbachklamm, contrasting its historic role in transport with a present-day experience of the landscape.
Reiter Alm, views and natural history
The small village of Reith gives its name to the Reiter Alm mountain range. The gentle rise in elevation extends from the summit of Drei Brüder to the higher-lying Reither Alm. For a long time, an eagle’s nest was located below one of the Drei Brüder peaks.
Walks and water along the Saalach
The two water destinations offer different options for choosing a route: a short circular walk to Innersbachklamm starts from the car park at Reith’s Saalach Bridge; the bathing area at Gaissteig can be reached from the village of Reith via a footpath of about 1 km towards Unken. The short Innersbachklamm passes between rocks, steps and a stream.
A walking and cycling path runs along the Saalach to Reith’s Saalach Bridge. The rock pool at the entrance to Innersbachklamm can have a strong current after prolonged rain or thunderstorms. The bathing area at Gaissteig is a shallow, stony stretch of the Saalach bank with a moderate current; conditions vary with the water level. These are different considerations for planning your visit: prolonged rain or thunderstorms matter at the rock pool, while the water level matters at Gaissteig. Check the water conditions before your visit.
For Gaissteig, the area at the entrance to Reith is listed as a car park. As parking arrangements may change, check the current parking situation before your trip.
Discover more destinations: Embach, Aufhausen, Krimml, Grubing, Hintermoos, Enzingerboden, Niederland, Sulzau.
For the main travel overview: Zell Am See.
