In Bayerisch Gmain, you can choose between different types of trails: the Alpgarten circular hiking trail leads through a deep gorge, the Speik circular trail follows a mountain stream, and three cross-country ski trails cover a total of 11 kilometres. Your choice therefore depends on both the landscape you want to see and the time of year.
Trails between gorge and water
The Alpgarten circular hiking trail leads through the deep gorge of the Alpgartengraben in the Predigtstuhl massif of the Lattengebirge range. The Speik circular trail starts at Trail Centre 8 in Bayerisch Gmain and follows a mountain stream past small ravines, waterfalls and pools. The two circular trails can therefore be distinguished by their focus: one is shaped by a deep gorge, the other by a succession of streams and water features.
The Wald-Idyll Path is located on Maisweg and is suitable for children, pushchairs and balance bikes. It can be used year-round in all weather and is cleared in winter too. If you are choosing a trail for a pushchair or balance bike, this explicitly stated suitability is a useful guide. The path also differs seasonally from the winter options that depend on snow.
Cross-country skiing, tobogganing and playing by the water
The three cross-country ski trails cover a total of 11 kilometres, but are not directly connected. You have to cross the road on foot to get from one trail to another. When there is enough snow, you can ski on the trails using either the skating or classic technique. The 11 kilometres refer to the total length, not to one continuous route—a key distinction when planning a day of cross-country skiing.
The Alpgarten toboggan run at Alpentalstraße 6 in Bayerisch Gmain is prepared during the winter months, depending on snow conditions. Cross-country skiing and tobogganing are both winter activities that depend on snow; the Wald-Idyll Path offers an alternative that is accessible year-round and cleared in winter too.
On the SalzAlpenTour, there is a nature playground at a wide, shallow spot on the Weißbach stream. Younger hikers can splash around and build dams there. This section is about more than just hiking: the stream becomes a place to play. This gives it a different focus from trails shaped primarily by gorges, waterfalls or pools.
Berchtesgadener Land: the regional setting
The wider destination of Berchtesgadener Land stretches across southeastern Upper Bavaria, from the gently rolling Rupertiwinkel in the north to Berchtesgaden National Park on the border with Austria. In the south, it includes high-alpine mountain landscapes and the natural scenery around Lake Königssee. Berchtesgaden National Park offers a varied network of hiking trails and alpine paths totalling 260 kilometres.
The Wimbachklamm and Almbachklamm show just how varied the region’s gorge trails can be. In Ramsau, a roughly 200-metre-long walking trail through the Wimbachklamm follows steep rock faces over bridges and walkways. The hike through the Almbachklamm runs through a deep gorge over 29 bridges and walkways, 320 steps and a tunnel blasted through the rock. It is open seasonally; weather-related closures may change. Check that it is open before your visit.
Discover more destinations: Laufen, Piding, Schönau Am Königssee, Weißbach A.D.Alpenstraße, Eck, Teisendorf, Berchtesgaden, Schneizlreuth
Back to the main travel overview: Berchtesgadener Land.
