Schönfeldspitze (2653 m) is the pyramid-shaped second-highest peak of the Steinernes Meer massif in the Berchtesgaden Alps, surpassed only by the Selbhorn. Its striking, sharply pointed summit rises dramatically above the karst plateau and can be spotted from as far away as Berchtesgaden or Salzburg.

The mountain dominates the landscape south of the massif, above Maria Alm in the Pinzgau region, west of the Hochkönig. Sailing across Lake Königssee toward St. Bartholomä, you'll see the Schönfeldspitze towering over the far shore, gradually disappearing behind the foothills as you approach the southern bank. The terrain around the summit is rugged limestone karst, offering wide alpine views and a genuine sense of remoteness, especially rewarding in clear summer conditions.

How to reach the summit

• Saalfelden or Maria Alm — via the Ramseidersteig to the Riemannhaus hut (2177 m) at Ramseider Scharte, then several route options to the summit; requires sure-footedness and a head for exposed terrain (UIAA grade I), moderate to demanding
• Königssee (German side) — steep switchbacks up to Funtensee and the Kärlingerhaus hut (1630 m), then via Buchauer Scharte and the east ridge to the summit; long and demanding

Practical information

• All common routes are well marked but require sure-footedness and a head for heights on exposed sections
• Overnight stops are possible at the Riemannhaus or Kärlingerhaus mountain huts
• The Austrian ascent from Maria Alm to Buchauer Scharte is steep and strenuous

The summit features an unusual wooden pietà cross, carved by a young sculptor from Maria Alm to replace the original, which was destroyed by a lightning strike in 2020.