Berchtesgaden National Park is Germany's only national park located in the Alps - a rugged corner of the Berchtesgaden Alps home to the mighty Watzmann massif, the Blaueis glacier and the emerald waters of Königssee. Here nature is left largely to its own devices, giving visitors a genuine taste of alpine wilderness.

The landscape ranges dramatically from the lakeshore at 603 m up to the Watzmann summit at 2713 m. In summer, trails wind through flower-strewn alpine meadows where chamois and marmots are a common sight, while in winter the Wimbachtal valley and the area around Funtensee become some of the coldest spots in all of Germany. The turquoise Königssee, framed by sheer rock walls, offers one of Bavaria's most iconic views.

How to get there

• Schönau am Königssee — boat across the lake to St. Bartholomä, then trails deeper into the park, time and difficulty vary by route
• Ramsau bei Berchtesgaden — approach via the Wimbachbrücke bridge into the Wimbachtal valley, moderate difficulty
• Hintersee — entry via the Klausbachhaus into the Klausbachtal valley, easy to moderate

Practical information

• Strict nature protection applies - no picking plants or disturbing wildlife
• Some old hunting and pasture paths are intentionally no longer maintained
• Swimming in the park's waters has been permitted since 1987
• Only environmentally friendly electric-powered boats operate on Königssee

Funtensee, right here in the park, regularly records the lowest temperatures in all of Germany - a true mountain cold pole waiting for adventurous hikers.