Fischunkelalm
on the shores of Lake Obersee- Open today
- am Obersee
- 620m
Nestled on the southeastern shore of Obersee, Fischunkelalm lies in the heart of Berchtesgaden National Park. You can reach this welcoming alpine pasture with a boat ride across Lake Königssee, followed by a short walk along the shores of Obersee.
A boat ride across Lake Königssee
A ride aboard one of the quiet electric boats on Lake Königssee is an experience you won’t want to miss. From the famous Echo Wall and the pilgrimage church of Sankt Bartholomä to the fjord-like cliffs rising dramatically above the shoreline, the journey is as spectacular as the destination.
At the southern end of the lake lies Saletalm with its mountain restaurant. From there, a scenic hike of about three kilometers along the shores of Obersee takes you to Fischunkelalm.
The cattle drive across Lake Königssee
The seasonal cattle drive to and from Fischunkelalm is unlike any other. Since there is no road around Lake Königssee, the animals are transported across the lake by boat. Only the short stretch along Obersee is covered on foot.
The return cattle drive across Lake Königssee is a truly unforgettable spectacle. After crossing the lake, the animals are adorned with their traditional ceremonial headdresses at the lakeside landing before making their way back to their home farms.
Röthbachfall: Germany’s highest waterfall
If you have about half an hour to spare, it’s worth taking the hike to the end of the valley, where Röthbachfall plunges impressively into the depths from a height of 470 meters.
In two main stages, the waterfall cascades down the Röthwand, which separates the Königssee and Obersee basins from the Röth, the plateau between Steinernes Meer and the Hagengebirge mountains. With a total drop of 470 meters, Röthbachfall is Germany’s highest waterfall. There may be better-known waterfalls—but none higher. Even within the Alps, it ranks among the highest waterfalls of all.
Due to its location in Berchtesgaden National Park and the fact that it is not particularly easy to reach, Röthbachfall has remained largely untouched by tourism despite this height record. To this day, it has remained what it has been for centuries: an impressive natural monument.
Just north of Röthbachfall, Landtalfall—Germany’s second-highest waterfall at 410 meters—plunges into the basin south of Lake Königssee. Between the two waterfalls, the Landtalsteig and the Röthsteig trails lead steeply into the high mountains. This is also the most popular route to Wasseralm, a mountain hut operated by the German Alpine Club.
