Along the Berchtesgadener Ache

From Hauptbahnhof (central station) Berchtesgaden, follow the path on the opposite side of the river. At Hanserersteg, you’ll already be treated to a classic view of Watzmann’s distinctive silhouette. Continue through a wooded section and pass the valley station of the Obersalzbergbahn. At Schießstätte, you’ll pass the Berchtesgaden ice rink, followed shortly by Watzmann Therme. Bergwerkstraße then leads you to Berchtesgaden Salt Mine. Continue along Wiesenweg to Königsallee. Take the underpass beneath Salzburger Straße, then cross a footbridge into Unterau, home to the headquarters of the well-known Grassl Gentian Schnapps Distillery.

Now follow the Berchtesgadener Ache north. Staying close to the riverbank, the shared bike and pedestrian path takes you all the way to Kugelmühle at the entrance to the Almbachklamm gorge. Want to keep hiking? You can extend your tour along Alte Salzburger Straße to Marktschellenberg.

It’s worth allowing a little more time than the stated hiking time—there’s plenty to discover along the way. For the return trip, a public bus takes you conveniently back to Berchtesgaden train station.