For the approach to Schützensteig on Jenner, you can choose between two options:
- The easiest approach begins at the Jennerbahn summit station at 1,802 meters, which you can reach by cable car from Königssee. From there, descend on the wide trail, keeping left along the Jenner ridge, to the paragliding launch site at 1,675 meters above Kleiner Jenner. This takes about 20 minutes. Then turn left and descend to a small saddle at the foot of Kleiner Jenner’s summit formation. Here, you’ll find a bench and an information board about the via ferrata. From here, head north and descend on a narrow forest trail through open woodland to the start of the via ferrata. After about 200 meters, you’ll reach the emergency exit. You can enter the via ferrata here for a shorter version of the route. Continue another 100 meters north to reach the actual starting point after a total of about 30 minutes.
- The second, longer approach starts at the Hinterbrand parking lot at 1,130 meters and follows Königsweg toward the Jennerbahn mid-station. Once you reach the ski area, you have two options. Either climb the steep trail alongside the Krautkaser ski run, or continue straight ahead on the access road to the mid-station and then toward Mitterkaser. This route makes a wide detour and takes you to a point above the upper station of the Krautkaser chairlift. The shortest approach is the climb via the Krautkaser slope. Above the upper station, the access road continues along the section known as Hohlweg at 1,445 meters and into the Mitterkaser basin, where you’ll find Mitterkaseralm, which serves food and drinks. Then keep right and climb to the Jenner ridge. Follow the ridge to the paragliding launch site. Here, a wide trail leads down to the right into a small saddle below Kleiner Jenner. You’ll find an information board and a bench there. From there, follow the trail downhill to the right until you reach the start of the via ferrata. Allow about 1.5 to 2 hours for this approach.
Schützensteig
From the starting point, follow the safety cable along ledges, initially descending a few meters to a rocky recess that you cross via a Flying Fox. You can also simply bypass the Flying Fox (A). Beyond it, continue—partly exposed—along ledges and across a rock traverse (A/B) to another, larger rocky recess, which you cross on a suspension bridge. The emergency exit is located at the end of the suspension bridge. Schützensteig then continues along a grassy ledge and over several steeper rock sections to a small rocky knoll. From the knoll, descend slightly at first and then climb steeply upward. Continue following the safety cables around the summit formation of Kleiner Jenner on its southwestern side until you reach the summit ridge. Follow the narrow rocky ridge past the “Bürgermeisterbankerl” bench and climb to the summit of Kleiner Jenner at 1,694 meters.
