Parking
Start at Neue Traunsteiner Hütte on the Reiter Alpe. The hut has no vehicle access; reach it on foot by a separate marked mountain approach before taking this summit spur.
Overview
About Großer Weitschartenkopf Trail from Neue Traunsteiner Hütte
Why go
- A broad panorama from the 1,979 m summit cross
- A direct climb once you reach the hut
Heads up
- About 425 m of climbing in roughly 1.6 km uphill
- The hut start requires a separate mountain approach on foot
This is a 3.3 km (2.1 mi) out-and-back from Neue Traunsteiner Hütte to the 1,979 m summit cross. The marked mountain path climbs about 425 m; allow 2–3 hours for the climb and return. It is a steep, compact summit outing if you are already at the hut. The hut is reached on foot, so the walk to its door is a separate part of the day.
Parkwolf’s verdictIs this the summit walk for you?Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Berchtesgaden map
Full mapElevation1,560–1,979 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
3 active Berchtesgaden alerts
- ClosureKlausbachtal trails closed for bridge and flood-protection workAvoid the closed Klausbachtal trail sections; the Klausbach cannot be crossed at the affected bridges. - Trail No.Official details
- ClosureKönigsbach Waterfall Gumpen area closedDo not enter the area around the “Gumpen” pools at the Königsbach Waterfall on Königssee.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Berchtesgaden Tour Guide
Your drive to Großer Weitschartenkopf Trail from Neue Traunsteiner Hütte, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Berchtesgaden National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
More stories near here in the app
- White Fur, Black Ear Tips
- Klausbachhaus and Golden Eagle Country
- Hintersee and the Boulder Forest
- Seeklause: The Climb to Blaueishütte
- 25 audio storiesacross Berchtesgaden’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Bearded Vulture, Golden Eagle, Red Deer, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 71 trails, 57 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
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Trail guide
Hiking Großer Weitschartenkopf Trail from Neue Traunsteiner Hütte
From meadow to summit crossHead northwest from the hut and follow the sign toward Weitschartenkopf across open alpine…
Head northwest from the hut and follow the sign toward Weitschartenkopf across open alpine grass. At the next junction, take the steeper right-hand climb. The path alternates between switchbacks and direct grassy pitches, then crosses rocky gullies and scree before reaching the ridge. Turn right for the last few minutes to the summit. Return the same way. A branch toward Großer Bruder and Alte Traunsteiner Hütte leaves about ten minutes into the descent; that is a different, longer outing.
What opens from the ridgeThe first broad view looks north across the Saalach valley.
The first broad view looks north across the Saalach valley. From the summit, the Reiter Alpe, Loferer and Leoganger Steinberge, and Chiemgau Alps fill the panorama; the Großvenediger and Zugspitze are visible only in clear conditions. For a photo, face north from the ridge and leave some of the rocky crest in the foreground. The summit cross gives the view a clear focal point.
A limestone high plateauThe Reiter Alpe is a limestone plateau shaped by karst and Ice Age processes.
The Reiter Alpe is a limestone plateau shaped by karst and Ice Age processes. Its open grassy slopes contrast with the rocky gullies near the top. Alpine rose, gentian, cranesbill, dark columbine, and devil’s claw are recorded along this route.
The hut is part of the outingNeue Traunsteiner Hütte, built in 1938 at about 1,560 m, is the start, not a stop along the…
Neue Traunsteiner Hütte, built in 1938 at about 1,560 m, is the start, not a stop along the summit path. It is reached only on foot and generally operates from mid-May to mid-October, depending on snow. The hut serves meals, homemade bread, snack platters, and cakes, and has toilets and washrooms.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Berchtesgaden
14 sightingsBearded VultureMost seen around noonSighting map
29 sightingsGolden EagleMost seen around noonSighting map
22 sightingsRed DeerMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
131 sightingsAlpine ChamoisMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
65 sightingsAlpine SalamanderMost seen around 11 AMSighting map
63 sightingsAlpine MarmotMost seen around 9 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Berchtesgaden. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
