Parking
Start at the paid Parkplatz Hirschbichlstraße beside Hintersee. The Almerlebnisbus stop at Engert-Holzstube is a closer access; from there, the Schaflsteig turn is about 250 m along the road.
Overview
About Stadelhorn via Schaflsteig
Why go
- The route reaches the Reiter Alm’s highest summit through a changing valley-to-ridge landscape.
- Distinct limestone towers and a wide alpine panorama.
Heads up
- A 1,575 m climb and a very long out-and-back day.
- Rockfall exposure, a secured gully, and short scrambling near the top.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Berchtesgaden map
Full mapElevation800–2,286 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 Stadelhorn via Schaflsteig, 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.
Recorded for this area
Klausbachhaus and Golden Eagle Country0:00 / 0:37
“Klausbachhaus is ahead, a useful stop before choosing a walk into Klausbach Valley.”
Plays on the road 0.1 km from the trailhead in the Parkwolf Berchtesgaden Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- White Fur, Black Ear Tips
- Hintersee and the Boulder Forest
- Seeklause: The Climb to Blaueishütte
- Measuring the Watzmann
- 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
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Stadelhorn via Schaflsteig
A long alpine summit dayStadelhorn via Schaflsteig is a marked out-and-back from the paid Hirschbichlstraße parking lot…
Stadelhorn via Schaflsteig is a marked out-and-back from the paid Hirschbichlstraße parking lot at Hintersee to the 2,286 m summit. The uphill line is 8.3 km; plan for about 16.6 km round trip, 1,575 m of climbing, and roughly nine hours. This is a very demanding mountain ascent, with a steep protected gully and hands-on rock steps near the top. Go only if exposed ledges and scrambling are within your experience.
The approach from HinterseeThe route follows the Klausbachtal valley to Engert-Holzstube before the climb begins. About 4.
The route follows the Klausbachtal valley to Engert-Holzstube before the climb begins. About 4.5 km of the one-way route is this approach. The Almerlebnisbus serves Engert-Holzstube; starting there skips most of the valley miles but leaves the steep summit climb intact.
Pasture, forest, and dwarf pineFrom the bus stop, follow the road for about 250 m to the Schaflsteig turn.
From the bus stop, follow the road for about 250 m to the Schaflsteig turn. Step over the pasture fence onto Engertalm’s open meadow; the path climbs it in tight switchbacks before entering the forest. Higher up, it crosses sandy ground and dwarf pine between Stadlgraben and Mühlsturzgraben.
Beneath the StadelmauerThe trail traverses below the Stadelmauer’s rock walls and passes pointed limestone towers on…
The trail traverses below the Stadelmauer’s rock walls and passes pointed limestone towers on its way to Hochgscheid. The Loferer Steig joins from the Austrian side here; stay with the marked Stadelhorn route under the wall toward Mayrbergscharte.
The gully and summit ridgeThe last gully to Mayrbergscharte, at 2,053 m, is steep and secured in a via-ferrata style.
The last gully to Mayrbergscharte, at 2,053 m, is steep and secured in a via-ferrata style. Rockfall is a real hazard there, and a helmet is suggested. From the col, a steep ridge with ledges and short rock steps climbs to the summit; expect a few hands-on moves around UIAA grade I.
What you reach at the topAt 2,286 m, Stadelhorn is the highest and most prominent summit on the Reiter Alm, on the…
At 2,286 m, Stadelhorn is the highest and most prominent summit on the Reiter Alm, on the Bavaria–Salzburg border. The panorama can take in Watzmann and Hochkalter, the Loferer and Leoganger Steinberge, the High Tauern, Großglockner, Großvenediger, and Zugspitze. Golden eagles and bearded vultures inhabit the area. On the way up, the tall limestone tower beside Schaflsteig makes a striking close view against the valley.
Dogs and suppliesDogs may accompany hikers in the National Park but should be kept leashed to protect wildlife…
Dogs may accompany hikers in the National Park but should be kept leashed to protect wildlife and away from grazing animals. The steep protected gully and exposed rock steps make this route unsuitable for most dogs. No dependable food or water stop was documented along the route, so carry enough for a long day.
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.
