Climbing Watzmann Ostwand: Top Outdoor Adventures Awaiting You

Situated in the southeastern corner of Germany, which is entirely surrounded by Austria and therefore closer to Salzburg than Munich, Watzmann Ostwan is an incredibly scenic part of the country.

While many seasoned mountaineers opt to climb up the peak’s iconic east face – challenging themselves, their endurance and their skills on one of the toughest walls in the eastern Alps – less experienced climbers can head up the north face.

This route requires a four hour hiking approach to the Watzmann Hut at 1,928 meters (6,325 feet), where most climbers will spend the night. The following day is then spent making a fairly steep but simple climb up to the Hocheck peak (2,651 meters/8,698 feet), which is the shortest on the massif.

Stunning scenery

Situated in the verdant mountains and forests of southeastern Germany, Watzmann Ostwand boasts plenty of stunning scenery to enjoy on any mountaineering expedition. Starting from the lovely Königssee Lake, climbers ascend high-quality granite, enjoying phenomenal views of the stunning surroundings en route to the summit.

Challenge yourself

Boasting a 1,800 meter (5,900 foot) rock wall, Watzmann Ostwand’s east face is the highest wall in the eastern Alps and – for any advanced mountain climber looking to test their mettle – should not be missed! Stretching from Königssee to the summit, the wall is not technically too challenging but takes 10 hours to conquer and requires a high level of physical fitness.

**Explore the national park **

Either before or after your mountaineering adventure, take some time to explore the rest of the stunning Berchtesgaden National Park. Walk along the shores of Königssee Lake, trek up to the Watzmann Glacier and take some time to visit St. Bartholomew's Church, which sits right on the shore of the lake and cuts a stunning figure right in front of the mighty Watzmann Ostwand.

During the summer months, average daily temperatures at the base of Watzmann Ostwand rang from the low to mid-20s (high-60s to mid-70s). Rain is fairly frequent year-round in this part of Germany, with an average of 12 to 14 days per month.

Any expedition to the summit of Watzmann Ostwand likely begins with a flight into Salzburg Airport (SZG), in Austria. From here, it is easiest to rent a car and make the one hour drive to Schönau am Königssee, at the start of the climb.

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