Obersee & Röthbachfall
Quiet high-mountain lake behind the Königssee, with Germany's highest waterfall
Photo: Alupus / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Address
Obersee, hinter Salet am Königssee, 83471 Schönau am Königssee, Bayern
GPS
47.5161, 12.9883
The Obersee is a quiet mountain lake about 600 metres south-east of the Königssee, reached via the Salet boat landing. The Röthbach Falls plunge over the Röthwand, at around 380 m the highest waterfall in Germany.
Highlights
- Boat trip across the Königssee to Salet, then a short walk
- Turquoise, very quiet mountain lake framed by steep rock faces
- Röthbach Falls – at around 380 m the highest waterfall in Germany
- Historic Fischunkelalm with alpine farming in summer
- Shore path around the Obersee to the foot of the waterfall
Good to know
| Lake level | 613,1 m a.s.l. |
| Area | 57 ha |
| Length | 1,32 km |
| Width | 420 m |
| Max depth | 51 m |
| Mean depth | 29,6 m |
| Röthbach Falls height | approx. 380 m (highest waterfall in Germany) |
| Fischunkelalm | approx. 500-year-old alpine pasture, run from mid-May to mid-October |
| Location | Berchtesgaden National Park, behind the Königssee |
Practical info
Getting there: By boat with the Königssee shipping line from Schönau to Salet (terminus), then approx. 15 minutes on foot to the Obersee; extension to the Röthbach Falls.
Best time: Early summer for the most water-rich falls; boat service seasonal (please verify)
Duration: From Salet to the Obersee approx. 15 min.; to the Fischunkelalm and the Röthbach Falls there and back approx. 2–3 hours
Cost: Königssee boat ticket payable (please verify); the hike itself is free
Tips:
- Check the departure time of the last boat from Salet beforehand
- The shore path can be wet and slippery after rain
- Röthbach Falls carries the most water after the snowmelt
Background & History
The Obersee lies in the Berchtesgaden region beyond the famous Königssee and is regarded by many as the stillest and most untouched jewel of the area. Whoever wishes to reach it must first travel by boat across the Königssee to the Salet alp and then walk a short distance on foot, which to this day spares the small mountain lake from the great crowds. Framed by sheer rock walls, the surrounding mountain world is reflected so perfectly in its clear water that the boundary between shore and reflection seems to blur.
At the far end of the lake the Röthbach Falls plunge over a vast rock step into the depths and, with a drop of about 470 metres, are regarded as the highest waterfall in Germany. They are fed by the meltwater of the Steinernes Meer, that karstic high plateau lying high above the valley. The route from the Königssee, by way of the Obersee, to the foot of the waterfall leads through an unspoilt alpine landscape and ranks among the most impressive hikes in the Bavarian Alps, an outing that combines a boat trip, a mirror lake and a roaring cascade in several natural spectacles at once.
To make your trip run smoothly , our guides and gear tips for this destination:
