Rossfeldstrasse s(u)
Only the very northern edge
of the alps sometimes reach into Germany.
Sometimes it seems whenever the alps get
interesting heading south, you cross into
Austria. Berchtesgaden is the most famous
exception. It contains the only German
national park in the alps, and this is the
highest paved summit in it.
Maybe because this is the
only real chance for a steep alpine road
in Germany, Rossfeldstrasse was made to be
particularly memorable when it comes to
steepness. Actually it is a ring road that
stays at high elevation. But in order to
get maximum elevation gain to the summit I
included approaches from two lower point.
The ring road connects between points 2
and 4.
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1.START-END NORTH:jct
B305 - B319
2.jct with road to Obersalzberg
before reaching Oberau
3.TOP: 1540m
4.jct with Obersalzbergstr,
connecting to point 2
5.START-END SOUTH:jct Salzbergstr
with B306 in Berchtesgaden
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Approaches
From North. For
some reason the lower approach from Unterau
to Oberau seems to have a lot more traffic
than the rest of the loop, and climbing the
tight steep curves can be less than ideal.
Amongst the several small pull-outs, there
is one direction Berchtesgaden with "Hoher
Goell" behind it, that is perfect in morning
light.
Not until just
before reaching the summit, does the road go
above treeline. From the summit ridge a
short walk gives a panoramic view down into
the valley of the Salzach in Austria. The
view onto the lower karst ridges with the
steep strike slope facing the viewer from
Berchtesgaden is actually much more
dramatic.
From
South. (described downwards) As from
the summit, the most impressive views are
the steep partially cloud obscured cliffs of
various mountains named after varieties of
Freieck. After a steep decent in the forest
the road passes an interpretive center for
the Kehlheim Haus area. The English
designation for this is "Eagles Nest" and
has nothing to do with the original name. It
refers to Hitler's alpine retreat. At the
interpretive center tourists wait to be
taken in busloads from the expecially built
terminal up the steep mountain road. the
acces to that road is hidden behind the bus
terminal. Bicycles and pedistrians are not
allowed on this steep narrow and scenic
road. But during Corona times, there were no
buses, and nobody there to stop cyclists.
Unfortunately I missed it. I'll have to
settle for a photograph of somebody waiting
for the bus (picture is in the slideshow).
Past that tourist compex, more
steep decending is to be done to reach
Berchtesgaden. Technically this is not part
of the Rossfeldstr.
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cLiCk on image ,
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slideshow
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Dayride with this point
as highest summit:
COMPLETELY PAVED
( < |
Schwarzbachtalwachtsattel
> )
Rossfeldstr s(u): additional
out and back : campground on a small
rd several hundred ft above Oberau >
Rossfeldstr s(u) > sightseeing detour
around Berchtesgaden <> out and back
to Koenigsee with detours around the area
> Unterau > back to starting point:
29.6miels with 4400ft of climbing in 4:06hrs
(gamin etrex 30 r4:21.8.6)
Notes: day also included an introductory
walk in the Koenigsee area