Overview
Geigelstein (center) and Breitenstein (left) as seen from Hochgern ascent
Breitenstein is a rather common denomination in the Alps. This article deals with Breitenstein within
Chiemgau Alps, Geigelstein subrange.
The summit is located south of
Geigelstein itself and, as Geigelstein attacts many hikers, is the calmer brother of the main summit of the subrange. As the summit is lower and heavily overgrown by dwarf pines, the views are not as good as from Geigelstein summit.
Breitenstein is locates between
Ramsbach valley to the west and
Lochbach valley with Wuhrsteinalm to the east. It is a broad mountain shape with three triangular ridges, the northern one going straight to Geigelstein, the two others going down to Wuhrsteinalm (east ridge) and to Karkopf (south ridge), a minor summit in the southern area of Geigenstein subrange.
Priener Hütte, the main alpine hut of the subrange, is not far away to the northwest.
Getting There
Geigelstein (center) and Breitenstein (left) as seen from Hochlerch
Main trailheads are:
Sachrang and Sachrang / Huben can be reached by car
by using
highway A 8 from Munich or Salzburg to exit
Frasdorf, then on
road number St2093, passing through Aschau. Both hiker parking areas (fee required) are directly besides the road and are signposted.
Schleching can be reached by car
by using
highway A 8 from Munich or Salzburg to exit
Bernau, then on
road number B 305 to Marquartstein. Turn then on road
B 307 to Schleching.
Walchsee / Winkl can be reached by car
from
highway A 12 (Innsbruch) /
A 93 (Munich, Rosenheim) by using exit
Oberaudorf. Cross the German – Austrian border and proceed on
road number 172 to Walchsee.
Turn there on
Hausbergstraße and proceed to Winkl and a hiker parking area.
All trailheads are not directly linked to the railway system. You have to use busses from the nearest railway stations – Aschau for the Sachrang trailheads; Bernau for the Schleching trailheads, Oberaudorf for the Walchsee trailhead. See the Chiemgau Alps main page for further information.
Route Overview
Routes Overview
From
Schleching / Ettenhausen follow the forest road from the parking area up to
Wuhrsteinalm. From Wuhrsteinalm follow the forest road up to
Obere Wirtsalm and take the left hand trail at a trail junction above the Alm hut. At the unnamed col between Geigelstein and Breitenstein turn left onto the trail leading up the broad north ridge to Breitenstein summit.
Alternatively follow trail number
84 to the south into the valley between
Karkopf and
Breitenstein, called Karwinkel. Follow this trail up to the col between Karkopf and Breitenstein. Karkopf can be easily reached from this col. For Breitenstein turn right and follow the steep trail up the south ridge to Breitenstein summit.
Ascent from Priener Hütte | Upper Breitenstein ascent near the summit |
From
Sachrang or Sachrang / Huben parking area follow the forest roads up to their junction point above the
Judensee. Follow the forest road up to
Priener Hütte using Talgraben valley.
One switchback of the forest road can be shortcut using the marked old trail.
From Priener Hütte take trail number
208 directly up to the unnamed col and follow the north ridge trail to Breitenstein summit to your right.
Alternatively turn south at Priener Hütte, decend the forest road to its uppermost switchback, go straight on there and take the first trail (number
8) leaving to the left. Follow this trail up to the col between
Karkopf and
Breitenstein and use the south ridge trail up to the summit.
Summit view to Geigelstein | Breitenstein as seen from the northwest |
Southern ascent from Walchsee / Winkl via Priener Hütte
Follow the road
Oberwinkl and then the forest road using Rahmbach valley up to
Priener Hütte.
From Priener Hütte go on as described above.
The
traverse Geigelstein – Breitenstein follows the south ridge of the first and the north ridge of the latter. It is a short but nice traverse on sometimes narrow trails with one short scrambling action. Interesting mountain flora during late spring and summer.
Traverse Geigelstein - Breitenstein | Traverse Geigelstein - Breitenstein |
Ski routes
The
main ski route starts at Schleching / Ettenhausen and uses the abandoned ski runs of Wuhrsteinalm, the upper Lochbach valley to Obere Wirtsalm and the upper northeast slopes of Breitenstein. Nice ski tour, look out for secure avalanche condition in the upper part of the route.
The
western ski route starts at Sachrang or Sachrang / Mühlau and follows mainly the forest roads um to Priener Hütte. Take the steep west slope up to the col between Breitenstein and Geigelstein and use the north ridge to gain Breitenstein. Not so much downhill fun.
A wintry aspect of Geigelstein subrange with Breitenstein to the right | Tall Geigelstein as seen from Breitenstein |
Red Tape & Accommodation
Breitenstein as seen from Geigelstein
The German parts of Breitenstein area are a
nature protection area.
See some
basic information here.
There is a
core zone which is closed for hikers and ski tourists from 1st december through 31. may every year.
Ski touring is possible in special indicated corridors within the protection area, as is snow shoe touring or hiking on the marked trails!
Mountain biking is forbidden in the protection area as is camping, fire, domestic animals, collecting plants.
Please respect all regulations and stay on the trails or the marked ski routes.
Accommodation can be found at:
Aschau/Chiemgau
Schleching
Walchsee
Kössen
Sachrang
Marquartstein
Mountain huts:
Priener Hütte
Wuhrsteinalm
Obere Wirtsalm
Gear & Mountain Condition
Breitenstein as seen from Schreckalm route to Geigelstein
Like its neighbour Geigelstein, Breitenstein is a year round summit.
In spring, summer and autumn it’s the
hikers realm, in winter and early spring it’s a well known
ski and snow shoe target.
For your hiking activities bring good shoes, maybe hiking poles and in spring and early summer some gaiters.
In winter full ski/snow shoe gear and avalanche gear is mandatory.
See the
Bavarian avalanche bulletin here.
Current Weather:
Maps
A view of Wilder Kaiser range from near Priener Hütte below Breitenstein
Alpenvereinskarte, Bayerische Alpen, number
BY 17, Chiemgauer Alpen West; with trails and ski routes, UMT-grid, scale 1 : 25.000, edition 2014
Topographische Karten von Bayern, number
UKL 50-54, Chiemsee, Chiemgauer Alpen, trails and MTB routes, UTM grid, scale 1 : 50.000, edition 2016