After all my previous hiking adventures in the French and Swiss Alps, I thought it was once again time to hike the German Alps. After all, I hadn’t hiked there since my Kehlsteinhaus adventure almost two years earlier. You can read about it here: Hiking to Kehlsteinhaus Eagle’s Nest. So, how about hiking to Kampenwand near Chiemsee?
Finding a hike in the German Alps is quite easy. You simply choose an area, I picked Chiemsee, and google the best hiking routes nearby to select one that suits your fitness level. There are plenty of options, ranging from easy and intermediate to more challenging hikes.
For me, hiking to Kampenwand sounded perfect. It was a 14 km loop, taking around five to six hours, with approximately 840 metres of elevation gain.
P.S. I often use the Outdooractive website. It offers a great selection of hiking routes with all the necessary details.
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Hiking to Kampenwand
Although the official starting point of the hike is the Aigen car park, at 815 metres, I started around 2 km farther down, parking my car just past the Seiseralm restaurant. I wanted to add a few extra kilometres to the overall hike.
From there, I followed the signs towards Goriloch and Kampenwand, passing Schlechtenberg Alm on the way to Steinlingalm, at 1,450 metres.
It felt great to be outdoors and hiking again. The route up to Steinlingalm was quite easy and enjoyable. I passed cows and cyclists along the way, although the cows certainly looked much more relaxed! It was a great workout and the perfect day for hiking to Kampenwand.
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After Steinlingalm, hiking to Kampenwand became much more challenging. The final 216 metres of elevation to the summit required concentration, sure footing and definitely a good level of fitness. There was even a sign warning hikers about vertigo, and yes, I could certainly feel it. The trail was rocky and, in some places, almost straight up.
Looking down, I definitely didn’t feel like taking the same route back again. But there were plenty of other hiking enthusiasts making their way up and down, so there was no turning back now.
The Kampenwand Peak
Although the final part of hiking to Kampenwand was quite challenging, this kind of hike – or rather, climb – is always my favourite part. I love using my whole body to climb over the rocks. The effort and workout make reaching the peak and taking in the stunning views even more rewarding, especially when looking out across the German Alps.
There is simply no better place to rest than at the top of a mountain.
Once I was down the steep part again, slow and steady, one foot after another, looking up one last time, at the cross on the peak, I felt amazing and happy. What an awesome hike!
So, following the sign back to the Aigen carpark, after almost 6 hours, my hiking to Kampenwand loop was complete.
Now, it was time to swim in the Chiemsee. And that was definitely refreshing.
What a perfect way to enjoy the warm late-summer days in mid-September. Especially as I write this now, the temperature has dropped considerably, with possible snowfall already forecast in the Alps.
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