🇦🇹Austria · Steinernes Meer (Berchtesgaden Alps)

Durchs Steinerne Meer

Multi-day hut-to-hut trek across Alpenverein huts
Durchs Steinerne Meer
Hard TraverseVia ferrata
dustpuppy · BY-SA 2.0
33 km
Distance
+1,848 m
Ascent
2-3 days
Duration
2
Huts
Best time: July to September (huts open, trails snow-free)
Check hut availability →
Download GPX ↓file contains 32.7 km · 3 stages

About the route

A vast white karst plateau like a petrified sea, one of the Alps' most photogenic high plateaus. Both huts sit high above 2100 m with views of Watzmann and Hochkönig. Classic "Durchs Steinerne Meer" in weekend format. The route passes Riemannhaus and Ingolstädter Haus and works as a more demanding weekend trek in Steinernes Meer (Berchtesgaden Alps). Total 33 km and roughly 2000 m ascent; 2-3 days with 2 nights in huts. Best season is July to September.

Highest point
2,436 m
Huts on the route
2 × hut
Secured sections
Via ferrata A · avoidable
Best time
July to September (huts open, trails snow-free)

The route at a glance

Elevation profile
↑ 1,851 m ascent↓ 2,327 m descent33.2 km2,436 m summit
from our track · the header shows the official figure
70016002500Riemannhaus · 2177 mIngolstädter Haus · 2119 m0 km7 km13 km20 km27 km33 km
Line colour = gradient (green gentle → red steep). Dots = huts. Route: © OpenStreetMap (ODbL), elevations from mapy.com.
Route mapOpen full map ↗

Plan and book

Live availability · Alpenverein

Pick a start date, for every night on the route you instantly see the free beds and book directly through the official Alpenverein system.

Choose start date
‹›
How many staying overnight
1
„free" = beds for the whole group
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All huts freePartly freeSelected
▲
Start · arrival
Maria Alm am Steinernen Meer
◎ Plan arrival
☾
Maria Alm am Steinernen Meer
Before the start · lodging
Stay overnight in Maria Alm am Steinernen Meer
Hotels and guesthouses in Maria Alm am Steinernen Meer · Booking.com
Booking.com →
1
Riemannhaus
Day 1 · traverse to Riemannhaus
↔ 12.5 km↑ 1274 m↓ 361 m◷ 6–7 h

☾
Riemannhaus 2177 m
Not in the online reservation system · book directly with the hut
2
Ingolstädter Haus
Day 2 · traverse to Ingolstädter Haus
↔ 6.4 km↑ 259 m↓ 314 m◷ 2 h 21 min

☾
Ingolstädter Haus 2119 m
Not in the online reservation system · book directly with the hut
3
Day 3 · traverse to Saalfelden
↔ 14.1 km↑ 335 m↓ 1667 m◷ 6 h 13 min

☾
Saalfelden 744 m
Valley village · lodging via Booking.com
Booking.com →
▼
Descent to the valley · Saalfelden am Steinernen Meer
From the last hut you descend to the valley village, approximate destination, lodging below.
☾
Saalfelden am Steinernen Meer
After the trek · lodging
Rest up in Saalfelden am Steinernen Meer
Hotels and guesthouses in Saalfelden am Steinernen Meer · Booking.com
Booking.com →
Route alert
Want the whole route on one date?
Leave your e-mail. We’ll write as soon as every hut on the route lines up with no gaps, with the dates straight to your calendar.

What to pack

Sleeping bag liner
Sleeping bag liner
Required in huts
Browse at 4camping →
Hiking boots
Hiking boots
Ankle-high, for multi-day treks
Browse at 4camping →
Waterproof jacket
Waterproof jacket
Hardshell, 3-layer
Browse at 4camping →
Backpack 30–40 l
Backpack 30–40 l
Multi-day, with rain cover
Browse at 4camping →
Trekking poles
Trekking poles
Telescopic and foldable
Browse at 4camping →
Headlamp
Headlamp
Rechargeable
Browse at 4camping →
Via ferrata set
Via ferrata set
Shock absorber + carabiners
Browse at 4camping →
Climbing helmet
Climbing helmet
Light, for via ferrata
Browse at 4camping →

Handy before you go

tips from verified partners
View on GetYourGuide
Partner · experiences
Tours and activities nearby
Guided tours, via ferratas and trips around Maria Alm am Steinernen Meer, book online.
View on GetYourGuide →
Get Revolut
Partner · payments
No foreign-currency fees
A card for fee-free payments and withdrawals along the whole route, exchange rate with no markup.
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Buy an eSIM on Airalo
Partner · connectivity
eSIM data in the Alps
Mobile data without roaming for the whole trek, activated in a minute.
Buy an eSIM on Airalo →

Frequently asked questions

How many days does Durchs Steinerne Meer take?+
The route can be completed in 2-3 days with 2 nights in mountain huts. Total distance is 33 km and ascent around 1848 m.
How challenging is the route?+
Demanding. It includes high-altitude and alpine sections and requires sure-footedness. Expect several hours of hiking daily.
Can you book huts online?+
Yes, all huts on the route are bookable online through the Alpenverein system. You can see current availability for each night directly here.
When is the best time?+
July to September, when huts are open and trails are snow-free. Early season may see snow patches at higher elevations.

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