Via Alpina Purple A43

The Via Alpina Purple A43 is an 18.2-km point-to-point alpine stage in Bavaria, Germany, climbing 1,414 m from the hamlet of Engedey to the Neue Traunsteiner Hütte. Rated Grade II (moderate–strenuous), the stage takes roughly 7 hours and threads along the southern edge of Berchtesgaden National Park through forest, alpine meadow, and exposed limestone ridge — a quintessential Bavarian mountain day.

About the Via Alpina Purple A43

Stage A43 of the Via Alpina Purple Trail connects Engedey — a scattered farming hamlet in the Ramsau bei Berchtesgaden municipality — with the Neue Traunsteiner Hütte, a staffed alpine hut at approximately 1,554 m in the Chiemgauer Alps. It is one of 66 stages that together form the Purple Trail, the longest of the five Via Alpina routes, stretching from Monaco to Trieste across four countries and more than 2,600 km of alpine terrain.

The stage occupies one of Germany's most scenically intense corners: the Berchtesgaden Alps, a compact range of limestone peaks straddling the Bavaria–Salzburg border. The approach out of Engedey climbs quickly through mixed spruce and beech forest before the trail opens onto high pasture and follows the boundary of Berchtesgaden National Park in a north-easterly direction. Limestone walls, karst hollows, and occasional chamois sightings become regular features as altitude increases.

With 1,414 m of ascent compressed into 18.2 km and only 423 m of descent, A43 is an accumulating climb — most of the height is gained over the first two-thirds of the route. The net elevation gain of approximately 991 m means arriving at the Neue Traunsteiner Hütte feels genuinely earned. Walkers on the full Purple Trail typically arrive here from Stage A42 (Königssee–Engedey) and continue the following morning on Stage A44 to Unken, Austria.

The Via Alpina is a flagship route of the International Walking Network (IWN), a cross-border cooperation between France, Monaco, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, and Italy. The Purple Trail holds special status as the only IWN route to traverse all eight member countries, and Stage A43 sits firmly within the German–Austrian border zone that gives this section its distinctive dual-country character.

Route Overview & Stages

Stage A43 is designed as a single-day walk with a walking time of 6 hours 50 minutes. The table below divides it into three logical segments to assist with pacing and water planning.

Total: 18.2 km | 1,414 m ascent | 423 m descent | approx. 6 h 50 min walking time

Highlights & Points of Interest

• Engedey starting point — The stage departs this quiet farming hamlet in the Ramsau valley at around 850 m. The distinctive double-summit profile of the Watzmann (2,713 m) dominates the southern skyline before the trail turns into the forest, providing an early-morning orientation landmark that hikers carry in view for much of the lower approach.
• Ramsau bei Berchtesgaden — Just minutes from the trailhead, this small Bavarian town contains the famous Malerwinkel (painter's corner) — a viewpoint over the Wimbachbrücke bridge that has appeared in hundreds of landscape paintings. A 20-minute detour from Engedey rewards with one of the most reproduced compositions in German alpine art.
• Berchtesgaden National Park boundary — For much of the middle segment, the trail follows the western edge of Germany's only alpine national park. Established in 1978 across 210 km², the reserve shelters golden eagles, Eurasian ibex, and chamois in near-pristine habitat. Access to the park interior is strictly regulated, keeping the terrain immediately adjacent to the trail exceptionally wild.
• Schwarzbachwacht pass area — A historical crossroads on the old drovers' route between Bavaria and Salzburg province, sitting at roughly 1,200 m. This is the point where forest gives way to open ridgeline and views widen dramatically across the Chiemgauer Alps to the north. A traditional waymarker post marks the junction.
• Reiteralm high pastures — A broad limestone plateau at approximately 1,400 m, grazed by cattle through the summer months. This is the flattest section of the stage and the natural spot for a long rest. On clear days the full sweep of the Steinernes Meer massif is visible to the south, with Austria's Hochkönig prominent on the horizon.
• Limestone karst formations — Throughout the upper section, the trail crosses outcrops of Dachstein limestone, the same rock type defining the entire Berchtesgaden Alps. Look underfoot for dolines (sinkholes), solution pits, and fossilised reef structures — physical evidence of a shallow tropical sea that covered this region some 220 million years ago.
• Cross-border panorama — From the final ridge before the hut, the Austrian Salzach valley appears below. The boundary between Bavaria and Salzburg province runs along the ridgeline here, briefly placing hikers in two countries simultaneously and underlining the Via Alpina's fundamentally international character.
• Neue Traunsteiner Hütte (1,554 m) — The stage endpoint is a classic Bavarian alpine hut with dormitory and private rooms, hearty Brotzeit platters, and a south-facing terrace with views across the Chiemgau foothills. Staffed from late May through October, it is the social and logistical hub of this section of the Purple Trail.

Best Time to Hike the Via Alpina Purple A43

The reliable hiking window for Stage A43 runs from late May through mid-October. Snow lingers on the upper ridge sections into May most years, and the first sustained autumn snowfall typically arrives in late October.

June brings lush meadow wildflowers, up to 16 hours of daylight at this latitude, and reliable trail conditions above the snowline. Stream crossings can run high from snowmelt through the first half of the month, making trekking poles particularly useful on the lower forest sections.

July and August are peak season. Valley temperatures reach 18–24 °C while the Neue Traunsteiner Hütte averages 10–15 °C. Afternoon thunderstorms are common from mid-July onwards; an early start before 07:00 allows you to reach the hut well before the typical storm window of 13:00–16:00.

September is the single best month for this stage. Crowds thin sharply after the August school holidays, temperatures settle at a comfortable 12–18 °C in the valley, atmospheric visibility reaches its annual peak, and the larch trees above 1,400 m begin turning gold in the final week. Trail conditions are excellent throughout and all huts remain open.

October offers near-total solitude and dramatic low-angle light, but huts close progressively through the month. As of 2026, the Neue Traunsteiner Hütte confirmed its seasonal dates as late May to 15 October — verify directly with the hut before any late-season visit, as closures can shift by one to two weeks depending on the year's snowpack.

Practical Information

Accommodation

The primary overnight option at the stage end is the Neue Traunsteiner Hütte, operated under the auspices of the German Alpine Club (DAV). It offers:

• Dormitory (Lager): approximately €22–28 per person per night for DAV members; €30–38 for non-members
• Double and family rooms: limited availability — book 4–6 weeks ahead for July and August weekends
• Half-board (dinner and breakfast): €15–22 extra per person; strongly recommended, as the nearest alternative food is several kilometres downhill

For the stage start, Ramsau bei Berchtesgaden (approximately 5 km from Engedey) has guesthouses from €65 per person per night. Berchtesgaden town offers wider choice from €55/night including budget guesthouses and youth hostel options. Hut beds can be reserved via the DAV online booking system — peak-season beds fill weeks in advance and same-day walk-in availability is not guaranteed in July or August.

Getting There & Back

To Engedey (start):

• By rail: Deutsche Bahn to Berchtesgaden Hbf (approximately 2 hours from Munich Hbf, change at Freilassing), then RVO bus line 848 towards Ramsau (12 minutes, hourly). Engedey is a request stop on the same route — signal the driver.
• From Munich Airport (MUC): add approximately 45 minutes to the Munich Hbf journey time.
• By car: Park at Ramsau Ortsmitte (free roadside parking) and walk 2 km to Engedey along the valley road, or use the small pull-off on the Engedey farm track.

From Neue Traunsteiner Hütte (end):

• The hut has no road access. Descent to Ruhpolding on the German side takes approximately 2.5 hours on foot, from where an RVO bus connects to Traunstein Hbf with hourly Deutsche Bahn services to Munich.
• Alternatively, continue on Stage A44 to Unken, Austria (approximately 3 hours further), from where ÖBB buses reach Salzburg Hbf in 45 minutes.

Permits & Fees

No permits are required to walk Stage A43. The trail follows the external boundary of Berchtesgaden National Park; no entry permit is needed as long as you stay on the marked route. There are no trail access fees. DAV membership costs from €72 per year, reduces hut accommodation prices by 25–35%, and includes mountain rescue insurance — a practical investment for any multi-day alpine itinerary in Germany or Austria.

Gear & Packing List

Stage A43's 1,414 m of gain on rocky limestone rewards a well-balanced pack and stable footwear. Key considerations for this stage:

• Backpack: A 35–50 L pack suits one overnight with hut accommodation. The Osprey Aether 65 is the choice for multi-day through-hikers carrying camping gear; the Deuter Aircontact Lite 45+10 is a well-balanced hut-to-hut option. For consecutive stages with heavier loads, the Deuter Aircontact Core 50+10 delivers excellent load transfer on sustained climbs like this one.
• Footwear: Mid-cut leather or stiff synthetic hiking boots with a Vibram-class sole. Trail runners are viable for experienced hikers in dry conditions, but the wet limestone traverses near the national park boundary can be treacherous in low-traction footwear.
• Layering: Alpine temperatures drop approximately 6–7 °C per 1,000 m of elevation gained. Budget for a 9–11 °C temperature drop between Engedey and the Neue Traunsteiner Hütte, plus wind-chill exposure on the upper ridge. A merino mid-layer and a packable hardshell are non-negotiable on this stage.
• Trekking poles: Strongly recommended. The descent sections above the Reiteralm hit gradients of 20–25% on loose limestone rubble, and poles materially reduce knee stress on the long approach out of the valley.
• Water: Carry at least 1.5 L from Engedey. Seasonal springs exist on the route but cannot be guaranteed after dry spells; treat any source above 1,200 m. For multi-day calorie planning on days with this much elevation, see how many calories you need hiking a full day.
• Navigation: Download the 1:25 000 BayernAtlas topographic map offline before leaving the valley. Via Alpina waymarking (purple diamond blazes) is reliable on A43 but can be obscured by residual snow patches in early June.

If you are comparing pack options for a longer Via Alpina stint, the full breakdown in best ultralight backpacks of 2026 tests seven packs across different load capacities and walking styles.

Similar Trails You Might Like

Stage A43 belongs to Europe's broader long-distance walking network. If you are drawn to the cross-border character of the Via Alpina, these German IWN routes share the same commitment to multi-day walking through managed landscapes — though at considerably lower elevations and with a gentler challenge profile:

• Europäischer Fernwanderweg E8, Rheinland-Pfalz — The German section of the Rotterdam–Cyprus E8 passes through the Rhine valley, Palatinate Forest, and Saar region; technically easier than the Via Alpina but rich in Roman and mediaeval heritage.
• Europäischer Fernwanderweg E8, Nordrhein-Westfalen — The Eifel and Bergisches Land stretch of the E8, with forested ridges and river valleys offering an accessible contrast to high alpine terrain.
• Europäischer Fernwanderweg E11, Sachsen-Anhalt (W) — The western Saxony-Anhalt corridor of the Hague–Warsaw E11, crossing the Harz highlands with varied low-mountain scenery.
• Europäischer Fernwanderweg E11, Sachsen-Anhalt (O) — The eastern section of the same E11 route, flatter and faster-walking than the Alpine stages but part of the same IWN family.
• Europäischer Fernwanderweg E11, Brandenburg (O) — Brandenburg's eastern E11 corridor, a lakeland and lowland route that provides a striking contrast to Stage A43's steep limestone terrain.

For a harder alpine challenge outside Germany, the Theth to Valbona hike in Albania covers similar daily elevation profiles in a wilder and more remote setting with far fewer other hikers on the trail.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to hike Via Alpina Purple A43?

September is the optimal month. Crowds thin sharply after August school holidays, visibility reaches its annual peak, valley temperatures settle at 12–18 °C, and the larch trees above 1,400 m begin turning gold in the final week. The trail is open from late May to mid-October; avoid early June unless you are experienced with seasonal alpine conditions and possible snow on the upper limestone ridge.

How difficult is Stage A43?

A43 is rated Grade II on the Via Alpina scale — moderate to strenuous. The 1,414 m of elevation gain over 18.2 km represents a serious mountain day. Good physical fitness, ankle-supporting footwear, and basic route-reading ability are required. There are no technical scrambles or roped sections, but the limestone ridge traverses above 1,400 m demand careful footing in wet or icy conditions.

How far do you walk per day on this stage?

Stage A43 covers 18.2 km in a single day, with an official walking time of 6 hours 50 minutes excluding rest stops. Most hikers budget 8–9 hours door-to-door, including a lunch break at the Reiteralm pastures and viewpoint pauses along the upper ridge. The stage is designed to finish at the Neue Traunsteiner Hütte in time for the evening meal service.

What accommodation is available on Stage A43?

The Neue Traunsteiner Hütte at the stage end provides dormitory beds from €22 (DAV members) and limited private rooms. The hut serves hot food and is staffed from late May to 15 October. For the stage start, Ramsau bei Berchtesgaden and Berchtesgaden town both offer guesthouses from €55–65 per person per night. Book hut beds at least 4–6 weeks ahead for July and August weekends to guarantee a place.

Do you need a permit to hike Via Alpina Purple A43?

No permit is required. The trail follows the external boundary of Berchtesgaden National Park and no entry permit is needed provided you stay on the marked route. There are no trail access fees. DAV membership is not mandatory but reduces hut accommodation costs by 25–35% and includes mountain rescue cover — a practical consideration for any multi-day Via Alpina itinerary in the Bavarian or Austrian Alps.