Via Alpina Purple A52

The Via Alpina Purple A52 is a 17.8 km point-to-point alpine stage in Bavaria, Germany, gaining 1,482 m of elevation from Brünnsteinhaus to Rotwandhaus. Rated difficulty II on the Via Alpina scale, it is a demanding mountain day covering the Wendelstein foothills, the pastoral Himmelmoosalm, and the rocky ascent of Traithen — one of the most scenic ridge traverses in the Bavarian Prealps.

About the Via Alpina Purple A52

The Via Alpina Purple Trail is one of five long-distance routes that span the entire Alpine arc, stretching roughly 2,500 km from Trieste, Italy, to Monaco. Stage A52 — running from Brünnsteinhaus to Rotwandhaus — sits in the southern Bavarian Prealps, threading through the Mangfall Mountains between the Wendelstein massif and the Schliersee highland. This is mountain hiking at its most honest: no cable cars, no shortcuts, just sustained ridge walking above the tree line with Bavarian huts waiting at each end.

At 17.8 km with 1,482 m of elevation gain and 1,079 m of descent, the stage takes experienced walkers approximately 7 hours. The Via Alpina assigns it a difficulty of Grade II — meaning good physical fitness and sure-footedness on marked mountain paths are required, but no technical climbing equipment. The route is part of the International Walking Network (IWN), the global framework that certifies the most significant long-distance routes on Earth.

The character of A52 changes constantly. The morning opens gently on the broad alp of Himmelmoosalm, where cowbells and open meadows stretch toward the horizon. By late morning the gradient sharpens on the Traithen ascent, where calcareous rock slabs demand attention and reward you with sweeping views to the Chiemsee lowlands to the north and the main Alpine chain to the south. The descent into the Rotwandhaus basin follows waymarked paths through dwarf pine and scree, finishing at one of the most storied huts in the Bavarian mountains.

For hikers planning multi-day Alpine traverses, it is worth reading our Theth to Valbona hike guide for comparison with a different style of European long-distance mountain walking.

Route Overview & Stages

Via Alpina Purple A52 is a single stage within the larger Purple Trail system, running northeast to southwest between two mountain huts. The table below breaks the stage into its three natural sections, based on terrain transitions and the key waypoint at Traithen summit.

Total stage: 17.8 km  |  Elevation gain: 1,482 m  |  Elevation loss: 1,079 m  |  Walking time: approx. 7 hours  |  Difficulty: Grade II (Via Alpina scale)

Highlights & Points of Interest

• Brünnsteinhaus (1,034 m) — The stage start is a classic Bavarian mountain hut perched on the southern flank of Brünnstein, reachable from Oberaudorf. The hut has served Alpine walkers since the 19th century and offers dormitory and private rooms.
• Himmelmoosalm — A broad, gently sloping summer alp between two ridges. Dairy cattle graze here from June to September and the alp dairy sells fresh Brotzeit snacks — the ideal mid-morning rest stop at roughly the 5 km mark.
• Traithen (1,852 m) — The high point of the stage. The summit cross marks the watershed between the Mangfall and Inn river systems. On clear days the view extends north to the Chiemsee, southeast to the Kaiser range in Tyrol, and south toward the main chain of the Central Alps.
• Rotwand (1,884 m) — The prominent peak above the Rotwandhaus, which can be tagged as a detour from the main trail. The red-hued limestone face that gives the mountain its name (Rotwand = red wall) is unmistakable from the approach ridge.
• Rotwandhaus (1,737 m) — The DAV-operated mountain hut at the stage end has 60 sleeping places, a full kitchen serving hot meals, and a sun terrace overlooking the Spitzingsee basin. It sits at the junction of multiple Via Alpina stages.
• Spitzingsee Basin — Visible from the final descent, this glacially carved lake at 1,083 m is one of Bavaria's highest natural lakes. Its reflections of surrounding peaks make it a popular photography subject in the golden hour.
• Wendelstein Massif Views — For the first third of the stage, the distinctive pyramid of Wendelstein (1,838 m) — topped by a weather station and the highest church in Germany — appears repeatedly as a landmark to the northwest.
• Alpine Wildflower Zones — Between 1,200 m and 1,600 m, the trail passes through protected Alpenwiesen where gentian, arnica, and edelweiss flower from late June through August, along with Bavarian endemic species that thrive on calcareous soils.

Best Time to Hike the Via Alpina Purple A52

The stage is a summer-season trail. Snow typically lies above 1,500 m until late May and can return by November, making the reliable window mid-June through mid-October. As of 2026, the Bavarian Prealps have seen earlier seasonal snowmelt in recent years, occasionally opening routes by the first week of June, but afternoon thunderstorm risk also arrives earlier in the season.

The single best month is August. High pressure systems regularly park over the Bavarian Alps for 7–10 day stretches, giving stable, warm days with wide visibility. Huts are fully staffed and the alp dairies are in full production. Plan around the Bavarian school summer holiday period (usually late July–early September) if you want quieter trails, and book Rotwandhaus at least a month in advance.

Practical Information

Accommodation

Both trail head huts are run by DAV (German Alpine Club) sections and are open to all walkers, not just club members — though DAV members receive a significant discount on overnight rates.

• Brünnsteinhaus (1,034 m, stage start) — Operated by DAV Sektion Rosenheim. Dormitory beds: approx. €25–30 per night (non-members); private double: approx. €50–60. Half-board available. DAV hut booking portal.
• Rotwandhaus (1,737 m, stage end) — Operated by DAV Sektion München. 60 dormitory places. Non-member overnight: approx. €30–35; DAV member: approx. €18–22. Evening meal and breakfast packages from €14 each. Hut is typically open mid-May to late October.
• Camping — Wild camping is not permitted in the Bavarian Prealps nature protection zones. The nearest serviced campsite is in Schliersee village, approx. 8 km from Rotwandhaus (accessible by taxi or pre-arranged pick-up).

Getting There & Back

To Brünnsteinhaus (stage start): The nearest train station is Oberaudorf, served by the Munich–Kufstein regional line (RB 59 / S-Bahn S6 to Rosenheim then regional). From Munich Hauptbahnhof the journey takes approximately 1 hour 15 minutes. From Oberaudorf station, a signed 4 km trail climbs to Brünnsteinhaus in about 1 hour 30 minutes (380 m ascent). Car parking is available in Oberaudorf near the trailhead.

From Rotwandhaus (stage end): Descent to Spitzingsee takes approximately 1 hour (4 km, 650 m descent). From Spitzingsee the bus line 9562 connects to Schliersee station (approx. 20 minutes), and from there the BOB regional rail runs to Munich Ostbahnhof in approximately 1 hour. Taxis are also available from Spitzingsee to Schliersee year-round (approx. €15–20).

Car shuttle: Parking at Oberaudorf (start) and Spitzingsee (end). A round trip by regional rail to retrieve the car costs approx. €12–15 per person.

Permits & Fees

No hiking permit is required for Via Alpina Purple A52. The trail crosses through designated Bavarian landscape protection areas, but access is free and unrestricted on marked paths. There is no trail fee or park entrance charge. The only costs are hut accommodation and food. Hut bookings can be made directly through the DAV or via the Via Alpina official booking system. Dogs must be kept on a lead in alpine pasture areas, particularly where cattle graze (Himmelmoosalm section).

Gear & Packing List

A 17.8 km alpine stage with 1,482 m of gain demands a pack that balances support with weight. Lightweight 35–55 litre packs hit the sweet spot for a hut-to-hut single stage — heavy enough to carry layers, food, and first aid, light enough to not slow you on the Traithen ascent. For a detailed breakdown of caloric needs on a 7-hour day like this, see our guide on how many calories you need hiking a full day.

For lightweight and ultralight pack options suited to alpine day and multi-day stages:

• Deuter Aircontact Core 50+10 — robust, ventilated frame pack ideal for hut-to-hut with gear for several nights; excellent load transfer on steep terrain
• Deuter Aircontact Lite 45+10 — lighter sibling of the Core, 1.9 kg, well-suited for single-stage day hikes carrying only what you need for one night
• Osprey Aether 65 — high-capacity option for longer Via Alpina stretches covering multiple stages without hut stops; strong hip belt for 1,400+ m ascent days
• Zpacks Arc Haul Ultra 60L — ultralight frameless option for experienced packers who want to move fast on the ridge sections; 680 g pack weight leaves maximum budget for layers and food
• Hyperlite Mountain Gear 2400 Windrider — waterproof Dyneema construction handles the sudden downpours common in the Bavarian Alps without a separate pack cover

Essential kit checklist for A52:

• Hiking poles — strongly recommended for the 1,079 m descent to Rotwandhaus (reduces knee stress significantly)
• Rain shell — Bavarian Prealpine weather can shift from sunshine to heavy rain in under 30 minutes
• Mid-layer fleece — summit temperatures at Traithen (1,852 m) average 8–12 °C in August even on warm valley days
• Sun protection — SPF 30+ and UV sunglasses; limestone reflects additional UV above 1,500 m
• 2 litres water capacity — the route has limited reliable water sources between Himmelmoosalm and Rotwandhaus
• Hut sleeping sack liner — required at both Brünnsteinhaus and Rotwandhaus; saves €3–5 rental fee
• 1:25,000 topographic map of the Schliersee/Rotwand area (Kompass Karte 8 or BayernAtlas download)

If you are also planning gear logistics, our guide to the best ultralight backpacks of 2026 tests seven packs across alpine terrain comparable to A52.

Similar Trails You Might Like

If you enjoy the long-distance alpine character of Via Alpina Purple A52, Germany offers several other IWN and European Fernwanderweg routes that cross comparable landscapes with their own distinct regional character. The E8 traverses the Rhine Valley and Palatinate Forest in varied terrain far from the Alpine peaks, while the E11 routes in Saxony-Anhalt and Brandenburg take you through the wide-open lowland forests and river valleys of central Germany — a complete contrast in geography but the same ethos of continuous, waymarked, cross-border walking.

• Europäischer Fernwanderweg E8, Rheinland-Pfalz — 4,390 km European long-distance route through the Palatinate and Rhine gorge
• Europäischer Fernwanderweg E8, Nordrhein-Westfalen — western Germany section crossing the Eifel and Siebengebirge
• Europäischer Fernwanderweg E11, Sachsen-Anhalt (W) — 2,070 km E11 western section through the Harz mountains and Magdeburg lowlands
• Europäischer Fernwanderweg E11, Sachsen-Anhalt (O) — eastern Saxony-Anhalt, flat river floodplains and oak forest corridors
• Europäischer Fernwanderweg E11, Brandenburg (O) — Brandenburg's eastern section following the Oder valley toward Poland

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to hike Via Alpina Purple A52?
The stage is reliably open from mid-June to mid-October. August is the single best month — high-pressure systems deliver stable, warm weather with wide summit views, both huts are fully staffed, and the alpine wildflowers on the Himmelmoosalm are still in bloom. If you want to avoid the peak-season crowds, aim for the first two weeks of September, when conditions remain excellent and hut occupancy drops sharply.

How difficult is Via Alpina Purple A52?
The Via Alpina rates this stage Grade II out of III. That means good physical fitness is essential — you are covering 17.8 km with 1,482 m of ascent in a single day. Sure-footedness on steep, rocky paths is required on the Traithen ascent, but no technical climbing or scrambling equipment is needed. Experienced day hikers comfortable with sustained gradient and exposed ridge sections will handle it well. Beginners should build up to this stage on shorter alpine days first.

How many kilometres per day is Via Alpina Purple A52?
This is a single-stage route covering 17.8 km in one day, typically walked in 7 hours of moving time, or 8–9 hours with rest stops. There is no option to meaningfully split the stage: the only intermediate infrastructure is the Himmelmoosalm alp dairy at roughly the 5 km mark, which does not offer overnight accommodation. Plan the full distance as a single push from hut to hut.

Where do you sleep on Via Alpina Purple A52?
The stage starts at Brünnsteinhaus (1,034 m) and ends at Rotwandhaus (1,737 m), both DAV-operated mountain huts with dormitory beds and half-board catering. Non-DAV-member rates run approximately €25–35 per night for a dorm bed plus €12–15 per meal. Wild camping is not permitted in the Bavarian landscape protection zone the route crosses. Book at least 4 weeks ahead for August dates, as Rotwandhaus in particular fills quickly.

Do you need a permit to hike Via Alpina Purple A52?
No permit is required. The trail crosses Bavarian landscape protection areas and a section of the Mangfallgebirge nature reserve, but access on marked paths is free and unrestricted for all walkers. There is no entry fee for the protected areas. The only bookings you need to make are hut reservations. Dogs are permitted but must be kept on a lead wherever cattle graze, particularly on the Himmelmoosalm section between the 4 km and 6 km marks.