Via Alpina Purple A55

The Via Alpina Purple A55 is a 25.5-km point-to-point stage of the Via Alpina Purple Trail in the Bavarian Alps, Germany, gaining 1,232 m of elevation over approximately 7 hours 50 minutes of walking. Rated difficulty II (moderate-strenuous), it crosses the crest of the Mangfallgebirge between the spa village of Kreuth and the Isar valley town of Lenggries, with the Rotwand summit (1,884 m) as its defining high point.

About the Via Alpina Purple A55

Stage A55 is one of 66 stages of the Via Alpina Purple Trail — a 2,600-km long-distance route that arcs across the full width of the Alps from Trieste, Slovenia to Menton on the French Riviera. Recognised as part of the International Walking Network (IWN), the Purple Trail passes through seven countries: Slovenia, Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Italy, and France, and is one of the longest continuously waymarked mountain routes in the world.

The German section of the Purple Trail threads through the Bavarian Alps south of Munich, a landscape of limestone ridges, dense spruce forest, emerald-coloured valley rivers, and working alpine farms. Stage A55 begins in Kreuth (850 m), a small spa and resort village at the southern end of the Tegernsee valley in the district of Miesbach. The starting village is unmistakably Bavarian: half-timbered hotels, a thermal bath fed by the local Kreuthbach spring, and cowbell-decorated farmhouses framed by the first steep slopes of the Mangfallgebirge.

From Kreuth, the route climbs nearly 1,100 metres through the Rotwand massif to reach the Rotwandhaus mountain hut at 1,737 m, then traverses the ridge before dropping into the Isar valley at Lenggries (679 m). The town offers an important practical reward at stage end: a direct BOB regional rail connection to Munich central station (München Hauptbahnhof) in around 1 hour 15 minutes, making this the most transit-accessible stage for walkers combining the Via Alpina with Munich-based travel.

Via Alpina rates A55 at difficulty II on its three-point scale — requiring mountain-fit walkers with appropriate footwear, good route-finding ability, and comfort on exposed ridge terrain. The 1,232 m of ascent concentrated into the first two-thirds of the stage makes this one of the more physically demanding days in the Purple Trail's German portion. Trekking poles are strongly recommended for both the ascent and the long 1,333 m descent through the Glasbach gorge to Lenggries.

Route Overview & Stages

Stage A55 is a single long day of walking with four distinct terrain phases: a forested valley approach, an open alpine climb, a ridge traverse with an optional summit, and a sustained descent through the Glasbach valley. The table below breaks the route into practical sections with elevation data.

Total: 25.5 km  |  Elevation gain: 1,232 m  |  Elevation loss: 1,333 m  |  Walking time: approx. 7 hours 50 minutes

Highlights & Points of Interest

• Kreuth spa village — The stage begins in this classical Bavarian resort at 850 m, home to the König Ludwig Therme thermal bath complex and a row of traditional gasthöfe. Set where the Weißach valley narrows toward the mountains, Kreuth provides an unmistakably alpine entry point — and a logical base if arriving the evening before the stage.
• Weißach valley floor — The first 3 km follow the Weißach stream through a sheltered corridor of beech and spruce, crossing the water twice on wooden bridges and passing working alpine farms where cattle graze at 900–1,000 m through the summer months.
• Untere Firstalm (1,270 m) — A cluster of alpine summer pasture huts where the forested valley opens to wide alm terrain. The Rotwand's rocky east face comes into view for the first time at this point, providing a visible target for the remaining 467 m of ascent ahead.
• Rotwandhaus (1,737 m) — This DAV-operated mountain hut is the natural mid-stage rest point. The kitchen serves Kässpatzen (cheese spaetzle), Brotzeit platters, and cold Weißbier on a south-facing terrace with views toward the main Bavarian Alpine chain and, on clear days, the Chiemgauer Alps to the southeast.
• Rotwand summit (1,884 m) — A 20-minute detour from the main Purple Trail earns a 360° panorama: the Tegernsee valley to the north, the Karwendel and Zugspitze massifs to the southwest, and on exceptionally clear days the silhouette of the Großglockner to the southeast. This is the highest point accessible on Stage A55.
• Mangfallgebirge ridge traverse — The 7-km section between Rotwandhaus and Lenggrieser Hütte follows the crest at 1,400–1,750 m, with exposed narrow path sections on weathered limestone. Purple Trail waymarkers require attentive following in poor visibility or after rain.
• Lenggrieser Hütte (1,238 m) — Managed by the Sektion Lenggries of the DAV, this well-maintained hut marks the transition point from ridge walking to the long descent. It is the last food and accommodation stop before Lenggries town, and the terrace delivers a final view back up to the distinctive Rotwand profile.
• Glasbach gorge — The descent from Lenggrieser Hütte to Lenggries passes through a narrow forested ravine carved by the Glasbach stream, with multiple cascades visible from the path and sections of trail cut directly into the gorge walls — a dramatic and technically straightforward finale to an already demanding day.

Best Time to Hike the Via Alpina Purple A55

As of 2026, the recommended hiking window for Stage A55 runs from mid-June through late September, when the trail above 1,700 m is reliably snow-free, both mountain huts are fully operational, and afternoon thunderstorm risk is manageable with an early start from Kreuth.

July is the single best month. The alpine meadows between Untere Firstalm and the Rotwandhaus are in peak bloom — gentian, arnica, and edelweiss at their densest — trail conditions are at their most stable, and Bavarian daylight extends past 9 pm, giving substantial margin on the 7 hour 50 minute stage without a hard sunset deadline. Both huts operate at full capacity with evening meals until 8 pm.

June is possible but patchy hard snow can remain above 1,700 m through the first two weeks of the month. Carry microspikes and sturdy leather or synthetic mountain boots if starting before 20 June. August is warm and reliable but peaks in afternoon thunderstorm frequency across the Bavarian Alps — plan to be at or below the Rotwandhaus by 1 pm. September brings cooler temperatures (2–10°C at ridge level), shorter days, vivid larch-and-beech autumn colour, and significantly fewer walkers — an appealing trade-off for those prioritising solitude over wildflowers.

By mid-October the Lenggrieser Hütte closes for the season and upper sections become icy. The period March through May carries consolidation snow and avalanche risk above 1,400 m; avoid without full alpine equipment and technical experience.

Practical Information

Accommodation

Two Deutschen Alpenverein (DAV)-affiliated mountain huts sit on or directly adjacent to the route, making a two-day split of the 25.5 km comfortable for walkers who prefer shorter daily distances or want to linger on the Rotwand ridge at sunset.

• Rotwandhaus (1,737 m) — Dormitory (Matratzenlager) beds from €23 per night for DAV members, €32 for non-members. Half-board approximately €52 (members) and €65 (non-members). Open late May to late October; reservations are essential in July and August and strongly recommended for weekends throughout the season.
• Lenggrieser Hütte (1,238 m) — Dormitory from €20 per night (DAV members), €28 (non-members). A smaller hut with basic facilities and hot evening meals prepared by the resident custodian. Open June to early October.
• Lenggries town — Several guesthouses and hotels in the Isar valley from approximately €65 per person per night in a double room with breakfast. The Gasthof Karwendel and Hotel Alpenrose are both within 500 m of Lenggries train station and regularly host Purple Trail walkers completing the Bavarian stages.

Getting There & Back

To Kreuth (start): From München Hauptbahnhof take the S3 S-Bahn to Holzkirchen (35 minutes), change to the BOB Bayerische Oberlandbahn regional train to Miesbach (15 minutes), then bus line 9593 to Kreuth-Wildbad (30 minutes). Total journey time from central Munich: approximately 1 hour 20 minutes. By car, Kreuth is 72 km south of Munich via the A8 autobahn and the B307 Tegernsee road; paid parking is available at the Kreuth village centre.

From Lenggries (end): The BOB regional train connects Lenggries directly to München Hauptbahnhof in approximately 1 hour 15 minutes, with trains departing roughly every hour throughout the day. This direct connection makes Lenggries one of the most practical stage-end points for day walkers based in Munich without a car.

Nearest international airport: Munich Airport (IATA: MUC) sits 97 km north of Lenggries. The S1 and S8 S-Bahn lines link the airport to Munich central station in 45 minutes, from where BOB trains run directly to Lenggries — a total door-to-trailhead journey of approximately 2 hours 15 minutes from the terminal.

Permits & Fees

No hiking permit is required for Stage A55. The route crosses private alpine farmland in several sections — stay on the waymarked Purple Trail path and respect closed gates and grazing enclosures, particularly during June and July when young livestock are in the high pastures. DAV membership costs approximately €70–€90 per year depending on age bracket and provides 30–40% discounts on DAV hut accommodation plus mountain rescue insurance across the German Alps. There are no trail entrance fees or national park charges for the Mangfallgebirge area.

Gear & Packing List

The 1,232 m of ascent and exposed limestone ridge demand sturdy mountain boots with ankle support and a Vibram-style sole — lightweight trail runners are inadequate on wet rock above the Rotwandhaus. For the single-day fast version, a 30–40 L pack is sufficient. The Hyperlite Mountain Gear 3400 Windrider (596 g) delivers ultralight carry with enough volume for a full day kit on an alpine stage. For the two-hut overnight variation, the Deuter Aircontact Lite 45+10 balances ventilated load transfer and trail agility across the 1,333 m of descent into the Glasbach gorge. Walkers planning a longer run of Via Alpina stages with hut gear should consider the Osprey Aether 65, which fits the capacity range for a two-night Alpine hut tour without becoming unmanageable on the ridge traverse.

Essential items for Stage A55:

• Waterproof jacket and insulating mid-layer — Ridge temperature can drop to 5°C even in August; the Rotwand section is fully exposed to weather arriving from the southwest.
• Trekking poles — Strongly recommended for both the 1,232 m ascent from Kreuth and the sustained 1,333 m descent, which places significant eccentric load on the knees over 8.5 km of forest and gorge terrain.
• 2 litres of water capacity — No reliable refill points exist between the Rotwandhaus and the Lenggrieser Hütte on the ridge traverse section; carry a full load from the hut before continuing.
• Microspikes — June hikers only; carry if starting before 20 June when hard névé can persist on north-facing slopes above 1,600 m.
• High-calorie trail food — The ascent phase runs 3–4 hours with no hut support between Kreuth and the Rotwandhaus. Read our guide on how many calories you need hiking a full day to calculate your specific fuel requirements by body weight and pace.
• Downloaded offline map with GPS — Mobile signal is absent above approximately 1,500 m on the Rotwand massif; paper map or offline GPS mapping is essential for navigation in cloud or mist on the ridge traverse.
• First aid kit, SPF 50 sun protection, and headlamp — Standard alpine day-kit; the long approach from Munich by public transport typically means early morning starts from Kreuth.

Planning a longer section of the Via Alpina Purple Trail or comparing multi-day pack options? Our tested ranking of the best ultralight backpacks of 2026 covers seven packs assessed on technical alpine terrain, several of them suited to exactly this Bavarian Alps context.

Similar Trails You Might Like

Stage A55 sits within Europe's wide network of IWN-recognised long-distance walking routes. Hikers drawn to the cross-border tradition of the Via Alpina will find compelling German alternatives across very different terrain. The Europäischer Fernwanderweg E8 (Rheinland-Pfalz) and its western continuation through Nordrhein-Westfalen together cover 4,390 km from the North Sea coast eastward to Turkey, sharing Via Alpina's ethos of connecting cultures through long-distance waymarked terrain. For Germany's central and eastern geography, the 2,070-km E11 route offers three distinct waymarked sections: the E11 through western Sachsen-Anhalt, the E11 through eastern Sachsen-Anhalt, and the E11 through eastern Brandenburg — all part of the same Baltic-to-Adriatic concept but set in a contrasting lowland and heathland landscape that offers a fundamentally different perspective on long-distance walking in Germany.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to hike the Via Alpina Purple A55?
July is the best month for Stage A55. The trail is reliably snow-free above 1,800 m, both the Rotwandhaus and Lenggrieser Hütte are fully operational with evening meals, the alpine wildflower season peaks in the meadows above Kreuth, and Bavarian summer daylight stretches past 9 pm — providing generous margin for the 7 hour 50 minute walking time. The broader recommended window runs mid-June through late September, with June requiring microspike awareness and October suitable for experienced hikers only.

How difficult is the Via Alpina Purple A55?
Via Alpina rates A55 at difficulty II — appropriate for experienced, mountain-fit walkers rather than casual day hikers. The stage packs 1,232 m of ascent into the first 16 km and the ridge traverse between Rotwandhaus and Lenggrieser Hütte includes exposed limestone sections where path widths narrow to under a metre. Sturdy mountain boots with ankle support are non-negotiable. A fit, experienced party completes the stage in 7–8 hours; allow 9–10 hours including the Rotwand summit detour at 1,884 m.

How far is Stage A55 and how many kilometres per day should I plan?
Stage A55 covers 25.5 km end-to-end from Kreuth to Lenggries — defined by Via Alpina as a single full day of hiking. Walkers who prefer a shorter daily distance can split at the Rotwandhaus (approximately km 10), overnighting at 1,737 m and completing the remaining 15.5 km to Lenggries the following morning. This two-day split is popular with families and those who want to spend a full evening on the Rotwand ridge without the time pressure of reaching Lenggries before nightfall.

What accommodation is available on Stage A55?
Two DAV mountain huts lie on or adjacent to the route: the Rotwandhaus at 1,737 m (dormitory beds from €23 for DAV members) and the Lenggrieser Hütte at 1,238 m (from €20 for members). Both serve hot meals and operate June to October, with advance booking essential for the Rotwandhaus through July and August. At stage end, Lenggries town offers guesthouses and hotels from approximately €65 per person per night with breakfast, all within easy reach of the train station.

Are permits required to hike the Via Alpina Purple A55?
No permits are required for Stage A55 in Germany. The route follows public and DAV-managed paths without registration fees or entry charges. DAV membership, while not mandatory, is strongly worth having for regular alpine hut users: annual membership costs approximately €70–€90 and delivers 30–40% discounts on DAV hut overnight rates plus mountain rescue insurance — a combination that typically covers its cost on a single multi-night tour of the Bavarian Alps stages.