Watzmann-Hochkönig North-Loop: Stage 1: Hintersee – Unken

We start in Ramsau and cycle up to the Hintersee Lake, or start directly on the West shore of the Hintersee, cycle to the South end of the lake and branch off, at the junction with bus shelters, to the right towards the Berchtesgaden National Park Information Point Hintersee (barrier with a sign stating that cycling through the Klaustbachtal is only allowed on the paved road). The road through the Klausbachtal (valley) rises only moderately at the beginning, however towards the end of the valley, the road now gradually gets steeper and serpentine-like towards the Gasthof Hirschbichl (Inn). After the Gasthof Hirschbichl, we turn to the right, continue up the road and continue to follow the signs of the MTB route "Rund um die Reiteralm". We pass the junctions of Litzlalm and Eiblkapelle and continue serpentine-like steadily downhill again. Just at the first hairpin after the Eiblkapelle turning keep to the right, and downwards to Brücke and Kapelle. Here, turn left onto the wildly romantic 2.2km long Wildenbach Gorge Trail variant. This finishes in Wildenbachau where you cross the Saalach bridge and continue on the Tauern Cycle Path to the town entrance of St. Martin near Lofer and Strohwolln. The normal route continues on over the paved road.  

Pass the houses at Wildental and arrive in Oberndorf. From here it goes right, and shortly thereafter left, towards Strohwolln. Starting at the chapel is a beautiful gravel road between small streams which continues on next to the river Saalach. We reach the paved road, on which we turn right and cycle approx. 700 m to the new Grubhofsteg. You could continue along the dirt road next to the river Saalach, which reaches again the proper route at the road to Scheffsnoth. Here however, we continue straight on the paved road, up to the Auer Wiesen (meadow). Here, you should make a short stop at the "Jagasitz" and enjoy the magnificent view of the Saalach Valley. Shortly after the junction to the Hagengut, the gravel road begins again, goes slightly uphill towards the end of the valley. From here, apart from some minor ascents, it goes down to the Gasthof Mayrberg. Again, on a paved road, we turn right after about 1 km and cycle first a short distance uphill before then on the forest road the route leads downhill. After the small settlement of Reit is left behind us, we cross the Saalachbrücke (bridge), where our tour connects with the Tauern Bike Tour. Here, we turn right and cycle along the river Saalach, on the paved Tauern Bike Tour, in the direction of Unken. At first, the route leads right of the B178 road. Later, we cross it at a rest area and follow the cycle path left of the B178 which continues down a light gradient. After a short relaxed ride, we turn left into a settlement road, and after we have left it behind us, arrive at the Unkenbach (stream). Here, we turn right, then immediately left and cross the Unkenbach bridge, which flows here into the Saalach river. Right after that, we bear left again and enter the village Oberrain bei Unken.