"Berchtesgadenerland National Park" Nationalpark Berchtesgaden by cavia

This National Park is located directly south of the town of Berchtesgaden. It consists of several mountains over 8,000 feet, with the Watzmann mountain the best known. Lake Koenigssee is a long narrow mountain lake over 600 meters (1,800 feet) deep. and offers some of the best scenery in the Alps. Tours of the lake are possible by taking an electric boat across to a chapel on the far side of the lake.
From the southern end of lake Koenigssee it is possible to take a short hike to the smaller Lake Obersee from which it is possible to see the one of the tallest waterfalls in Germany. The Watzmann Ost Wand (East Wall) rises above the land surrounding the Chapel of St. Bartholomae by over 6,000 ft and is one of the best known mountain climbs in the Eastern Alps. Allow at least 3 hours for seeing the lake and mountains in this area.

The Reiter Alpe viewed from the "Soleleitungsweg"

Throughout the Park area there is every level of hiking. There are hikes which involve elevation increases from the valley at 600 meters above sea level to over 2,700 meters, and experienced hikers will find them challenging. There are as well a good many "easy" hikes which follow trails which are either level or not very steep. The "Soleleitungweg" which remains level most of it's distance as it runs from the Alpine Road "Alpenstrasse" to the Town of Berchtesgaden is one of the most popular, and can become crowded during high-season (summer).
A slightly more difficult hike is the "Wimbachtal weg" which travels up a mountain valley for a distance of 10 Km. and an elevation gain of over 600 meters. There is along this trail two mountain huttes which offer food, and beer during the summer months.
For those who wish to try the more difficult hikes, I recommend visiting the National Park Office in downtown Berchtesgaden to inquire about trail conditions and huttes.

The northwest shore of Obersee

Obersee is approximately a 15 minute hike from Lake Koenigssee. Once you reach the northwest shore it is possible to take the trail around the southern shore to the southeast side and a meadow where cows are pastured in summer.
The hike around the southern shore is not at all flat, and in places quite rugged, rocky and steep. Plan on at least 1 hour round trip for this hike, perhaps more if there are many hikers on the trail.
Note: You will need to purchase a round trip ticket. Koenigssee - Fischunken - Koenigssee. It's best to plan this hike for the earliest boat out of koenigssee possible. The boat only goes to Fischunken during the summer months.