Long-Distance Hiking Trail
The Emperor’s Crown – Hike Around the Wilder Kaiser Mountains

This five-day hike of intermediate difficulty takes walkers around the craggy peaks of the Wilder Kaiser and is without a doubt one of the most beautiful multi-stage hikes in the region. Leaving from Going am Wilden Kaiser, the 57km route leads through lush meadows. Accompanying hikers all the way are truly spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and valleys, from the Chiemsee lake in Germany all the way to the Großglockner, Austria's highest mountain. A panorama fit for an emperor!

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Starting point

Aschingerkapelle, Going (Hüttling)

Finishing point

Aschingerkapelle, Going (Hüttling)

Length

57.7 km

Duration

6 day(s)

Features

Wheelchair-accessible Hiking Route
Circular hike

Altitude

1,813m

Elevation uphill 4,000m
Vertical metres downhill 4,000m

Public transport

Accessible using public transport

Bus route 4060, get off at stop Going a. W. Hüttling

Trail description

In five days hikers complete 65 kilometres on foot. The total walking time from start to finish is 30-35 hours. All in all there are around 5,000 metres of climbing and descending.

Stage 1
The hike begins in Going (Hüttling) next to the Aschingerkapelle chapel and leads along a forest path via Graspoint Niederalm (1,075 metres) up to the Obere Regalm hut (1,313 metres). Hikers then continue along a section of the Eagle Walk towards the Gaudeamushütte. A path then heads through the "Klamml" gorge to the Gruttenhütte (1,620 metres) – this is the highest alpine hut in the Wilder Kaiser Mountains.

Stage 2
Stage two leads from the Gruttenhütte via the Wilder-Kaiser-Steig to the Kaiser-Hochalm hut (closed to the public) and on to the Steiner-Hochalm hut (1,257 metres) before continuing along the Jägersteig trail all the way to Walleralm. En route hikers can look forward to fine views of the Hintersteiner See and the western peaks of the Wilder Kaiser. This stage concludes at the Kaindlhütte hut.

Etappe 3
Day three begins with a tricky section along the Bettlersteig leading past two gorges down into the Kaisertal and on to the Anton-Karg-Haus (829 metres). The journey then continues across several streams up to Hans-Berger-Haus (936 metres). Continue uphill to the Stripsenjochhaus (1,577 metres) with its wonderful views of the craggy peaks topping the Totenkirchl and Predigtstuhl mountains.

Stage 4
From the Stripsenjochhaus, hike over the Stripsenkopf mountain (1,807 metres) and continue over the Feldberg mountain (1,813 metres) and the Scheibenbichlberg mountain down into the idyllic Kaiserbachtal Valley and the village of Griesenau. Along the way hikers can look forward to fine views of the craggy rock faces characteristic of the Wilder Kaiser to the south as well as the pretty Chiemsee over the border in Bavaria to the north. The forest trail at the Engelbach river eventually leads to Gasteig.

Stage 5
From Gasteig – in the shadow of the mighty Maukspitze peak – there is a trail to the "Wilder-Kaiser-Steig" path heading south. Via Niederkaiser hikers will reach the Graspoint-Hochalm and then the Graspoint Niederalm (1,075 metres) back to the starting point in Going.

For more details on individual stages, alternative routes, places serving food & drink as well as accommodation options please click here.