Isidorsteig - B/C

Elevation: 470 m / Lenght: 750 m
Approach: 45 min / Duration: 2 hrs
Rating: 3/5

https://ferrataguide.com/ferrata/Gr%C3%BCnstein_Klettersteig_mit_Var_Isidor

Although it is not a particularly tricky or technically demanding via ferrata, its length may surprise some people. I have included Isidorsteig in the Salzburg region, but it is actually a German via ferrata on the edge of Berchtesgaden National Park, which you can also find in a separate article on the website. The parking area at Königssee seems almost endless and the price for all day parking is reasonable.

The via ferrata itself is an hour's walk from the starting point, and the walk is not particularly pleasant. The last twenty minutes are quite a steep uphill climb, which will warm you up properly before the first clip. On sunny days, I recommend at least 1.5 litres of water per person.

At the beginning, you can immediately choose from three options, with the main choice being between Isidorsteig and the more difficult Servus Stef D/E. Jana and I chose the easier option, and it was pleasant and easy climbing. If the via ferrata ended at the suspension bridge, I would not be afraid to bring children here either.

The D/E section looked quite intimidating, but I saw a whole group of older climbers heading that way and managing it, so it probably is not that bad after all. The suspension bridge connects both via ferratas into one and you continue further. You have a rather boring section ahead of you, which is at least compensated for by the views of the surrounding area and Watzmann (2713 m).

After that, you get to climb again for a while on a B/C traverse, and then the climbing seems to be over. You get views on the other side as well, towards the town of Berchtesgaden. It is not exactly a spectacular natural sight, but it is still nice.

Unfortunately, the via ferrata is in the sun for almost the entire day, and by this point some people may already be running out of water. So do not drink everything at the first cross, because you still have almost an hour of walking uphill along a cable rated A, which is a huge pain.

Towards the end, the via ferrata splits again, and the more capable climbers can take a significantly more difficult D/E section. At this point, we were completely out of water, so the idea did not even cross our minds.

We did not even stop to enjoy the views at the top and went straight to Grünsteinhütte for something cold to drink. In the end, the Spritz was the best part of the whole trip. You can still enjoy the views of Watzmann from the hut, and then all that remains is to descend back to the car along a fairly long and slippery trail.