Hike to Bärenkopf with the most beautiful view on Lake Achensee in Tyrol
The moderately difficult hike from Pertisau at Lake Achensee (930 m) to Bärenkopf (1,991 m), where you have to overcome about 1,060 meters in altitude, is in my opinion one of the most beautiful hikes at Achensee in Tyrol (Austria). Once at the top, you are rewarded with a phenomenal view on Achensee. The following tour describes the ascent to Bärenkopf via Bärenbadalm (1,457 m) and the descent via Weißenbachsattel and Bärenbadalm back to the starting point or alternatively directly down to Achensee.
Details of the hike to Bärenkopf:
| Difficulty | Medium |
| Duration | 4-5 hours |
| Ascent | ~1,060 m in altitude |
| Descent | ~1,060 m in altitude |
You start at the valley station of Karwendellift in Pertisau. The fastest way to get there from Munich is by car. I arrived by public transport, but this takes 2.5-3 hours (train from Munich to Kufstein, then train to Jenbach in the Inn Valley, and from there depending on the connection by one or two busses to the stop “Pertisau Karwendellift”). It often recommends the route back via Tegernsee. The best way to find the most convenient way to get there by public transport is to visit https://www.oebb.at/.
Ascent (about 2-3 hours with ~1,060 m in altitude):
At the building of Karwendellift in Pertisau you walk past to the right in the direction of the mountains/ski slope and past a golf course until you discover the first yellow destination board with direction to Bärenkopf to the right. Soon the path will lead you through the forest. At one of the next yellow destination boards, where it goes both to the left and to the right to Bärenkopf, you take a left. Soon you reach a ski slope, which you cross diagonally and at the end of which you run back into the forest. After a total of 1-1.5 hours you will reach Bärenbadalm, where we will stop for a break on the way down. Directly in front of the alpine pasture, the path continues up to the left to Bärenkopf. The path is steep in parts, but well doable. A little further up comes a slightly more difficult piece, where you have to scramble a few meters. But all very doable, even without equipment. There is also a wire rope stretched throughout this piece in case you want to hold on for safety. The wire rope continues for a bit after that, because for a short stretch the path goes up quite steeply and can be a bit slippery due to the scree. But don’t worry, really hardly worth mentioning. Shortly after, we reach the broad ridge of the summit before reaching the summit cross, from where you have a phenomenal view on Achensee and the Karwendel mountains.
Tip: The best thing to do is to go down a little bit to the left just after the summit cross. There is the “photo spot” with the very best view of the lake. Down there you can also sit well on the edge and enjoy your snack with a breathtaking view.
Alternatively, by the way, you can take the Karwendel mountain railway up, which would shorten the ascent to Bärenkopf by half (1-1.5 hours).
Descent (about 1.5-2 hours):
For the first part of the descent (about 15 min.) you follow the same path you came from, until you reach a yellow destination board to Weißenbachsattel to the left, which you follow. Of course, you can also choose the same path for the descent as for the ascent, but I recommend the descent via Weißenbachsattel. Maybe this way is a little longer in terms of distance, but a) this path is more pleasant to walk down, as it is less steep than the path on the ascent, and b) then you have seen something new. You follow the path until further down yellow destination boards point in different directions. There you would have the possibility to walk a few minutes to the left to Weißenbachalm. I didn’t do that, because I wanted to stop at Bärenbadalm for a snack, which also follows soon. In the direction of Bärenbadalm you continue to the right. Once there, hearty meals and delicious cakes and apple strudel await you. On the sun terrace you can find places in the sun as well as in the shade. By the way, you can not stay overnight at the hut. The further descent is then the same as the ascent. You can also get a good orientation from the signage.
Tip: In the end, I didn’t return to the starting point – the Karwendellift – but followed the signs towards the lake. This takes minimally longer, but you end up directly at Achensee. The great thing is that you come out right at Pertisau’s wooden viewing platform, which you can walk up to for free and from where you have a beautiful view of Lake Achensee.
From there you can either walk back to your car, which is parked at Karwendellift (in sight, about 15 min. walk), or take the bus back directly. The bus stop (“Pertisau Hochsteg/Knappen”) is right at the corner. From there you can, for example, take bus 8332 back to Jenbach and from there continue by train to Munich.
To the Instagram post with more pictures:
@_enjoynow_: Hiking to Bärenkopf at Achensee
