Circular hike to the Risserkogel (1,826 m)

The Risserkogel (1,826 m) is a superb viewpoint in the Mangfall Mountains, offering panoramic views from the Alpine foothills across Lake Tegernsee to the main Alpine ridge. A scenic and rewarding circular tour starts at the Schwaigeralm forest car park near Wildbad Kreuth.

After a flat start along the valley floor, the trail soon winds its way up in many switchbacks, quickly gaining altitude through sparse mountain forest steeply up to the Ableitenalm. The Ableitenalm is a great spot for a break with a view, as you’ve already covered two-thirds of the 1,000-metre ascent. On the other side of the valley, the Blauberg ridge stretches out, with the Guffert behind it, and the Rofan and Karwendel mountains greeting you in the distance. For the stage to the summit, there are two options: ascending via the ruined Rissalm and descending via the connecting ridge, or the opposite way. I chose the first option and initially followed the less-trodden path southwards at the same altitude to the meadows of the former Rissalm. From there, I climbed steeply to the summit, following the ridge across the meadows and then over polished limestone through the mountain pines.

Once at the summit, the 360-degree panorama opens up. Despite the early start, I already meet many other hikers. I suspect this is because the first easing of the Corona lockdown restrictions took place this weekend, but the borders to Austria are still closed. So hikers are spreading out across German tour destinations. Nevertheless, there’s enough space to keep your distance, and people are doing so. Next to the Risserkogel are the rock faces of the Blankenstein, from which the shouts of climbers echo across.

I then descended via the airy but straightforward connecting ridge, reaching the Ableitenalm again shortly afterwards before starting the long descent back into the valley.