Hochries

Overview

South of the Bavarian town of Rosenheim on the northern rim of Chiemgau Alps lies a small mountain world of its own: the Hochries subrange. Funnily enough Hochries summit is not the highest summit of this area. This crown belongs to Spitzstein, a bit further to the southwest of Hochries. Nevertheless Hochries is the most important summit of the small region; it is the alpine playground for Rosenheim and surroundings and a sort of extended “living room” for the inhabitants of this region.

There is a cable car going to the summit from the north. There is a huge alpine club hut on the summit of Hochries. It is a paradise for hikers, paragliders, mountain bikers, snow shoe tourists and for easy ski touring. There are abundand possibilities for hikers throughout the year.

Hochries summit lies within Germany, the border to Austria, however, is not far away. It runs along the southeast slopes of Hochries, thus integrating the southeastern Trockenbach  valley to Austria whereas the summits northwest of it, Karkopf, Feichteck and Hochries and southeast of the valley, Heuraffelkopf, Klausenberg, Zinnenberg, Brandelberg and Spitzstein belong completely or in parts to Germany. Due to old grazing rights for alpine cattle the border makes some strange moves here.

Hochries lies in the northern front row of the Chiemgau mountains. To the northeast stretches the area of Samerberg, a huge plateau with many typical farm houses and small villages. To the southeast Hochries is borderen by Trockenbach valley, a hanging valley to Inntal valley. Neighbouring summits are Karkopf to the southwest and the secondary summits of Riesenberg and Spielberg to the northeast.

Hochries is nearly always a crowded location. Nevertheless the landscape is beautiful, the views breathtaking despite of the minor hight of the summit and a traverse of Feichteck and Karkopf to Hochries can be recommended; why not in winter with poor snow cover, as I did it in January 2021.

Getting There

There are several trailheads for Hochries north and east of the mountain.

Samerberg area

Yor reach Samerberg by car

Via highway number A 8, Munich – Salzburg, using exit “Achenmühle”

Follow road number RO5 to the village of Achenmühle. Turn right there on road in the direction to Samerberg until you reach the village of Grainbach.

• First trailhead / parking area is the Hochries cablecar valley station.
• Second trailhead is at the hiker parking area “Spatenau” south of Grainbach (parking fee)

Coming from Innsbruck / Kufstein area use highway A 92 to the exit “Brannenburg”.

Turn on road number St2359 to the village of Nußdorf, turn left there, staying on St2359. Take the right hand road at the next road junction in direction of Samerberg. Stay on this road until you reach Grainbach. Choose your trailhead as described above.

Trailhead Aschau

You reach Aschau / Chiemgau by car

Via highway number A 8, Munich – Salzburg, using exit “Frasdorf”

Follow road number St2093 to Aschau and proceed to the Hohenaschau castle. There is a parking area below / north of the castle.

Trailhead Frasdorf

You reach Frasdorf by car

Via highway number A 8, Munich – Salzburg, using exit “Frasdorf”

Turn on Frasdorf Hauptstraße, turn left on Westendorfer Straße and left again on Lederstubenstraße.

Follow this road until you reach the parking area Lederstube.

Public transportation

Nearby railroad station is Rosenheim.

Bus number 9493 goes from Rosenheim to Grainbach.

Routes Overview

Samerberg main routes:

• Cable car valley station - Käseralm - trail to Riesenalm - northeast ridge to Hochries
• Cable car valley station - Käseralm - trail to Wimmeralm - Seitenalm - Karalm col - southwest ridge to Hochries
• Parking area Spatenau - Doaglalm - Wimmeralm - Seitenalm - Karalm col - southwest ridge to Hochries

There are several traverse tail on the north slope of Hochries and several possibilities for loop routes

Trailhead Frasdorf - Frasdorfer Berghaus - Riesenalm - northeast ridge to Hochries; long route; this is the ski route, too

Trailhead Aschau - Hofalm - Riesenalm - northeast ridge to Hochries

Red Tape & Accommodation

Red Tape

There are no restrictions in this mountain area.

Accommodation

Rosenheim

Samerberg

Aschau im Chiemgau

Nußdorf

Mountain huts

Hochrieshütte

Alfred-Drexel-Haus (only food and drinks)

Schwarzrieshütte (in Austria)

Gear & Mountain Condition

Hochries is a year round summit.

In spring, summer, autumn and even winter it is an easy hiking summit which requires only good hiking gear, in winter poles and gaiters are useful. 

With more snow Hochries is a good snow shoe summit.

The ski route is an easy one for beginners. Avalanche gear should be with you.

The Bavarian avalanche bulletin can be checked here.

Hochries valley weather:

Hochries summit weather:

Hochries webcams:

Hochries West

Hochries South

Hochries East

Map

Alpenvereinskarte Bayerische Alpen

scale 1 : 25.000

Number BY17, Chiemgauer Alpen West, Hochries, Geigelstein

With trails and ski routes, edition 2020

More maps with scale 1 : 50000 can be purchased from Freytag & Bernd, Kompass or from Bavarian Topografic Services