One Of The Cleanest Lakes In Germany Is A Quiet Bavarian Paradise Surrounded By Scenic Mountains

One look at Königssee is enough to make you gasp in awe. A long dash of green-blue water framed by towering peaks dusted with snow, it's often said to be Bavaria's best impression of the Norwegian fjords. Only there's no salty sea here, just pristine alpine water, soaring summits overhead, and pure, sublime nature in all its south German glory.

The lake lies almost entirely within Berchtesgaden National Park. Here, towering peaks like the 8,900-foot Mount Watzmann loom over glacial valleys. Thick forests roll down to the banks of Königssee, a glittering lake that's often hailed as the most irresistible centerpiece of the national park.

Königssee and the whole national park that surrounds it is tucked into a little wedge of the Bavarian Alps in the southeast corner of Germany. The famous mountain resort town of Berchtesgaden is the gateway to it all, just a 10-minute drive north of the lake. The nearest major airport is Salzburg Airport (SZG), located across the border in Austria some 40 minutes away. The even larger Munich International Airport (MUC) is roughly two-and-a-half hours northwest.

Königssee has been a vacation hub for ages, and it's easy to see why, for the place is a veritable alpine wonderland. And it's peaceful, too. Not a single motorboat has been allowed to disturb the sounds of the breezes and the birds here since 1909, thanks to a ban enforced by Bavarian Prince Regent Luitpold. However, visitors can still take to the waters in one of the smooth-sailing electric vessels that cruise the lake surface throughout summer.

There's another upside to the absence of petrol-powered boats on Königssee. It is now rated one of Germany's cleanest bodies of water, according to the Water Management Office of Traunstein. In addition to minimal fuel pollution, the lake is not tainted by surrounding farmland or sewage. Königssee is also an oligotrophic lake, which means it has little organic matter growing or floating in it, making it less cloudy and more clear. Some of the clearest lakes in America are also oligotrophic.

Swimming is allowed at Königssee, but as an alpine lake, the water temperature often hovers at around 68 degrees Fahrenheit. You can explore the southern end of the lake to find secluded areas to take a dip, and the beach-like locations near St. Bartholomew's Church allow you to swim in the shadow of an onion-domed chapel from the 12th century.

You'd do well to pack the hiking boots for a visit here, provided you can peel yourself off the lovely lakeside, as there are some seriously stunning mountains to climb near Königssee. The wider Berchtesgaden National Park lays claim to 160 miles of hiking trails, which branch off into segments that range from easy strolls to demanding and exposed ascents.

A good place to begin could be the relatively accessible Malerwinkl Loop Trail. It starts and ends at the parking lot on the easy-to-reach north side of the lake and leads to one of the most iconic viewpoints of all. You'll weave through thick forests and pass historic boathouses before arriving at the scenic overlook, where the lake and mountains seem to extend all the way to the horizon.

Other trails await at Salet, reachable by electric boat at the southern end of Königssee. Salet is the gateway to Obersee, another gorgeous lake cradled deep in the Bavarian Alps. For a bigger challenge, skip the boat ride altogether and hike from the north end of Königssee down to St. Bartholomew's Church, a hardcore route that gains nearly 3,000 feet of elevation as it crosses the western shoreline. The good news is that there's a traditional Bavarian beer garden waiting for you at the end. Just don't forget to follow those all-important German beer garden rules that tourists always break!