Walchensee

Walchensee is an alpine lake in Bavaria in southern Germany, notable for its deep, cold waters and scenic mountain surrounds. The lake covers roughly 16.4 square kilometres and reaches a maximum depth of about 192 metres.

Shoreline villages such as Urfeld provide boat launches, beaches and accommodation; the lake is popular for sailing, windsurfing and summer swimming, while trails and cable cars on nearby ridges attract hikers and mountain visitors. The clear water and steep shores make for pronounced scenic contrasts between the lake surface and surrounding peaks.

Hydropower infrastructure uses the lake as part of regional electricity generation and the area has long been a destination for outdoor recreation and day trips from Bavarian towns.

Walchensee lies in the Bavarian Alps, south of Kochel am See, with alpine ridges such as the Herzogstand rising directly above the lake.

• Size and depth: Surface area is approximately 16.4 square kilometres and the lake reaches a maximum depth of about 192 metres, making it one of Germany's deepest lakes.
• Elevation and activity: The lake sits at an elevation of about 802 metres, giving it an Alpine lake climate popular with windsurfers and sailors.

What to See #

• Urfeld and lakeside villages: Urfeld and the small lakeside settlements on the north shore act as main access points for boating, swimming and shoreline accommodation.
• Herzogstand ridge: The adjacent Herzogstand ridge provides popular hiking routes and an alpine viewpoint above the lake at roughly 1,730 metres elevation.