Spot Guide Best of Bavaria: Simssee
The idyllic bathing lake near Rosenheim with its magnificent mountain views is ideal for a chilled-out day out stand-up paddling. Tourism at the little brother of Lake Chiemsee is as gentle as the surrounding hilly landscape. Local fishing families supply the inns and beer gardens on the shore with their daily catch, so fresh fish specialities are guaranteed after the tour.
Lake Simssee is located north-east of Rosenheim, has a surface area of a manageable six and a half square kilometres and is just 23 metres deep at its deepest point - ideal for a day trip for paddling and a warm swim. On clear days, the lake offers a fantastic view of the Alpine mountain range to the south.
We head to the Baierbach bathing area as the starting point for our fair weather tour. There are other bathing spots on the east bank, the Ecking and Pietzing lidos, but we like the meadow in Baierbach between the Wasserwacht and the Kurvenwirt.
We are already looking forward to ending the day here later. We want to land again in the late afternoon, because Saturday is always "Steckerlfisch" day at the Kurvenwirt.
We decide to complete the circuit anti-clockwise and turn the board tips southwards. Formed at the end of the Würm Ice Age, Lake Simssee is the remnant of a body of water that was created by the melting of the Inn glacier and was equal in size to Lake Constance. This so-called Rosenheimer See silted up and formed the basis for a moorland landscape, the last areas of which are protected today. In 1963, the raised bogs and fens in the silting-up belt of the lake were given the protected status of "Protected Landscape Area Protection of Lake Simsee and its Surroundings". The southern shore around the outflow harbours many rare plant species and is therefore also designated as the "Southern shore of Lake Simsee nature reserve". One marsh plant that grows here and is particularly worthy of protection is the rush rush. It only thrives in stagnant water behind reeds and is now only found sporadically due to the lakes being used for swimming and camping. It used to be cut to cover roofs. The 257-hectare nature conservation zone with alluvial forest, reeds and moorland may not be entered outside the paths.
We keep our distance and quickly reach the eastern shore. A jetty juts out into the water at the tip of Ecking, where a few sailboats and fishing boats are anchored. Only the local professional fishermen are allowed to chug around the lake in motorised boats to ensure freshly caught fish on the plates of the restaurants around the lake.
On the five kilometres that we paddle north along the eastern shore with the sun behind us, we pass the lido and the Pietzing water rescue service before the beach of the Stein campsite appears behind the green mixed forest of conifers and birch trees at the north-eastern corner. We paddle past there, keeping close to the shore and head for the long bathing jetty in Krottenmühl. The shallow shore here in the north-west is ideal for children and many families splash around in the warm water. We also cool off and let the sun warm us up again on our floating pads. Now it's time to think about the Steckerlfisch. We get up again, pull our umbrellas low over our faces to protect us from the sun and leisurely work our way back to the Kurvenwirt.
KNOWLEDGE
Arrival by car:From Munich via the A8 motorway in the direction of Salzburg, take the Rosenheim exit, follow the B15, in Rosenheim turn right onto Miesbacher Straße in the direction of Stephanskirchen and Bad Endorf. Take the Stephanskirchen exit and follow the signs to Simssee. Duration around one hour
TOUR INFO:
Length: 14 km
Duration: 2.5-3.5 hours
Difficulty: Light
Character: Idyllic bathing lake with magnificent mountain views
Wind: Often from the west. Pay attention to storm warnings (flashing lights around the lake)
Entry/exit:Baierbach bathing area
West bank: Simsseekiosk, Simsseestraße, 83071 Baierbach near Stephanskirchen
Car park: Stephanskirchen
Parking fee: none
Entry/exit:Seewirt, Ecking
East bank:
Car park: Am See 27, 83083 Riedering/Ecking
Parking fee: none
Extra tip: Excursion to Rosenheim's pedestrian zone and the locomotive shed (changing long-term exhibitions)
BIERGARTEN:
Simsseekiosk "Kurvenwirt" Baierbach, www.badekiosk-team-chiemgau.de/simsseekiosk-kurvenwirt-baierbach
Season: All year round (closed depending on the weather)
Rest day: none
Classics: Saturday Steckerlfisch
BIERGARTEN:
Seewirt Ecking, Am See 27, 83083 Riedering/Ecking, www.seewirt.de
Season: (new tenant from March 2018, currently no more precise information)
SUP hire:Prijon Sportshop GmbH in Rosenheim, Innlände 6, Tel. 08031/21 94 44, www.prijonshop.de
Camping:Camping Stein, See 10, 83093 Bad Endorf, Tel. 08053/9349, www.camping-stein.de
Navigation rulesNo landing in the southern shore of the Simsee nature reserve
