Overview
Many of the summits of
Reichenspitze group,
Zillertal Alps, are sharp and wild and reaching them requires climbing. But Rosskopf is a typical
hiking mountain, which can be easily ascended by a marked trail. As over the two neighbouring notches also marked paths go, the summit is often ascended. It's a true 'house mountain' of the nerby Zittauer Huette and many hikers who are trekking hut to hut take the summit by the way. If there were no mountain huts, however, Rosskopf would be quite away from civilization, but still reachable on a one day tour.
The summit rises in a strong ridge which goes from
Reichenspitze first towards the north-east and then towards the north (Wildkarspitze ridge). Southwest of Rosskopf there is a bit higher summit of
Mannlkarkopf, 2870 m, then comes the
Rosskarscharte (notch), 2689 m, then
Rosskopf, 2845 m, where the ridge turns towards the north. There we find the next notch, called
Rainbachscharte (also Gerlosjoechl), 2724 m, beyond which with the
Hoher Schafkopf, 3057 m, the narrow massif of
Wildkarspitze begins.
On the northwestern side of Rosskopf lies the end of the beautiful
Wildgerslostal (valley). South of the summit lies the high valley of
Rainbach, which is the side valley of the long
Krimmler Achental. Through these valleys the approaches on Rosskopf come.
Finally, it is worth mentioning a few nice lakes around the Rosskopf summit. The ponds on the east and south (
Rainbachsee and
Rosskarlacke) are small, but on the northwest the two lakes, named
Wildgerlossee can be found. Especially the lower (Unterer) one is big and very beautiful. Just above it the popular Zittauer Huette (hut) stands.
What To Do There?
Rosskopf is in summer/autumn exclusively a
hikers mountain and in winter/spring a
tour skiing mountain. In addition to the marked paths, coming up from the valleys, there is also a marked path, which connects Zittauer Huette with Richterhuette (and from there crosses further the slopes of Reichenspitze group).
Summit Views
Reichenbachspitze group
Towards the SW
The summit
The view northwards Despite not very high altitude, the panorama from Rosskopf is great. The most beautiful part of it is the view on the highest summits of Reichenspitze group on the southwest. They are close and arranged in a nice parade. Looking southwards the first high summits of Hohe Tauern can be seen. They start with the Riesenferner group (Hochgall) and continue with the Venediger group (Roetspitze, Dreiherrnspitze, Grosser Geiger, Grossvenediger). From behind even some peaks of the Glockner group can be seen. On the north the nearby summits of Wildkarspitze are obscuring the view. Towards the northwest, you only see many lower summits of Kitzbuehler Alps and even a few of the eastern Karwendel.
Getting There
Rosskopf is mostly ascended from the northwest, from the
Wildgerlostal. The last parking place in the valley is at
Finkau, 1420 m. The road further to the valley end is then closed for public trafic. So, there's the most common start of the tour on Rosskopf, unles you are coming from further away.
From the other side, from
Krimmler Achental, only few people ascend Rosskopf. Even that famous valley is closed for public traffic, but hut busses and taxis are driving into it. The ascent on Rosskopf could start at the famous
Krimmler Tauernhaus, 1631 m.
Ascent Routes
Wildgerlostal
By the waterfall 1. From Finkau via Zittauer Huette
The first part of the ascent would be a bit boring, if the Wildgerlostal would not be so beautiful. As the valley is quite flat, cosider using till the valley end a mountain bike! From
Finkau parking place the road continues up the valley and first overcomes a 150 m high valley step. Don't go there by the road, because along the creek a beautiful marked path goes. In the next 30 minutes you will visit a beautiful gorge, called
Leitenkammerklamm, which was recently proclaimed a natural monument. Then the path exits again on the road, and you reach
Trisslalm, 1584 m. From there you first continue by the road, then do a shortcut by a marked path and then till the valley end go by the road. So, you reach
Im Grund, 1888 m, where at the lower station of material cable way the road ends. The plate says you have till Zittauer Huette 1 h of walk, but it's 450 m of elevation gain, so adjust expectations.
The marked path continues in many comfortable switchbacks southwards. When it approaches the steep
rocky step with a waterfall, it gets protected by cables. Over there the path is very steep, but still broad and without any difficulties. Above the step the path gains a distinct
ridge, from which you have a nice view on the Reichenspitze glacier (Wildgerloskees). An explanation table teaches you about its size changes. Then you continue the ascent southwards, but soon the path turns eastwards, towards the hut. By interesting plates it crosses the creek and then ascends over the last bumps towards the big
hut. With the big lake and views on Reichenspitze it is a wonderful place to rest.
Reichenspitze from Zittauer Huette
Towards Rosskarscharte From
Zittauer Huette, the path continues eastwards and then by the slopes around the lake and southwards up, on the
edge 2469 m, beyond which the upper lake lies. There, the path is branching. The left one goes on the Rainbachscharte, while we
continue southwards. Across the broad, only slighty slanted plateau, the path slowly gains altitude. We ascend over a few rocky steps, aiming all the time right of the summit of Rosskopf. Just before the path reaches the Rosskarscharte, on ca 2700 m the summit ascent route
branches left. In switchbacks it soon gains the
main ridge, goes by big rock blocks and in next 20 minutes we are on the
top.
The summit ascent is all the time easy (T2). From Finkau 4 h 30 min, from Zittauer Huette 1 h 45 min.
At Rosskarlacke
Descending towards Rosskarlacke 2. From Richterhuette
This is a long distance hut-to-hut trekking option, usually done in the opposite direction. The hut lies on 2374 m and can be quickest (in good 2 h) reached from the
Krimmler Tauernhaus through the
valley of Rainbach. Actually, the crossing to Zittauer Huette starts below Richterhuette, in the valley end, by the lower station of material cable car. So, unless comming by the valley up, we first descend those 200 m. On 2185 m (
Keesboeden) the marked path crosses the creek and starts crossing the broad slopes towards the northeast. The path is called
Peter-Obholzer-Weg or also
Drei-Laender-Weg. The path soon starts ascending the steep slopes of a distinct ridge, descending into the Rainbach valley from Mannlkarkopf. It soon gets narrow, but is well beaten. When we are around the ridge, there is already the small pond of
Rosskarlacke, 2293 m. There again the view on Rosskopf opens.
Descending into the high valley of Rosskar Ahead of us is the long ascent through the high
valley of Rosskar and on the Rosskarscharte. First the path goes
northwards. Crossing the valley, it passes a
water source, then in several turns ascends further northwards, on the
upper terrace (don't go left, by the valley bottom). When on the high terrace, south of the summit of Rosskopf, the path starts turning
left, towards the notch. It crosses the slopes of Rosskopf and then finally enters a crumbly
ravine below the notch. In a few switchbacks you are up, on
2689 m, and then on the other side continue right, towards the northeast till the place, where on
2700 m the ascent route
deters right. To the summit it's less than 20 minutes of easy ascent.
Also this ascent is easy (T2). From Richterhuette 3 h.
Rainbach valley 3. From Krimmler Tauernhaus
This route connects Krimmler Tauernhaus with Zittauer Huette, going over the Rainbachscharte. This hike is more demanding than the previous two routes, but I have no personal experience with it. From
Krimmler Tauernhaus you first go by the road into the
valley of Rainbach, but soon (on some 840 m) this marked path deters
right up. It gains a lot of altitude, then crosses the high valley to
Rainbachsee, 2404 m, and continues
northwestwards. Before the notch, there is one protected, more
demanding passage, then the path reaches the
notch, 2724 m. Going on the summit of Rosskopf only by marked paths, you would now need first to
descend down to the crossroads at the Oberer Wildgerlossee,
2469 m, which means a big loss of altitude. But supposedly you can also follow the main ridge (or just below it) from the notch on top. It only requires some easy scrambling and climbing over the blocks. 4 h from the hut.
Mountain Huts
Unterer Gerlossee and Zittauer Huette Rosskopf is quite remote from towns and villages, so the following huts are quite frequented. In addition to the listed ones there are many more private huts on alpine meadows, offering all what tourists expect, including sleeping.
1. Krimmler Tauernhaus, 1630 m, southeast of Rosskopf. This is one of the most famous mountain huts in Alps, which got its fame in the last centuries, supporting trade and smuggling over the high Tauern passes. From Krimml you reach it in 2 h (along the famous waterfalls), but regularly also a hut taxi drives there.
2. Richterhuette, 2374 m, south of Rosskopf. This house supports trekkings and also harder climbs in the Reichenspitze group. From Krimmler Tauernhaus it can be reached in good 2 h, from Krimml in 4 h.
3. Zittauer Huette, 2328 m, northwest of Rosskopf. This house supports trekkings and also harder climbs in the Reichenspitze group. From Finkau parking place it can be reached in good 2 h 30 min.
Red Tape
Life on 2650 m The summit of Rosskopf lies in the narrow zone of the
Hohe Tauern National Parc. There is no entrance fee, but strictly speaking, camping in the parc is prohibited. Still, we had no issues with setting a bivouac and hut masters had no objections when we refused sleeping in the hut and in the evening continued our trek, heavily loaded with a tent and sleeping bags.
The roads in both valleys, Krimmler Achental and Wildgerlostal, are payable. Actually, into the first one you can't drive, up there only hut busses and taxis go, while with the Wildgerlostal it's different. You pay already the main road, connecting over Gerlospass Krimml and Mayrhofen. But from that road (from Gerlospass) you can then drive into Wildgerlostal till Finkau hut.
Payable is also the path along the famous Krimml water falls. Even if you are returning from the mountains, below at the exit you are asked for a ticket.
When To Ascend?
Rosskopf is mostly visited in dry seasons, so during summer and autumn. When conditions are good for tour skiing (spring) it's a nice goal for that recreation as well. But check how eventually the huts are opened. | Click for weather forecast |