Torkopf (Karwendel)

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Karwendel
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Torkopf (Karwendel)

Page Type:	Mountain/Rock
Activities:	Hiking
Season:	Summer, Fall
Elevation:	6608 ft / 2014 m
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Overview

Torkopf (right) below Östliche Karwendelspitze and Vogelkarspitze as seen from Grasberg

Torkopf and Rontal valley as seen from Wechselkopf descent

Among the many summits and peaks of Karwendel ranges there are some second rank summits which are worth a visit.

Torkopf is such a second rank summit.

It is the eponymous summit and highest point of a short, south – north running ridge which starts at Östliche Karwendelspitze and runs down to the village of Hinterriß. This ridge separates two extraordinary valleys: Tortal valley to the east and Rontal valley to the west, both showing a breathtaking landscape.

Torkopf is in fact the only summit of this short ridge which can be climbed rather easily. Standing north of Östliche Karwendelspitze, this mountain faces directly the huge northern rock walls stretching between Talelespitze to the east and Bäralplkopf to the west. The summits of these huge limestone wall are about 400 to 500 meters higher than Torkopf. Thus second rank Torkopf is in the very center of these mighty rock faces and the views from this mountain are, despite of beeing limited, breathtaking.

The broad southern col, Tor col, is the entrance to climb Torkopf which is in itself a huge rocky mountain, dropping down to Ron valley with an equal impressive rock face. The hike to Tor col is an easy one, the last 250 meters to Torkopf is a narrow and steep, unmarked trail which requires some caution especially with wet conditions.

Torkopf, right below, a real second row summit, as seen from the traverse Vogelkarspitze - Schlichtenkarspitzen; Schafreiter in the background

A view on the northern Karwendel ridge with Östliche Karwendelspitze and Vogelkarspitze in the center; below in the shadow is Torkopf; scenery seen from below Fleischbank

Getting There

Trailhead for the two Torkopf routes is Hinterriß within Eng valley.

You reach Hinterriß by car

on road number B 13 and B 307 coming from Bad Tölz and Lenggries via Fall / Sylvenstein dammed lake
on road B318 and B 307 coming from Tegernsee region, Achenpass and Sylvenstein lake
on road 181 coming from Inntal valley to the German / Austrian border at Achenpass, following road B 307 to Sylvenstein lake.
Road B 307 ends at Vorderriß. Follow Risstal Landesstraße crossing the German / Austrian border until you reach Hinterriß.

There is a hiker parking area at the beginning of the village, another one after leaving the village (called parking area P2).

Rontal Alm offers drinks and some simple food and is a very nice place for a break

Public transportation

There is a hiker bus serving Eng valley. It starts at the railway station of Lenggries and has a bus stop at Hinterriß.

See the schedule here.

Routes Overview

There are two routes starting at Hinterriß.

Rontal route:

Take the right hand road about 100 m south of the Gasthof zur Post inn at Hinterriß and follow the signs to Rontal. A forest road brings you up to Rontalalm and a huge and broad alpine meadow with very old and impressive alpine maple trees an a breathtaking look on the north faces of Östliche Karwendelspitze and Vogelkarspitze.

Go straight south at Rontalalm and follow the marked trail in some zigzags up to Tor col.

Torkopf as seen from Tor valley ascent	Huge rock faces south of Tortalalm
Tor col and Östliche Karwendelspitze as seen from the Tor valley route	Kuhkopf and Lackenkarspitze as seen from the Tor valley ascent

Tortal route:

Take the forest road at the parking area P2 to the south. Go right at the first road junction and follow this road up into Tor valley to Toralm. Tor valley is a narrow valley with impressive views of the Talelekopf – Grabenkar- and Lackenkarspitze north faces.

Take the marked trail at Toralm and hike up to Tor col.

Beautiful Rontal meadows with huge mountain maple trees; Östliche Karwendelspitze, Vogelkarspitze and Wechselkopf in the background	Torkopf and Tor col (right) as seen from Wechselkopf
Summit view to Rontal valley, Rappenklammspitze and Soiern range with Soiernspitze (left)	Leontopodium nivale, the famous Edelweiß, on the summit slopes of Torkopf

From Tor col hike up the meadows north of the col until you reach a narrow trail. At a steep rock tower take the left hand trail and traverse this rock tower on its west (left) side until you reagin the ridge at another col. The path goes up northbound steep and exposed meadows and changes on the equally steep and exposed east side of the mountain. There is a 3 meter high rock step as the main obstacle of this ascent. Pass through some rocks and hike up to the less steep summit meadows and the summit ridge. Caution with wet conditions!

Both routes to Torcol are ski routes, too.

Summit ascent: the route goes left in front of this rock tower; a traverse of it is possible but in parts UIAA grade III	Torkopf summit rocks
Summit trail with a view of Östliche Karwendelspitze (left above) and the second row summits Steinkarspitze and Wechselkopf	The steep summit ascent to Torkopf

Red Tape & Accommodation

Red Tape

Torkopf and the adjacent valleys belong to the Alpenpark Karwendel, an important and strictly protected National Park. One of the visitor information centers is located at Hinterriß

There is no entrance fee for the park but many regulations to follow.

Please respect the following rules in the National Park:

Accommodation

Accommodation can be found at

Hinterriß

Eng valley

No camping within Alpenpark Karwendel

Overnight stay of motorhomes is strictly regulated and only possible at special parking areas

Rontal Alm offers drinks and some simple food.

There are no mountain huts around.

Some interesting looking mosses at the end of Tor valley

Gear & Mountain Conditions

Torkopf is a summer and autumn hike.

The trails to Tor col are easy hiking trails which require normal hiking gear and good shoes.

The summit ascent is a narrow, steep and exposed, unmarked track. Don’t try it with rain, ice, snow or wet conditions.

Tor col is a ski tour for advanced ski tourists and requires very safe avalanche conditions. Both slopes, to Rontal valley and to Tortal valley can be used as ascent route and/or downhill route.

See the Austrian / Tirol avalanche bulletin here.