Location of the highest major summits in Germany

This is a list of the highest mountains in Germany. All of these mountains are located in the federal state of Bavaria. They lie within the Alps in the region known as the Eastern Alps and are part of the Northern Limestone Alps. The majority belong to the mountain ranges of the Wetterstein, Berchtesgaden Alps and Allgäu Alps.

Because the definition of a mountain is not universally agreed, a distinction is made between main summits and other peaks. Subsidiary summits or subpeaks are not counted. In the Alps a summit is classed as independent, according to the UIAA definition, if it has a prominence of 30 metres or more. In order for a peak to qualify as an independent mountain, however, it must have a prominence of at least 300 metres.^[1] Based on this definition only the main summits of entire mountain massifs are counted. All elevations with a prominence below 30 metres are considered as subpeaks.^[2]

By these definitions, the highest mountains in Germany are the Zugspitze (2,962 m), Hochwanner (2,746 m) and Watzmann (Middle Peak, 2,713 m). If all independent summits are counted, the Zugspitze is followed by the Schneefernerkopf (2,875 m) and the Middle Wetterspitze (2,747 m) in places two and three. Both are however, part of the Zugspitze massif and lie relatively close to the summit of the Zugspitze itself.

The highest mountain which lies entirely on German soil is the Watzmann with a height of 2,713 metres, followed by the Hochkalter (2,607 m), the Großer Daumen (2,280 m) and the Höfats (2,259 m). Likewise fully on German territory, but considerably less independent, are the Middle Höllentalspitze (2,742 m) and the Hochblassen (2,703 m).

A majority of the summits were verifiably climbed in the 19th century; the Watzmann and Hoher Göll for example as early as 1800. The Zugspitze was officially climbed for the first time in 1820. However, there are many peaks of which it is suspected had been climbed in earlier times by unknown climbers.

Because the borders of Germany have often changed during the course of the centuries, there were different "highest mountains" in the past. For example, during the time of the Holy Roman Empire up to 1806, the Ortler in present-day South Tyrol, at 3,905 m, was the highest German mountain. During the colonial period to 1918 Mount Kilimanjaro in the colony of German East Africa, at 5,895 m, was officially the highest mountain of the German Reich. During the Nazi era from 1938 to 1945 this title went to the Großglockner which, at 3,797 m, is today the highest mountain in Austria.

Key

• Ranking: The ranking of the peak within Germany in terms of height.
• Photograph: Photograph of the mountain.
• Peak: Name of the peak.
• Height: Height of the mountain in metres.
• Mountain range: Mountain range in which the mountain lies.
• Massif: (table 1) Gives the name of the massif to which the mountain belongs. If the massif is named after a linked main peak, the link is omitted here.
• Location: (table 2) DE = mountain lies entirely on German territory; DE/AT = mountain lies in the area of the border between Germany and Austria, but the peak at least is on German state territory.
• Isolation: The isolation describes the radius of the area which the mountain dominates. Given in kilometres including the reference point.
• Prominence: The prominence is the height difference between height of the summit and the highest point to which one must descend in order to climb a higher peak. Given in metres including the reference point.
• First climb: Name of the first climber and date. Empty field indicates that the first climber or the date is not known.

There may be differences in data from other sources. The tables use the tables of the German height reference system, based on height above Normalnull (~sea level) in Amsterdam, and data from the Bavarian Survey Office (Bayerischen Vermessungsverwaltung).^[3]

The highest summits

Table 1 below shows the 30 highest independent summits in Germany. A summit or peak requires a prominence of over 30 metres in order to count as independent.

By clicking on the symbols at the head of the table the individual columns may be sorted.

Ranking	Photograph	Peak	Height (m)	Mountain range	Massif	Isolation (km)	Prominence (m)	First climb
1		Zugspitze	2,962	Wetterstein	Zugspitze	24.6 Acherkogel	1,746 West of the Fernpass	27.08.1820 Josef Naus, Johann Georg Tauschl, Acolyte Maier1
2		Schneefernerkopf	2,874	Wetterstein	Zugspitze	1.7 Zugspitze	175 Schneeferner wind-gap	1871 Hermann von Barth
3		Middle Wetterspitze	2,750	Wetterstein	Zugspitze	0.6 Schneefernerkopf	67 Wind-gap to the Schneefernerkopf
4		Hochwanner	2,744	Wetterstein	Hochwanner	5.5 Zugspitze	701 Feldernjöchl	1870 Hermann von Barth
5		Middle Höllentalspitze	2,743	Wetterstein	Zugspitze	1.6 Zugspitze	116 Jubiläum arête wind-gap to the Zugspitze	1871 Hermann von Barth
6		Inner Höllentalspitze	2,741	Wetterstein	Zugspitze	0.6 Middle Höllentalspitze	90 Wind-gap to the Middle Höllentalspitze	09.09.1871 Hermann von Barth
7		Outer Höllentalspitze	2,720	Wetterstein	Zugspitze	0.6 Middle Höllentalspitze	353 Wind-gap to the Middle Höllentalspitze	1871 Hermann von Barth
8		Watzmann Middle Peak	2,713	Berchtesgaden Alps	Watzmann	15.9 Hochseiler	939 Trischübel Pass	Aug. 1800 Valentin Stanič
9		Watzmann South Peak	2,712	Berchtesgaden Alps	Watzmann	0.8 Watzmann Middle Peak	1103 Watzmann arête wind-gap	1832 Peter Carl Thurwieser
10		Hochblassen	2,703	Wetterstein	Zugspitze	1.1 Outer Höllentalspitze	143 Falsche Grießkar wind-gap	25.08.1871 Hermann von Barth, Peter Klaisl
11		Wetterwandeck	2,698	Wetterstein	Zugspitze	0.5 Southern Wetterspitze	30 Wind-gap to the Eastern Wetterspitze
12		Leutascher Dreitorspitze	2,682	Wetterstein	Dreitorspitze	5.2 Hochwanner	346 Western Wang wind-gap	07.08.1871 Hermann von Barth
13		Eastern Plattspitze	2,680	Wetterstein	Zugspitze	1.1 Wetterwandeck	204 Wetter wind-gap	1871 Hermann von Barth
14		Hinterreintalschrofen	2,669	Wetterstein	Hochwanner	1.5 Hochwanner	109 Teufel arête wind-gap to the Hochwanner	01.09.1871 Hermann von Barth
15		Hochfrottspitze	2,649	Allgäu Alps	Hohes Licht	2.2 Hohes Licht	203 Sock valley wind-gap	16.06.1869 Hermann von Barth
16		Mädelegabel	2,645	Allgäu Alps	Hohes Licht	0.4 Hochfrottspitze	81 Wind-gap to the Hochfrottspitze	1852 Oskar Sendtner[4]4
17		Partenkirchner Dreitorspitze	2,633	Wetterstein	Dreitorspitze	0.5 Leutascher Dreitorspitze	1003 Wind-gap to the Leutascher Dreitorspitze	20.07.1854 Jakob Grasegger, Karl Kiendl
18		Alpspitze	2,628	Wetterstein	Zugspitze	0.8 Hochblassen	165 Grießkar wind-gap	1825 J. Burger
19		Vollkarspitze	2,618	Wetterstein	Zugspitze	0.5 Hochblassen	403 Wind-gap to the Höllentalspitzen	1897 Ferdinand Henning2
20		Bockkarkopf	2,609	Allgäu Alps	Hohes Licht	0.6 Hochfrottspitze	106 Bockkar wind-gap
21		Hochkalter	2,607	Berchtesgaden Alps	Hochkalter	4.5 Watzmann	621 Wimbach wind-gap
22		Northeastern Dreitorspitze	2,605	Wetterstein	Dreitorspitze	0.2 Dreitorspitze	403 Wind-gap to the Dreitorspitze
23		Biberkopf	2,599	Allgäu Alps	Biberkopf	3.5 Hohes Licht	337 Große Stein wind-gap	18535
24		Trettachspitze	2,595	Allgäu Alps	Hohes Licht	0.4 Mädelegabel	1403 Wind-gap to the Mädelegabel	Aug 1855 Urban, Alois and Mathias Jochum
25		Großer Hundstod	2,593	Berchtesgaden Alps	Großer Hundstod	4.5 Watzmann	474 Dießbach wind-gap	1825 Karl Thurwieser
26		Hochvogel	2,592	Allgäu Alps	Hochvogel	5.4 Urbeleskarspitze	572 Hornbachjoch	1832 Trobitus
27		Funtenseetauern	2,578	Berchtesgaden Alps	Selbhorn	4 Selbhorn	220 Hochbrunnsulzen	ca. 1865 Johann Grill, Albert Kaindl
28		Öfnerspitze	2,576	Allgäu Alps	Großer Krottenkopf	0.7 Großer Krottenkopf	1613 Wind-gap to the Großen Krottenkopf	18545
29		Schüsselkarspitze	2,551	Wetterstein	Dreitorspitze	0.3 Leutascher Dreitorspitze	603 Wind-gap to the Leutascher Dreitorspitze	1894 A. Moser, O. Schuster
30		Krottenspitze	2,551	Allgäu Alps	Großer Krottenkopf	0.3 Öfnerspitze	78 Wind-gap to the Öfnerspitze

• ¹ First recorded climb. Historic maps from the 18th century suggest that the Zugspitze had already been climbed before 1770.^[5]
• ² Year of the first complete crossing of the Jubiläums arête.
• ³ Exact value unknown as no survey has been carried out. Estimate based on contours from a topographical map.
• ⁴ First recorded climb. It is possible that it had been climbed during survey work in 1818 or work by a border commission in 1835
• ⁵ As part of a survey

The highest mountains

Table 2 below shows the 21 highest mountains in Germany. A mountain is considered to be the main summit of a massif if its prominence is more than 300 metres.

By clicking the symbols at the head of the table the individual column may be sorted.

Ranking	Photograph	Peak	Height (m)	Mountain range4	Location	Isolation (km)	Prominence (m)	First climb	on
1		Zugspitze	2,962	Wetterstein	DE/AT	24.6 Acherkogel	1,746 West of the Fernpass	Josef Naus, Johann Georg Tauschl, Acolyte Maier1	27.08.1820
2		Hochwanner	2,744	Wetterstein	DE/AT	5.5 Zugspitze	701 Feldernjöchl	Hermann von Barth	1870
3		Watzmann Middle Peak	2,713	Berchtesgaden Alps	DE	15.9 Hochseiler	939 Trischübel Pass	Valentin Stanič	Aug 1800
4		Leutascher Dreitorspitze	2,682	Wetterstein	DE/AT	5.2 Hochwanner	346 Western Wang wind-gap	Hermann von Barth	07.08.1871
5		Hochkalter	2,607	Berchtesgaden Alps	DE	4.5 Watzmann	621 Wimbach wind-gap
6		Biberkopf	2,599	Allgäu Alps	DE/AT	3.5 Hohes Licht	337 Große Stein wind-gap		18532
7		Großer Hundstod	2,593	Berchtesgaden Alps	DE/AT	4.5 Watzmann	474 Dießbach wind-gap	Karl Thurwieser	1825
8		Hochvogel	2,592	Allgäu Alps	DE/AT	5.4 Urbeleskarspitze	572 Hornbachjoch	Trobitus	1832
9		Östliche Karwendelspitze	2,538	Karwendel	DE/AT	3.5 Middle Ödkarspitze	736 Hochalm Saddle	Hermann von Barth	04.07.1870
10		Hocheisspitze	2,523	Berchtesgaden Alps	DE/AT	3 Hochkalter	410 Sittersbach wind-gap	Hermann von Barth	06.09.1868
11		Hoher Göll	2,522	Berchtesgaden Alps	DE/AT	11.4 Watzmann	788 Torrener Joch	Valentin Stanič	04.09.1800
12		Hochkarspitze	2,482	Karwendel	DE/AT	42 Pleisenspitze	661 Bäralp Saddle	Hermann von Barth	1870
13		Großes Teufelshorn	2,361	Berchtesgaden Alps	DE/AT	3.8 Reißhorn	339 Blühnbachtörl
14		Kahlersberg	2,350	Berchtesgaden Alps	DE/AT	4.8 Großes Teufelshorn	3353 East of the Hintere Bärengrube	F. v. Schilcher, G. Helblehen	1854
15		Stadelhorn	2,286	Berchtesgaden Alps	DE/AT	5.2 Wasserwandkopf	1,133 Hirschbichl Pass	Karl Thurwieser	1825
16		Großer Daumen	2,280	Allgäu Alps	DE	6.4 Kesselspitze	350 Höfatsblick summit station
17		Höfats	2,257	Allgäu Alps	DE	2.7 Großer Wilder	477 Älple Saddle	Otto Sendtner	1848
18		Soiernspitze	2,257	Karwendel	DE	3.8 Wörner	833 West of the Vereiner-Alm
19		Hoher Ifen	2,229	Allgäu Alps	DE/AT	7.7 Elferkopf	476 Gerach Saddle
20		Große Arnspitze	2,196	Wetterstein	DE/AT	3.9 Upper Wetterstein peak	1,003 Northwest of Neuleutasch
21		Kreuzspitze	2,185	Ammergau Alps	DE	10.6 Daniel	1,182 Upper Schellbach valley

• ¹ First recorded climb. Historic maps from the 18th century suggest that the Zugspitze had already been climbed before 1770.^[5]
• ² As part of a survey
• ³ Exact value not known, because it has not been surveyed. Estimate based on contours from a topographical map.

See also

• List of mountain and hill ranges in Germany
• List of the highest mountains in Austria
• List of mountains in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains
• List of mountains of the Harz

References

Literature

• DAV-Karte: 4/3 Wetterstein und Mieminger Kette, eastern sheet (1:25,000). 2005
• DAV-Karte: 5/1 Karwendel, western sheet (1:25,000). 2005
• DAV-Karte: 5/2 Karwendel, middle sheet (1:25,000). 2000
• DAV-Karte: 10/1 Steinernes Meer (1:25,000). 2006
• Kompass Wander-, Bike- and Skitourenkarte: Blatt 3 Allgäu Alps, Kleinwalsertal (1:50.000). Kompass-Karten, Innsbruck 2005, ISBN 978-3-85491-005-3
• Kompass Wander-, Bike and Skitourenkarte: Blatt 03 Oberstdorf, Kleinwalsertal (1:25.000). Kompass-Karten, Innsbruck 2009, ISBN 978-3-85491-231-6
• Kompass Wander-, Bike and Skitourenkarte: Blatt 25 Zugspitze, Mieminger Kette (1:50.000). Kompass-Karten, Innsbruck 2008, ISBN 978-3-85491-026-8

External links

• Bayern-Viewer Archived 27 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine: Online map material for the Federal State of Bavaria