List of highest mountains of 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.

Location of the highest major summits in Germany

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 m) seen from the Alpspitze 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 Zugspitze Massif including Schneefernerkopf (centre left, 2,874 m) Schneefernerkopf 2,874 Wetterstein Zugspitze 1.7
Zugspitze		 175
Schneeferner wind-gap		 1871
Hermann von Barth
3 Zugspitze Massif including Schneefernerkopf (centre right, 2,750 m) Middle Wetterspitze 2,750 Wetterstein Zugspitze 0.6
Schneefernerkopf		 67
Wind-gap to the Schneefernerkopf
4 Southern side of the Hochwanner (2,744 m) Hochwanner 2,744 Wetterstein Hochwanner 5.5
Zugspitze		 701
Feldernjöchl		 1870
Hermann von Barth
5 Middle Höllentalspitze (centre, 2,743 m) Middle Höllentalspitze 2,743 Wetterstein Zugspitze 1.6
Zugspitze		 116
Jubiläum arête wind-gap to the Zugspitze
1871
Hermann von Barth
6 Inner Höllentalspitze (left front, 2,741 m) 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 (centre, 2,720 m) 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 (centre, 2,713 m) Watzmann Middle Peak 2,713 Berchtesgaden Alps Watzmann 15.9
Hochseiler		 939
Trischübel Pass		 Aug. 1800
Valentin Stanič
9 Watzmann South Peak (2,712 m) Watzmann South Peak 2,712 Berchtesgaden Alps Watzmann 0.8
Watzmann Middle Peak		 1103
Watzmann arête wind-gap 		1832
Peter Carl Thurwieser
10 Hochblassen (front right, 2,703 m) Hochblassen 2,703 Wetterstein Zugspitze 1.1
Outer Höllentalspitze		 143
Falsche Grießkar wind-gap
25.08.1871
Hermann von Barth, Peter Klaisl
11 Zugspitze Massif including Wetterwandeck (right, 2,698 m) Wetterwandeck 2,698 Wetterstein Zugspitze 0.5
Southern Wetterspitze		 30
Wind-gap to the Eastern Wetterspitze
12 Leutascher Dreitorspitze (2,682 m) Leutascher Dreitorspitze 2,682 Wetterstein Dreitorspitze 5.2
Hochwanner		 346
Western Wang wind-gap
07.08.1871
Hermann von Barth
13 Eastern Plattspitze (Left of the Zugspitze, 2,680 m) 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 m) from the Mädelegabel Hochfrottspitze 2,649 Allgäu Alps Hohes Licht 2.2
Hohes Licht		 203
Sock valley wind-gap
 16.06.1869
Hermann von Barth
16 Southern side of the Mädelegabel (2,645 m) Mädelegabel 2,645 Allgäu Alps Hohes Licht 0.4
Hochfrottspitze		 81
Wind-gap to the Hochfrottspitze
 1852
Oskar Sendtner[4]4
17 Southern side of the Partenkirchner Dreitorspitze (2,633 m) 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 m) from the Osterfelderkopf 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 m) Bockkarkopf 2,609 Allgäu Alps Hohes Licht 0.6
Hochfrottspitze		 106
Bockkar wind-gap
21 Hochkalter (centre, 2,607 m) Hochkalter 2,607 Berchtesgaden Alps Hochkalter 4.5
Watzmann		 621
Wimbach wind-gap
22 Northeastern Dreitorspitze (centre, 2,605 m) Northeastern Dreitorspitze 2,605 Wetterstein Dreitorspitze 0.2
Dreitorspitze		 403
Wind-gap to the Dreitorspitze
23 Biberkopf (2,599 m) Biberkopf 2,599 Allgäu Alps Biberkopf 3.5
Hohes Licht		 337
Große Stein wind-gap
 18535
24 Trettachspitze (2,595 m) 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 m) Großer Hundstod 2,593 Berchtesgaden Alps Großer Hundstod 4.5
Watzmann		 474
Dießbach wind-gap
 1825
Karl Thurwieser
26 Hochvogel (2,592 m) Hochvogel 2,592 Allgäu Alps Hochvogel 5.4
Urbeleskarspitze		 572
Hornbachjoch
 1832
Trobitus
27 Funtenseetauern (2,578 m) Funtenseetauern 2,578 Berchtesgaden Alps Selbhorn 4
Selbhorn		 220
Hochbrunnsulzen
 ca. 1865
Johann Grill, Albert Kaindl
28 Öfnerspitze (right, 2,576 m) Öfnerspitze 2,576 Allgäu Alps Großer Krottenkopf 0.7
Großer Krottenkopf		 1613
Wind-gap to the Großen Krottenkopf
 18545
29 Schüsselkarspitze (2,551 m) Schüsselkarspitze 2,551 Wetterstein Dreitorspitze 0.3
Leutascher Dreitorspitze		 603
Wind-gap to the Leutascher Dreitorspitze
 1894
A. Moser, O. Schuster
30 Krottenspitze (right, 2,551 m) 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 m) seen from the Alpspitze 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 southern side of the Hochwanner (2,744 m) Hochwanner 2,744 Wetterstein DE/AT 5.5
Zugspitze		 701
Feldernjöchl		 Hermann von Barth 1870
3 Watzmann Middle Peak (centre, 2,713 m) Watzmann Middle Peak 2,713 Berchtesgaden Alps DE 15.9
Hochseiler		 939
Trischübel Pass		 Valentin Stanič Aug 1800
4 Leutascher Dreitorspitze (2,682 m) Leutascher Dreitorspitze 2,682 Wetterstein DE/AT 5.2
Hochwanner		 346
Western Wang wind-gap
Hermann von Barth 07.08.1871
5 Hochkalter (centre, 2,607 m) Hochkalter 2,607 Berchtesgaden Alps DE 4.5
Watzmann		 621
Wimbach wind-gap
6 Biberkopf (2,599 m) Biberkopf 2,599 Allgäu Alps DE/AT 3.5
Hohes Licht		 337
Große Stein wind-gap
 18532
7 Großer Hundstod (2,593 m) Großer Hundstod 2,593 Berchtesgaden Alps DE/AT 4.5
Watzmann		 474
Dießbach wind-gap
 Karl Thurwieser 1825
8 Hochvogel (2,592 m) Hochvogel 2,592 Allgäu Alps DE/AT 5.4
Urbeleskarspitze		 572
Hornbachjoch
 Trobitus 1832
9 Eastern Karwendelspitze (2,538 m) Östliche Karwendelspitze 2,538 Karwendel DE/AT 3.5
Middle Ödkarspitze		 736
Hochalm Saddle
 Hermann von Barth 04.07.1870
10 The Hocheisspitze from the northwest Hocheisspitze 2,523 Berchtesgaden Alps DE/AT 3
Hochkalter		 410
Sittersbach wind-gap
 Hermann von Barth 06.09.1868
11 Hoher Göll (left rear, 2,522 m) Hoher Göll 2,522 Berchtesgaden Alps DE/AT 11.4
Watzmann		 788
Torrener Joch
 Valentin Stanič 04.09.1800
12 Hochkarspitze (left, 2,482 m) Hochkarspitze 2,482 Karwendel DE/AT 42
Pleisenspitze		 661
Bäralp Saddle
 Hermann von Barth 1870
13 Großes Teufelshorn (left, 2,361 m) Großes Teufelshorn 2,361 Berchtesgaden Alps DE/AT 3.8
Reißhorn		 339
Blühnbachtörl
14 Kahlersberg (2,350 m) 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 m) Stadelhorn 2,286 Berchtesgaden Alps DE/AT 5.2
Wasserwandkopf		 1,133
Hirschbichl Pass
 Karl Thurwieser 1825
16 Großer Daumen (2,280 m) Großer Daumen 2,280 Allgäu Alps DE 6.4
Kesselspitze		 350
Höfatsblick summit station
17 Höfats (2,257 m) Höfats 2,257 Allgäu Alps DE 2.7
Großer Wilder		 477
Älple Saddle
 Otto Sendtner 1848
18 Soiernspitze (2,257 m) Soiernspitze 2,257 Karwendel DE 3.8
Wörner		 833
West of the Vereiner-Alm
19 Hoher Ifen (2,229 m) Hoher Ifen 2,229 Allgäu Alps DE/AT 7.7
Elferkopf		 476
Gerach Saddle
20 Große Arnspitze (2,196 m) Große Arnspitze 2,196 Wetterstein DE/AT 3.9
Upper Wetterstein peak		 1,003
Northwest of Neuleutasch
21 Große Arnspitze (2,185 m) 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

References
  1. Or a prominence of 100m according to other authorities.
  2. "The Viertausender of the Alpen – Offizielles UIAA-Verzeichnis" (PDF) (in German). UIAA. March 1994. Retrieved 7 May 2009.
  3. Bayerische Vermessungsverwaltung. "Bayernviewer". Bayerische Staatsregierung. Archived from the original on 27 March 2009. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  4. "Von Abenteurern and Bergpionieren". allgaeuer-anzeigeblatt.de. 2005. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 6 May 2009.
  5. Andrea Händel (2006). "Historische Zugspitzkarte". alpenverein.de. Archived from the original on 11 March 2007. Retrieved 6 May 2009.

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


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