This long day hike begins at the end of the Tauferer Ahrntal valley in Hl. Geist. From the parking lot, the forest road initially leads flat into the valley. After passing the Schlüich hut, the hiking trail branches off to the left, following the small Schlüttalmbach stream until it reaches the Schlütt hut. From there, the path ascends gently to the Tauern hut before becoming steeper on the way up to the Neugersdorfer hut, also known as the Rifugio Vetta d’Italia. This unstaffed hut was once a customs house near the Austrian border and was used by the police until 2022. Throughout the hike, the imposing Drei-Herren-Spitze (3,499 m) remains in view.
The route continues along the Lausitzer high trail, initially crossing stone slabs before transitioning into a more comfortable trail. At the “Teufelsstiege” (Devil’s Staircase), the name says it all – a head for heights is essential here. Shortly after, a signpost directs hikers left, where they follow the red-and-white trail markers on the rocks and the rock figures. The path leads across boulders and partly secured, slightly exposed rock ledges – caution is advised.
The summit of Klockerkarkopf marks the border between South Tyrol (Italy) and Salzburg (Austria). The peak also holds historical significance: in 1904, the fascist Ettore Tolomei claimed to have been the first to climb it. He named it the “Northernmost Point of Italy” and called it “Vetta d’Italia,” despite the fact that the mountain was still part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the time. Tolomei aimed to reinforce Italy’s territorial claims with this Italian name.
Although the actual border has run farther north over the difficult-to-access western Zwillingsköpferl since 1919, the mountain remains significant for many Italians. A marking on the summit indicates the border’s course, and a brass plaque with the inscription “Klockerkarkopf. Mitten in Tirol” (Klockerkarkopf. In the Heart of Tyrol) is embedded in the rock. This plaque, installed in 2002, is the only one that has lasted on the summit for an extended period. The letter “I,” which Tolomei left as a symbol for Italy, has since faded. Other signs disappeared during the conflicts between Italians and South Tyroleans in the 1980s and 1990s. Instead of a grand summit cross, only two simple branches nailed together stand atop the peak.
The panoramic view, however, is unrivaled: to the east rises the Venediger Group, to the west glistens the water of the Eissees, and to the south, the Drei-Herren-Spitze, the Rötspitze, and the Rieserferner Group dominate the landscape.
The descent follows the same route back to the trail junction, then turns left toward the Birnlücken hut. From there, a steep path leads down into the valley, where hikers follow the Ahr stream out of the valley and back to the parking lot.
Oberwielenbach – 57 kmfrom the hotel
Metres in altitude: 1480 m
Lenght: 21,7km
Hiking time: 9h
