Großer and Kleiner Tanzkogel, Schwarzkarkogel

Overview

The very center of the Geigen range within Kitzbüheler Alps is formed by a huge and broad meadow mountain which has three summits. Two of these summits are not very prominent, the third is, in my opinion, not a summit at all but the flat part of the main ridge.

Highest of these summits is named Großer Tanzkogel and Tanz, dance, can be taken literally as the summit is broad and flat like a huge dancing ground.

Schwarzkarkogel is named the southern sidekick of Großer Tanzkogel, some meters lower than the main summit with a prominence of 50 meters.

Kleiner Tanzkogel is called the flat part of the main ridge, located north of Großer Tanzkogel.

All three “summits can be crossed easily when walking along the Geigen range main ridge. They are bordered by the Spertental valley / Unterer Grund to the east and the Windau valley to the west, both valleys host the trailheads for Tanzkogel summits.

Tanzkogel is a year round summit – for hikers during late spring, summer and autumn, snow shoe hikers and skiers during winter and early springtime – and is an excellent outing for an easy ski tour. Summer hiking is not so spectacular but, if you combine Tanzkogel with adjacent summits like Gerstinger Joch (to the north) or Westerachkogel and Gamsbeil (to the south), you will spend a great day in the Kitzbüheler mountains.

Getting There

Main trailheads for Tanzkogel summits are:

Unterer Grund valley / Spertental valley

• Parking area Hintenbachalm
• Parking area Stallbach Grundalm (end of the toll road)
• Winter parking area is Oberlandhütte(!)

Windau valley

• Winter parking area is at Steinberg inn
• First parking area beyond Steinberg inn for summer

You reach the region and the trailheads by car:

• On Austrian highway A 12 (toll road), exit Wörgl Ost
• Go on road number 178 and then on road number 170 direction Hopfgarten
• Proceed on road 170 to Westendorf

For Windau valley trailheads cross Westendorf center and proceed on the road “Dorfstrasse”, then “Holzham” and “Vorderwindau to the toll station

• Follow the toll road (named “Hinterwindau”) to the above listed trailheads / parking areas

For Unterer Grund trailheads

• proceed on road number 170 to Kirchberg/Tirol
• Pass through Kirchberg center, following the signposts for Aschau / Spertental (road number L203)
• At Aschau go straight on, passing by Oberlandhütte alpine club to the toll station
• Proceed on the toll road (called “Unterer Spertengrundweg”) to the above listed trailheads

Public transportation:

Windau trailheads cannot be reached by public transportation.

• The nearest railroad station is Westendorf
• Bus 4051 goes as far as Westendorf village center

Spertental trailheads cannot be reached by public transportation.

• Nearest railway station for Unterer Grund trailheads is Kirchberg.
• Bus number 4004 serves as far as Aschau village.

Routes Overview

Parking area Stallbach Grundalm

Direct ascent

• Take the trail from Stallbach Grundalm to Stallbach Hochalm
• Follow the forest road uphill for 3 switchbacks
• Take the right hand trail at a creek, crossing the forest road
• Ascend on this trail to the col between Großer Tanzkogel and Schwarzkarkogel
• Summit Schwarzkarkogel lefthand shortly and/or Großer Tanzkogel likewise shortly and righthand.

Ascent via Gerstinger Joch or Haglanger Hochalm

• Take the forest road to Stockeralm, Angereralm and Haglangeralm
• Take the trail via east ridge to Gerstinger Joch, descent shortly to the west and take the left hand trail to the col between Gerstinger Joch and Tanzkögel
• Ascent Kleiner Tanzkogel, Großer Tanzkogel and – maybe – Schwarzkarkogel

Alternatively

• Take the forest road from Haglangeralm to Haglanger Hochalm
• Ascend shortly to the col between Gerstinger Joch and Tanzkögel
• Go on as described above

These two routes can be combined to a nice traverse route.

Trailhead Windau

• Go some meters south on the toll road and take the first forest road to your left
• Proceed on this road to Scheibenschlag Niederalm and Scheibenschlag Hochalm
• Take the trail up to Hinterkarscharte
• Turn right and follow the north ridge trail in the direction to Gerstinger Joch
• Leave this trail to the right at an unmarked trailjunction near the Gerstinger Joch summit
• Descent to the con between Gerstinger Joch and Kleiner Tanzkogel
• Proceed up to Kleiner and Großer Tanzkogel and to Schwarzkarkogel

Ski routes

Spertental valley / Unterer Grund

• Oberlandhütte – Labalm – Angerer Alm – traverse of the Innere Stalbach creek – ascent via the northeast slopes to Großer Tanzkogel
• Downhill like ascent or
• Traverse to Kleiner Tanzkogel, ascent of Gerstinger Joch, downhill via the east slopes to Pfannschlagalm, Angerer Alm and Labalm

Not very frequented because of the long valley ascent from Oberlandhütte.

Windau valley

• Follow the toll road until you reach the Gamskogelhütte
• Ascent to Tagweidalm and into Neualp valley to Miesenbachalm
• Ascent the western slopes to Schwarzkarkogel and to Großer Tanzkogel
• Downhill, use the west slopes of Tanzkogel and Schwarzkarkogel to Miesenbachalm and into the valley
• alternatively traverse to Kleiner Tanzkogel, Gerstinger Joch and the north ridge of Gerstinger Joch; desced the west slopes to the Scheibenschlagalmen and into Windau, not far south of Steinberg inn

Red Tape

Red Tape

During ski tour season follow the marked areas for ski ascents and decents

The roads to the trailheads into Windau valley / Spertental valley – Unterer Grund are toll roads.

The Untere Grund road has only a toll machine. Enough coins are required!

Accommodation

Aschau im Spertental

Windau

Kirchberg in Tirol

Brixen im Thale

Westendorf

Mountain huts

Oberlandhütte (accessible by car and located at Aschau im Spertental valley)

Gear & Mountain condition

The Tanzkogel summits are easy hiking summits and require good hiking gear.

• Hiking poles and gaiters can be useful in late spring and late autumn.

Tanzkogel summits are easy ski tours, too, nevertheless long ones. They are done in winter and early springtime.

• You need full ski tour gear and avalanche gear.
• See the avalanche bulletin here.

Valley weather Kirchberg / Tirol

Mountain weather Großer Tanzkogel

Maps

Alpenvereinskarte 1 : 50.000;

Kitzbüheler Alpen West, Nr. 34/1, Deutscher Alpenverein, 2010; - topo map with trails

Alpenvereinskarte 1 : 50.000;

Kitzbüheler Alpen West, Nr. 34/1 S, Deutscher Alpenverein, 2010; - topo map with ski routes

Austrian Topo Maps:

Österreichische Karte 1 : 50.000 - UTM (ÖK50): number 3219, Neukirchen am Großvenediger

Floral Impression