Hölzlestaljoch

Overview

Hölzlestaljoch belongs to the southernmost Pre – Karwendel mountains and rises about 1000 meters above the Rißtal – Eng valley system. Rocks to the north, meadows to the south, Hölzlestaljoch is located between similar looking Grasberg to the east and Fleischbank to the west. A long ridge leads down to the north into Baumgartenbach valley.

Hölzlestaljoch is a rather lonely mountain. Sitting above the traverse trail from Tölzer hut below Schafreiter and Plumsjoch hut, the summit needs a short and steep detour from this traverse trail. The detour will earn you excellent views to Falken group and more high Karwendel mountains and those intimidating northern rock faces of the high Karwendel chains.

A good one day outing is the traverse Grasberg, Hölzlestaljoch and Fleischbank, starting and ending at Rißbach / Eng valley.

Getting There

Best trailheads are two parking areas of Rißbach valley:

• Parking area P4 “Johannestal” and
• Parking area in front of the bridge above Rißbach, called Kreuzbrücke

You reach Rißbach / Eng valley on road B 13 coming from Munich, Bad Tölz and Lenggries or on road B 307 coming from Tegernsee valley. Both roads unite at Sylvenstein dammed lake. Pass by Fall village and arrive at Vorderriß.

The approach from Innsbruck or Garmisch-Partenkirchen area is done by going on road number B 2 to Krün and on B 11 to Wallgau. Take the toll road from Wallgau to Vorderriß.

From Vorderriß proceed on Rißtal Landesstraße to Hinterriß and to the toll station. After the toll station you reach first parking area P 4 and then the parking area Kreuzbrücke in front of the bridge, where Rißtal Landesstraße changes from the north to the south side of Rißbach creek.

Public transportation

The next railway station is Lenggries. Bus number 9569 goes from Lenggries into Rißbach / Eng valley. There is a bus stop at parking area P4 and at parking area Kreuzbrücke

Routes Overview

Routes Overview

From parking area Kreuzbrücke take the small forest road to the right and ascend in zigzags Grasbergjoch and the Alm hut. Turn left there on a trail ascending meadows an the lower part of the Grasberg east ridge. Turn right at a first trail junction and left at a second one. At a third trail junction you can

• either go right and follow first the east ridge up and then the west ridge down Grasberg to the col between Grasberg and Hölzlestaljoch,
• or stay left and follow the traverse trail Tölzer Hütte - Plumsjochhütte to the col between Grasberg and Hölzlestaljoch.

Above the col you have to scrable down some rocks where the traverse trail hits the ridge trail again. There are some steel ropes for extra security. Traverse the broad meadow col and climb the narrow trail on the east ridge to Hölzlestaljoch summit.

The traverse trail Plumsjoch hut to Tölzer hut passes below the Hölzlestaljoch summit on its south side and reaches the col between Hölzlestaljoch and Fleischbank. Turn right there and climb Hölzlestaljoch via its west ridge.

If you want to summit Fleischbank, too, follow the right hand trail steeply up the east ridge of the mountain. First some easy rocks then meadows lead to the summit. The traverse route Plumsjoch hut to Tölzer hut passes below Fleischbank on its south sinde and gains the ridge between Fleischbank and Schöntaljoch west of the Fleischbank summit. Some paces to the west you reach another trail junction. The right hand trail proceeds to Schöntaljoch and to Tölzer hut. The left hand trail zigzags down endlessly to parking area P 4.

The toll road links the two parking areas, allow a 30 minutes foot walk between the two trailheads.

Red Tape & Accommodation

Hölzlestaljoch is part of the “Alpenpark Karwendel”, an important and strictly protected national park. There is no entrance fee for the park but many regulations to follow. There is a National Park Information Center at Hinterriß. Information panels, starting at the parking area of Engalmen, show some interesting features of the Alpenpark Karwendel.

You find accommodation at

Hinterriß

Eng Almen

Camping and Caravans / Motor homes are not allowed within the Alpenpark Karwendel; there are heavy fines!

Gear & Mountain Condition

Hölzlestaljoch is a hiking mountain, accessible from late spring to late autumn, depending on the arrival of the first heavier snow falls. Thus hiking gear is sufficient.

The traverse Grasberg - Hölzlestaljoch west ridge require somes easy rock scrambling.

Weather

Das Wetter in Hinterriß

Maps

DAV map, scale 1 : 25000

number BY12, Karwendelgebirge Nord, Schafreiter

edition 2018, UTM grid, trails and ski / snow shoe routes

Landesamt für Digitalisierung, Breitband und Vermessung, scale 1 : 50000

number LDBV UK 50-51 Umgebungskarte, Karwendel,

edition 2019, UTM grid, trails