The Hörndlwand is the most striking peak between Ruhpolding and Reit im Winkl, its jagged rocky tooth rising unmistakably above the Chiemgau Alps. It's a rewarding climb for sure-footed hikers who want a taste of alpine terrain without needing technical climbing skills - though a rope-and-harness challenge awaits those who want it.

The summit view ranks among the finest in this part of the Chiemgau Alps: the Staufen, the Berchtesgaden Alps and the Sonntagshorn to the east, the Dürrnbachhorn, Loferer Steinberge, Steinplatte and Kaiser mountains to the south, the Geigelstein and Mangfall mountains to the west, and the Hochgern, Lake Chiemsee and Hochfelln to the north. The north face plunges over 200 metres and draws sport climbers, while the southern approaches offer gentler hiking terrain. Three summit crosses mark the top, one of which - on the east summit - can only be reached by climbing.

• Seehaus (between Ruhpolding and Reit im Winkl) - via the Branderalm, about 2.5 hours, moderate difficulty
• From Seehaus via the Hörndlalm and the north ridge (Jägersteig, partly exposed), about 2.5 hours, for sure-footed hikers

• The route requires sure-footedness and a head for heights on exposed ridge sections
• Several sport climbing routes run up the 200-metre-high north face
• Longer alternative approaches start from Lake Lödensee, Lake Weitsee and the village of Urschlau
• A chairlift from Ruhpolding runs up to the Unternberg, the starting point of another route

The mountain sits right next to one of the major tectonic boundaries of the Northern Limestone Alps, where the Tyrolean nappe thrusts over the Bavarian nappe - a fascinating piece of geology hikers walk right past on the way up.