The Rosshorn rises to 3068 m in the Rieserfern Group of East Tyrol, right near the Austrian-Italian border. It has no summit cross, and most hikers tackle it as a bonus peak on the way to the nearby Lenkstein - a rewarding little detour for those chasing extra summits.

The name Rosshorn comes from a nearby alpine pasture once used for grazing horses. The terrain here is classic Rieserfern granite country - boulder-strewn slope terraces, rocky ledges and wide views over a rugged high-alpine landscape. In summer the grey granite dominates, while in winter and early season old snow can linger on the exposed sections, adding a real alpine feel to the climb.

How to reach the summit

• Barmer Hütte (2610 m), reached via the Patscher Tal - the marked route first descends north to the site of the old hut destroyed by an avalanche, then continues fairly flat across granite boulder fields and the slope terraces of the Rosshornscharte; demanding route requiring good footing
• Via the Bachertal in South Tyrol (a side valley of the Reintal), following various sections of the Arthur-Hartdegen-Weg up to the Lenksteinjoch, using the Kasseler Hütte (also called Hochgallhütte, 2276 m) as a base
• A third option leads via the Fleischbachkees glacier, either through the Seebachtal or along the unmarked path in the Sebltal

Practical information

• The final climb to the Rosshornscharte (2916 m) is secured with steel cables and requires sure footing - extra caution is needed when old snow or wet rock is present
• The Rosshorn has no summit cross
• The peak lies directly on the Austrian-Italian border

Its name is a quiet reminder of the days when horses grazed on the nearby alpine meadows - today it's granite, silence and border-country views that define this summit.