Ruderhofspitze is the fourth highest peak in the Stubai Alps, prized for its topographic isolation and sweeping all-round views. Thanks to its striking profile and the nearly two-kilometre-long Grawawand ridge trailing off to the east, it stands out as one of the most visited summits in the whole Stubai region.

The mountain is ringed by glaciers on every side - the Grawawandferner to the southeast, the Ruderhofferner to the south, the expansive Alpeiner Ferner to the west, and the Hochmoosferner reaching almost to the summit cross itself from the north. This makes climbing Ruderhofspitze a genuine high-alpine glacier tour rather than a simple hike, demanding proper equipment and glacier experience. From the top, views stretch to the mighty Schrankogel, the group's highest peak, separated by the Alpeiner Ferner glacier.

How to reach the summit

• Franz Senn Hut (2,147 m) — the route heads southwest along the Alpeiner Bach to the Alpeiner Ferner glacier, then crosses the heavily crevassed ice south and later east into the glacier bay below the summit; high-alpine, demanding
• New Regensburg Hut — via the Grawagrubennieder notch and the Grawawandferner glacier, about an hour shorter but no easier

Good to know

• The final stretch crosses a firn field to the rocky summit block, finishing with an easy climb to the highest point
• One approach option crosses the steep WSW flank on fixed ropes, negotiating the bergschrund with some rockfall risk
• A longer but easier alternative follows the long SSW arête from the upper Hölltalscharte notch

The first ascent took place on 30 August 1864, made by a party that included the son of the famous guidebook publisher Karl Baedeker - it took them more than eight hours to reach the top.