Hochiss
2,299 m
Austria
- Elevation
- 2,299 m
- Prominence
- 1,359 m
- Difficulty
- 3/10
- Mountain hike
- Best Season
- Jul–Sep
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1The quickest way up the highest peak of the Rofan: from the top of the Rofanseilbahn above Maurach (about 1,840 m), past the Erfurter Hütte and the Mauritzalm, up a short cabled slope to a grassy plateau, across the Spieljoch's west face to the Gamshals saddle and along the ridge to the summit. About 470 m of ascent, 1½ hours up.
Elevation Profile
- Distance
- 3.4 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +571 m
- −96 m lost on the way up
- High Point
- 2,302 m
- Time Up
- 2h 31m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 1h 53m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
From the Rofanseilbahn top station walk a few minutes to the Erfurter Hütte (1,834 m) and head north down into a hollow, going straight on at the junction to the Mauritzalm (about 1,840 m). Just beyond, take the left, upper fork signed to the Hochiss and Spieljoch. The path bends right around the foot of the Gschöllkopf, climbs a rugged slope with a wire rope, and zigzags up to a grassy plateau. At the junction bear slightly right (signed 'Hochiss, Spieljoch') and cross the plateau north-east, with the Dalfazer Wände on the left, to the foot of the Spieljoch's west face. Pass the turn-off for the Spieljoch and Seekarlspitze and swing left, zigzagging up to the Gamshals, the saddle between the Hochiss and the Spieljoch. Turn west along the grassy ridge, take a short rope-protected step down, climb steep scree to the ridge between the Streichkopf and the Hochiss and follow it right to the summit cross. The north side drops vertically: keep away from the edge. Descend the same way (about 1¼ hours), or make a loop westwards over the Streichkopf: a cabled traverse, the Rotes Klamml (a short, steep, polished gully with cables), the Streichkopfgatterl, the Steinernes Tor (1,955 m) and the Dalfazalm (1,693 m), then back east to the top station in about 1 hour. Allow about 2½ hours for this descent and check the last cable car (17:00, or 17:30 in high summer, 2026).
Start
Rofanseilbahn Bergstation1,827 m
- Rofanseilbahn, Maurach – Rofan (summer 2026: 25 April – 8 November)
- Train to Jenbach, bus 8332 to 'Maurach Rofanseilbahn Talstation', then the Rofanseilbahn to the top station.
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rofanseilbahn Bergstation → Hochiss | 3.4 | 571 | 96 | 2h 31m |
Waypoints
- Lift: Rofanseilbahn Bergstation1,827 m
- Hut: Erfurter Hütte1,827 m
- Waypoint: Mauritzalm1,824 m
Take the upper (left) fork towards Hochiss and Spieljoch just beyond the alm
- Feature: Gschöllkopf1,937 m
Path passes round its foot, then up a short cabled slope
- Summit: Hochiss2,299 m
Key Passages
- Short wire-rope slope above the Gschöllkopf
- Gamshals saddle
- Rope-protected step and steep scree to the Streichkopf–Hochiss ridge
- North-facing cliff edge at the summit
Equipment
0/4 packedDownloads
Route confidence 80%Overview
The highest summit of the Rofan (Brandenberg Alps), a limestone peak above the Achensee in Tyrol. With the Rofanseilbahn from Maurach it is a 1½-hour T3 walk from the Erfurter Hütte, finishing on a ridge above a vertical north face.
The Hochiss (2,299 m) is the high point of the compact Rofan group between the Achensee and the Brandenberg valley in North Tyrol. From the south it looks like a grassy dome above the plateau around the Erfurter Hütte; to the north it breaks off in a sheer limestone face. With a prominence of over 1,350 m it stands well clear of its neighbours and gives a wide view over the Karwendel, the Zillertal Alps, the Hohe Tauern, the Kaiser mountains and the Bavarian Prealps.
The Rofanseilbahn from Maurach does most of the work, lifting walkers to about 1,840 m. From there the normal route is a well-used, signposted mountain path with a couple of short wire-rope sections and some steep scree near the top. A popular loop returns west over the Streichkopf, the cabled Rotes Klamml gully and the Dalfazalm above the Achensee.
It is a busy summit on fine summer weekends, suitable for sure-footed walkers. The other Rofan tops (Spieljoch, Seekarlspitze, Rofanspitze, Haidachstellwand) and the 5-Gipfel-Klettersteig are close by, and are easily combined with the Hochiss on a long day.
Climbing Notes
Fitness for 500–600 m of ascent and sure-footedness on steep, sometimes polished limestone are enough in summer; the Rotes Klamml on the loop is the trickiest section and is slippery when wet. Keep away from the north edge at the summit. Without the cable car, add about 2–2¾ hours from Maurach (960 m) to the Erfurter Hütte.
The cable car runs from late April to early November (25 April – 8 November in 2026; last runs at 17:00, or 17:30 from mid-June to mid-September), so a day trip is straightforward. The Erfurter Hütte, Mauritzalm and Dalfazalm all serve food in summer. Snow can lie on the upper path into June and returns in October, when the scree and the cabled steps become slippery.
Season
Best Jul–Sep- January: Not advisable
- February: Not advisable
- March: Not advisable
- April: Not advisable
- May: Possible
- June: Good
- July: Best (best window)
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Best (best window)
- October: Good
- November: Possible
- December: Not advisable
- Jan
- Winter; Rofan ski area; summit only for experienced winter mountaineers
- Feb
- Winter conditions
- Mar
- Winter conditions; avalanche risk on steep slopes
- Apr
- Cable car summer season starts late April; snow on the upper slopes
- May
- Snow patches on the northern sections; Erfurter Hütte opens at Whitsun
- Jun
- Mostly clear of snow by late June
- Jul
- Main season; busy at weekends; afternoon thunderstorms
- Aug
- Main season
- Sep
- Often stable weather
- Oct
- Erfurter Hütte closes mid-October; early snow possible
- Nov
- Cable car runs until early November (8 November in 2026); snow and ice likely
- Dec
- Winter conditions
Access & Permits
- Hut Booking
- Erfurter Hütte: online via hut-reservation.org or by phone (+43 5243 5517); only needed for an overnight stay.
- Fees
- Rofanseilbahn summer 2026: adult return EUR 30.50, up only EUR 26, down only EUR 19.50
- Rules
- Last cable car descent at 17:00 (17:30 from mid-June to mid-September in 2026); otherwise walk down about 2 hours to Maurach
- Dogs at the Erfurter Hütte must be arranged in advance
- Getting There
Maurach am Achensee (Tyrol)
Innsbruck (INN); Munich (MUC)
- Train to Jenbach, then Postbus 8332 to 'Maurach Rofanseilbahn Talstation'
- By car: A12 exit Wiesing, B181 to Maurach; from Munich via Tegernsee and the Achen Pass; park at the Rofanseilbahn valley station
- Rofanseilbahn from Maurach to the top station at about 1,840 m
Hazards
- Exposure
- Weather
Huts & Shelters
1- 1,834 m
Erfurter HütteHutStaffed
84 beds · Whitsun to mid-October; Christmas to Easter