A free-standing limestone ridge straddling the Austria-Germany border above Seefeld and Mittenwald.
Arnspitze Group
The Arnspitze Group is a small but distinctive mountain chain on the border between Austria and Germany, running roughly ten kilometers between the Tyrolean villages of Seefeld in Tirol and Mittenwald, with the Leutasch valley on its western side and the Isar valley near Scharnitz on its east. Although it is geologically linked to the broader Wetterstein Mountains and the Northern Limestone Alps, the chain stands apart as a free-standing, ridge-like massif that rises to over 2,100 meters and is crowned by the Große Arnspitze, its highest peak.
The group has been protected as a nature reserve since 1942, making the Tyrolean portion the oldest nature reserve in the state of Tyrol. The protected landscape combines rugged Wetterstein limestone terrain with quieter forested slopes, traditional alpine footpaths, and a long history of human use that includes historic lead mining at the base of the main summit.
For hikers and climbers, the Arnspitze Group offers a compact mix of ridge traverses, exposed climbing terrain around grade II, and panoramic routes that connect established approaches from Leutasch, Scharnitz, and Mittenwald. The chain's distinct silhouette, its role as a long-protected alpine area, and its position between two well-known alpine regions of Austria and Bavaria together define its identity.
