Grasleitenkopf

The Grasleitenkopf rises on the border between Hüttschlag and Bad Gastein in Salzburg’s Hohe Tauern range. Its summit sits at 2 406 m above sea level, overlooking the Ankogel group of the Central Alps. The southern slopes belong to the Hohe Tauern National Park while the northern side lies within the Hüttschlag landscape protection area. Nearby peaks include the Glaserer to the northwest and the Hühnerkarkopf beyond the Bärenscharte to the southeast. The Raffelrinnbach stream begins on its eastern flanks and feeds the Kötschachbach. The mountain’s geology is dominated by granite gneiss and orthogneiss, with clastic sediments on the mid-northern slopes. Below the rocky summit zone, dense Latschen pine scrub covers both north and south faces. South-facing slopes give way to Swiss stone-pine and mixed conifer forests that continue downhill. The Prossauwald nature reserve protects 43 hectares of these varied forest types on the southern lower slopes. A marked trail leads walkers from the Kesselkarhütte in the valley up to the Grasleitenkopf summit. The route passes through the Prossauwald and across open alpine terrain before reaching the final rocky ridge. The Gasteiner Gipfelkranz award recognises hikers who complete all 55 peaks in the Gastein valley circuit.