Kreuzkopf

The Kreuzkopf is a mountain on the German-Austrian border in the Ammergau Alps, part of the northern Limestone Alps. It stands at 1 910 m above sea level on the Austrian side and 1 909 m on the German side. From the summit walkers look out over the Säuling, the Hoher Straußberg and the Zugspitze massif. To the north the Ochsenälpeleskopf, 1 905 m high, can be reached directly via the Kuhkarjoch. In 2003 a piece of the Neuschwanstein meteorite was found in the Kalbelekar valley south-east of the summit, after it fell on 6 April 2002. The easiest route starts at the Ammerwald Hotel, follows the Schützensteig to the Ammerwaldsattel and then passes the Hirschwängalm and the Kuhkarjoch before the final exposed and steep climb to the top. A shorter way leaves the same hotel and goes west through the Kuhkarbach valley to the Kuhkarjoch. Those coming from Hohenschwangau or Bleckenau take a longer approach to the same col. The ascent can be combined with a tour to the nearby Ochsenälpeleskopf. On the summit visitors find a wide panorama of the northern Limestone Alps. The route through the Hirschwängalm shows alpine meadows and gentle slopes before the climb to the Kuhkarjoch. The Kalbelekar valley below the south-east face is quieter and holds the site where the meteorite fragment was discovered. The crossing to the Ochsenälpeleskopf offers another fine viewpoint without extra effort.