The Ellmauer Tor is a 2,000-metre high rock saddle in the middle of the

Kaisergebirge The Kaiser Mountains (german: Kaisergebirge, meaning ''Emperor Mountains'') are a mountain range in the Northern Limestone Alps and Eastern Alps. Its main ridges – are the Zahmer Kaiser and south of it the Wilder Kaiser. The mountains are s ...

in the Austrian state of

Tyrol Tyrol (; historically the Tyrole; de-AT, Tirol ; it, Tirolo) is a historical region in the Alps - in Northern Italy and western Austria. The area was historically the core of the County of Tyrol, part of the Holy Roman Empire, Austrian Emp ...

. It is the deepest saddle on the main ridge of the Wilder Kaiser between the ''Ostkaisers

Ackerlspitze At 2,329 metres above sea level, the Ackerlspitze is the second highest peak in the Kaisergebirge range in the east of the Austrian state of Tyrol. The mountain is located in the eastern part of the range, also referred to as the ''Ostkaiser' ...

in the East Kaiser and the

Ellmauer Halt The Ellmauer Halt (2,344 m) is the highest peak in the mountain massif of the ''Wilder Kaiser'' in the Kaiser range (Northern Limestone Alps) in the Austrian state of Tyrol. To the east is the summit of the ''Kapuzenturm'', a striking and is ...

in the Central Kaiser mountains. Because there is a well-used route across the Ellmauer Tor with its unique setting, it is often referred to as the "heart of the Kaiser". From the south, seen from the general direction of

Ellmau Ellmau is a municipality in the district of Kufstein in the Austrian region of Sölllandl. It lies 12 km southeast of Kufstein and 9 km west of Sankt Johann in Tirol. It is located at an elevation of 820 m above sea level. It was ment ...

or Going, it is the distinctive notch in the Kaisergebirge between the

Karlspitzen The Karlspitzen is a twin-peaked mountain in the middle of the Kaisergebirge range of the Northern Limestone Alps in Austria. The two peaks are the northern ''Hintere Karlspitze'' (2,281 m) and the southern ''Vordere Karlspitze'' (2,263 m) with i ...

and the

Goinger Halt The Goinger Halt is a mountain in the Kaisergebirge range in the Northern Limestone Alps in Austria. It has a double summit: a northern top to the rear, the ''Hintere Goinger Halt'' (2,192 metres), and a higher, southern top in front, the ''Vorder ...

Routes

The Ellmauer Tor is the most important and most frequently used crossing in the Wilder Kaiser. On clear summer's days countless climbers walk through here. The most famous way leads from the north, from the

Stripsenjochhaus The Stripsenjochhaus is an Alpine club hut owned by the Kufstein branch of the Austrian Alpine Club in the Kaisergebirge mountain range in the Austrian state of Tyrol. Location The house lies on the Stripsenjoch which forms a bridge between the ...

through the ''Steinerne Rinne'' to the Ellmauer Tor. For this route Alpine experience, secure footing and no fear of heights are indispensable, even though it is well safeguarded. No less popular is the way from the south, from the ''Wochenbrunner Alm'' either via the

Gaudeamus Hut The Gaudeamus Hut (german: Gaudeamushütte) is an Alpine club hut in the Kaisergebirge mountains in Tyrol. It is run by the Main-Spessart section of the German Alpine Club. Reynolds, Kev (2009). ''Walking in Austria'', 1st ed., Cicerone, Milnthor ...

or via the

Grutten Hut The Grutten Hut (german: Gruttenhütte) is an Alpine club hut situated at a height of 1620 metres in the Kaisergebirge in Tyrol, Austria. Reynolds, Kev (2009). ''Walking in Austria'', 1st ed., Cicerone, Milnthorpe, p. 265, . It is owned by the T ...

and the Jubiläumssteig to Ellmauer Tor. This route is easier, but very exposed to the sun. The Tor has an amazing panorama of the surrounding rock scenery and a view south to the

High Tauern The High Tauern ( pl.; german: Hohe Tauern, it, Alti Tauri) are a mountain range on the main chain of the Central Eastern Alps, comprising the highest peaks east of the Brenner Pass. The crest forms the southern border of the Austrian states of S ...

, the highest mountains in Austria. It is also the starting point for ascents of the Goinger Halt and Karlspitzen. In winter, the climb through the Kübel cirque (''Kübelkar'') is one of the most popular ski tours in the region .

External links

Ski tour on the Ellmauer Tor
Kaiser Mountains {{Tyrol-geo-stub