From Scharnitz to the Große Arnspitze

Directly at the northern town sign of Scharnitz, a sign "Arnspitze" indicates the start of the route. We cross a bridge and immediately come to a fork in the path. Here we continue straight ahead following another sign "Große Arnspitze". Initially, the path is pleasantly flat, then somewhat steeper on a forest road through mixed mountain forest uphill. The forest road ends at a turning area; here we follow a narrow footpath marked with red dots half left. Steeper and flatter sections alternate; the path is not heavily worn, so in autumn, after the leaves have fallen, you have to orient yourself well on the mostly tree-mounted red markings. After a short rocky section, be careful not to go straight but follow the signpost "Arnspitze" to the right. After just over an hour, the path crosses into the wide gully known as Hasellähne. On the side to the left in travel direction, it continues uphill through the dwarf pine zone. Soon the switchbacks climb a gravel area and then turn slightly south. Always through dense dwarf pine terrain, we gain altitude and reach a ledge where we meet the path coming from Mittenwald (see alternative descent).

Continuing southwest towards a small saddle. Before reaching it, a short detour to the unmanaged Arnspitzhütte (2:15 hrs from the starting point) is highly recommended for a snack. From the hut, we return to our ascent path and towards the mentioned saddle with a wayside shrine. Here, the path turns right and gains more height in steep switchbacks through rocky dwarf pine slopes. We circumvent a rocky outcrop, cross into a wide gully, and climb through it to its end. Here we turn right, use our hands at a short rock step, and shortly after stand on the nearly 2200-meter-high summit (1 hr from the hut).

The descent follows the same path. (2:30 hrs from the summit)

Descent variant: For those using public transport, the following alternative is recommended. On the same path, descend to the fork with the sign "Mittenwald". Here turn left and cross long below the Achterköpfe to the north until you reach a scenic ridge at Riedkopf. Descend via this ridge to the Riedbergscharte. Here turn right and continue descending steeply through the forest in many switchbacks. Eventually, the path flattens and crosses north to a forest road, which leads to a paved road. Always follow this in a northern direction to soon reach the main road and then the center of Mittenwald, where the train station is located on the right (approx. 3:15 hrs from the summit).