Great parts of the Rieserferner Group, or Vedrette di Ries, are situated on South Tyrolean territory, a small area, however, belongs to East Tyrol in Austria and forms the High Tauern
Image gallery: Rieserferner Group
Although the Rieserferner Group makes up a small part of the Central Alps, this area is an eldorado for experienced alpinists in summer and for ski tourers in winter. The name of the Rieserferner Group derives from the homonymous glacier on the northern slope of the mountain group, located between Mt. Collalto (its highest peak with 3,436 m a.s.l.) and Mt. Nevoso (3,358 m a.s.l.), both situated at the border between Austria and Italy. The Rieserferner Group, along with the Ankogel Group, Goldberg Group, Glockner Group, Schober Group, Kreuzeck Group, Granatspitze Group, Venediger Group and the Villgraten Mountains, form the High Tauern.
Most of the highest peaks of Austria can be found in this 120 km long alpine region. In the High Tauern there's also the High Tauern National Park, the largest protected area of Austria and the entire Alps. The boundaries are formed by the Gola Pass in the north to the Passo Stalle at 2,052 m a.s.l. and along Anterselva to Valdaora in the Val Pusteria in the south. Its foothills reach the town of Brunico. Parts of it are protected in the Vedrette di Ries-Aurina Nature Park which stretches into the Valle Aurina valley. Stunning tours such as the mountain tour to the Rifugio Vedrette di Ries, the hike to the Valle di Rio Molino mountain pasture and - in winter - the ski tour to Mount Sassolungo di Collalto make you experience the beauty of this mountain giants.
- Highest peak: Collalto (3,436 m a.s.l.), first ascent in 1868 by K. Hoffmann, V. Kaltendorff and the alpine guides G. Weiss and H. Oberarzbacher from Riva di Tures
- Most significant mountains: Mt. Nevoso, Mt. Collaspro, Mt. Sassolungo di Collalto, Mt. Cima del Vento Grande
- Area: South Tyrol (Italy) and East Tyrol (Austria)
