Glockturm, Alpine summit in Tyrol, Austria.

Glockturm is a 3,353 m mountain in the Ötztal Alps of Tyrol, Austria, the highest summit of the north-south Glockturmkamm ridge. It drops steeply to the northwest, west and southwest but falls away gently to the east, where the Rifflferner glacier climbs its flank to about 3,300 m.

The Glockturm was first climbed in 1853 by an officer named Pöltinger during the military survey of Tyrol. The first tourist ascent followed in 1870, when Pastor Franz Senn from Vent and mountain guide Gabriel Spechtenhauser reached the summit via the south side.

Local mountain guides shape the climbing culture here, sharing their knowledge of routes and conditions with those who attempt the ascent. This expertise reflects a tradition of alpinism that remains active and passed through experience rather than formality.

Reaching the summit requires advanced climbing skills and specialized gear such as ice axes and ropes. Most climbers start from a nearby mountain shelter and should plan for several hours of strenuous effort.

The Glockturm lies entirely in Austrian Tyrol, not on the Austria-Italy border; it is the highest summit of the Glockturmkamm ridge in the Ötztal Alps. Its east flank carries the Rifflferner glacier, which climbs to about 3,300 m, while the Glockturmferner below the western summit has shrunk to a minor firn field.