Until its first ascent, the Santnerspitze was known as the Große Schlernzacken and was considered unconquerable. The Tyrolean alpinist and explorer of the Dolomites Johann Santner (1840-1912) was the first to climb the mountain in 1880, which was eventually named after him.
Today it is considered a classic among the Dolomite routes, the normal route leads over the north face and over the ridge to the summit. The climbing tour is not very difficult, but relatively long: 1,500 metres in altitude have to be conquered, including 800m of climbing (20 pitches). The 5-hour tour starts at the Schlernbödele hut, or in Bad Ratzes, at 1,693 metres above sea level.
The descent follows an endless abseil slope.
