It is separated from Austria's highest peak, the neighbouring Großglockner, by the col known as the Untere Glocknerscharte (3596 m).

The mountain lies on the boundary between East Tyrol and Carinthia.

The Glocknerwand is a massive, fan-shaped mountain, that has very steep, over 400-metre-high (1,300 ft) rock faces to the southwest and northeast.

The summit region is covered with thick snowdrifts, that make its ascent dangerous and unpredictable.

The towers of the Glocknerwand are therefore considered the most difficult summits to climb in the entire Glockner Group.