Even today, the Großer Bärenkopf can only be reached as part of a serious high mountain tour with appropriate equipment and experience of glaciers. The present normal route was first used in 1871 and has proved to be the easiest climb. Possible bases for the tour include the Heinrich Schwaiger Haus at 2,802 metres, the Mooserbodens above it and to the east, or the Oberwalder Hut (2,973 m), northwest and above Franz Josefs Höhe. From the Oberwalder Hut the route runs in a northerly direction as a serious glacier trail across the Wasserfallwinkel and the Bockkarkees to the Keilscharte col, then heads east along the west arête to the summit of the Großer Bärenkopf. In the Gruberscharte col, in the north arête of the peak, lies a bothy at 3,100 metres with 9 emergency beds. From the hut the ascent takes about 3 hours according to the literature. The west arête requires gentle climbing at UIAA grade I. Since 1925 the south arête has also been used as an alternative route and is classified as UIAA grade II. Climbing routes used in 1925 by Hubert Peterka and Hans Majer up the southwest face are rarely used today due to the dangers involved.