The origins of the unique landscape at Ahornboden date back to the 17th century. The harsh conditions at the heart of the Karwendel Nature Park in Tyrol mean that the trees grow only slowly; many have already reached their natural lifespan. Every year, 10–15 maple trees are lost (Fladerer E., 2022).

The 52 km route of the Karwendelmarsch from Scharnitz to Pertisau passes through both the Kleinen and the Großer Ahornboden. It has become a tradition for the race winners to plant a new tree each year. Fencing prevents cattle and wildlife from grazing on the young trees.

In 2025, Thomas Roach from the Institute of Botany at the University of Innsbruck managed to break his own course record, completing the route in 3 hours 55 minutes and winning his second tree. Part of Thomas’s research focuses on the role of branch photosynthesis in the physiology of sycamore maples during early spring growth, on which he hopes to publish later this year.