Circumnavigate Austria's highest mountain – the Grossglockner
Hiking Collection by Tamara (wandert)
9
Tours
53:48 h
80.2 mi
24,000 ft
The Großglockner is Austria's highest mountain at 3,798 meters and offers many superlatives. Beneath its mighty peak the Pasterze Glacier spreads out and the famous Hochalpenstrasse attracts numerous visitors every year. But you don't always have to climb it, you can also walk around the striking peak and admire it from all sides. A wonderful way to experience the unique nature of the Hohe Tauern National Park.
In seven stages, the about 100 kilometers long Glockner Round Trail leads you over scenic high altitude paths, to picturesque alpine pastures and dreamlike lakes. Some sections are challenging, and some passages are secured with a rope. For this you will be rewarded with fascinating views of the Grossglockner and the surrounding mountain world. The starting point of the long-distance hiking trail is at the Mooserboden reservoir. From there you hike through the impressive landscape of the National Park, where you can meet ibex and groundhogs. Turquoise mountain lakes and clear streams along the way offer you not only countless photo motives but also refreshing resting places. You spend the nights either in rustic huts or in idyllic mountain villages like Kals. Through three provinces - Tyrol, Carinthia and Salzburg - you will travel around the striking summit of the Grossglockner until you reach your destination at the top station of the Kaprun Glacier Cableways.
For the ascent of the Glockner Round Trail, alpine experience, sure-footedness and a good physical condition for the sometimes long stages are necessary. I also recommend that you bring hiking poles for the long descents and pay attention to snow fields that can last long into the summer. For the fifth and sixth stage you can choose between two variants: Either you hike from the Salm hut via the traditional Glocknerhaus to Fusch (5a and 6a) or you choose the path via the idyllic village of Heiligenblut (5b and 6b). From Kaprun you reach the starting point at Mooserboden with the post bus line 660, which takes you to the valley station of the Laerchenwald lift, which takes you up to the reservoir. The end point of the seventh stage is also reached by the post bus line 660.
You can find more information on the bus connections at salzburg-verkehr.at/downloads/regionalbus-660-zell-am-see-kaprun-kitzsteinhorn.
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Last updated: March 9, 2023
Tours
- 05:447.80 mi1.4 mph2,875 ft2,025 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
The first stage of the Glockner tour in the Hohe Tauern starts at the Mooserboden reservoir. You walk over the 107-meter-high and almost 500-meter-long dam, which holds back incredible amounts of water. Along the shimmering blue lake it goes towards Kapruner Törl. The ascent is partly steep, but it pays…
- 06:468.39 mi1.2 mph3,125 ft1,975 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
After a relaxing night in the Rudolfshütte you start the second day with a fantastic view of the Weißsee. The ascent to the Kalser Tauern begins right on the southern shore of the lake, where a wooden summit cross including a summit book awaits you. You look back at the shimmering lakes and the Rudolfsh…
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- 05:409.17 mi1.6 mph775 ft5,125 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
The majority of the third stage leads downhill, so have your hiking poles ready. After a hearty breakfast at the Sudetendeutsche Hütte you hike east and follow the Sudetendeutsche Höhenweg. The 3,000-meter-high summit of the Kendlspitze rises next to you. At these heights, the sky seems very close and…
- 07:219.74 mi1.3 mph4,875 ft600 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
At the beginning of the fourth day of the Glockner tour, you will walk along the Ködnitzbach from the tranquil Kals. An impressive highlight awaits you after just the first kilometer: you can't miss the 100-meter suspension bridge over the Ködnitztal. After a brief thrill on the bridge, you head into…
- 03:074.50 mi1.4 mph475 ft2,175 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
The fifth stage of the Glockner tour can be done in two ways: either you go from the Salmhütte via the Stockerscharte to the Glocknerhaus, as described here, or from the Salmhütte through the Leitertal to Heiligenblut (stage 5b). Both versions are relatively short compared to the other stages and offer…
- 04:378.07 mi1.7 mph175 ft4,575 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
The fifth stage of the Glockner tour can be done in two variants: Variant 5a leads you from the Salmhütte to the Glocknerhaus, variant 5b, as described here, from the Salmhütte to Heiligenblut. Both are relatively short compared to the other stages and offer time for some relaxation in the Carinthian…
- 08:2914.8 mi1.7 mph2,100 ft6,475 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
The sixth stage of the Glockner tour is again held in two variants. Depending on whether you chose the stage destination Glocknerhaus or Heiligenblut the day before, you start from different points.
Variant 6a begins at the Glocknerhaus and initially leads you up the Klagenfurt anniversary path to the…
- 04:487.11 mi1.5 mph4,500 ft450 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
When you have completed the fifth stage of the Glockner tour in Heiligenblut, you will hike along the 6b route the next day. You start in the village of Heiligenblut and have the choice between the ascent with the mountain railway or the ascent on foot to the Schareck. You then cover the last stretch…
- 07:1610.7 mi1.5 mph5,125 ft4,775 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
After a night in idyllic Fusch, the seventh stage of the Glockner tour starts with the ascent to the Hirzbachalm. On quiet forest trails you hike through the Hohe Tauern National Park and reach the unmanaged alpine pasture, where you can take a breather.
Then follow the route over idyllic alpine pastures…
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Collection Stats
- Tours9
- Distance80.2 mi
- Duration53:48 h
- Elevation24,000 ft
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