Paths for leisurely strolls, exciting educational nature trails & interesting themed paths
Along the Grossglockner High Alpine Road the maxim is that it’s totally up to you how far you go! Or how high … What’s it to be? A leisurely stroll with kith & kin? An extended hike enjoying dreamy views? Or maybe you would prefer a high Alpine tour? All this is possible, after all a network of hiking, natural educational, themed and walking paths spanning kilometre upon kilometre permeate the mountains in the Hohe Tauern National Park, starting right on the Grossglockner High Alpine Road.
We have compiled a few tips for leisurely strolls that start in the immediate vicinity of the Grossglockner High Alpine Road here for you.
Let’s go …
From the Fusch/Ferleiten cashpoint, a path that is suitable for prams, proceeds up to the Oberstattalm in Käfertal. You reach this cosy lodge, complete with extensive marmot play area, in just 20 minutes. A winner for kids!
From Gasthof Tauernhaus Ferleiten (very close to the Ferleiten cashpoint) hike for around 4 km towards the head of the valley. There are various stations and display boards on the path which provide interesting information about the valley. The high point of this adventure path is the water playground. Further information available to read here.
Coming from Salzburg you reach the first station on the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, the Piffkar, at 1620 m altitude. Along with a special exhibition themed ‘Salzburg’s Tallest - the Fascination of Mountains’ and a children’s play area on the theme of panning for gold, immediately behind the building there is an interesting natural history circular hiking path. This takes around 30 minutes to hike and in doing so, you find out lots of interesting information about the vegetation and forest birds in the forest boundary area.
The hike to the Trauneralm proceeds some 45 minutes downhill from the Hochmais information point at 1850m. The lodge is open for business in the summer and is not far from Rotmoos, which is a true natural gem thanks to its rare plants.
Right next to hairpin bend 9 on the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, an impressive, very crooked rocky monolith soars into the sky – the Hexenzahn. After all, the slanted peaks are reminiscent of a crooked tooth in a witch’s mouth. A stop-off in the car park below also invites you to explore the Hexenzahn and the other stone figures in what is known as the ‘Hexenküche’ – from frog, to crocodile, an impressive elephant and a tortoise. Many guests see a few witches’ faces in the weathered rocks too. And occasionally a faint cackle can be heard from the rock crevices …
From Restaurant Fuschertörl a path proceeds up to the Edelweiss Spitze (Edelweiss Peak). After walking for around 30 minutes you reach the highest point of the Grossglockner High Alpine Road at 2571 m. From here, a unique panoramic view opens up from Lake Zell across the entire Grossglockner mountain range.
Fuscher Lacke is a small mountain lake at 2262 metres altitude. There is a circular path around it, which stands out thanks to its views to the rugged rockfalls on one side, and views down into Rauriser Tal on the other. In spring, wonderful floral blooms flourish in the meadows. Tables and benches tempt you to enjoy a break at the banks of the lake. Kids can explore an old wagon and a decommissioned asphalt paver. Don’t miss the ‘Construction of the road’ exhibition in the construction workers’ hut!
On the south side of the Grossglockner, between Gasthaus Schöneck and the Glocknerhaus, is Pockhorner Wiesen. Depending on the season, here at 1953 metres altitude, on an area spanning just 100 m², up to 140 different types of plants thrive and insects, colourful butterflies and the like flutter around! Display boards along the circular hiking path help with identifying flowers, grasses and herbs. A little nature display brings visitors into contact with a vibrant realm of plants and animals.
The Litzlhofalm in Seidlwinkeltal (Rauris) is a tip for those in the know. The finest home-made, organic produce is served in this 130-year old lodge. It takes around 90 minutes to tackle around 600 m ascent. Starting point is the south side of the Mittertörl.
After the turn-off for Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe at the roundabout, at hairpin 3 of the glacier road there is a starting point for a short path to ‘Fallbach’ waterfall. Allow around 30 minutes walking time for the return journey – and of course time to relax at the waterfall …
Key informations for your excursion
Attentively out and about in Alpine pasture areas
The Grossglockner High Alpine Road proceeds through areas of extensive Alpine pasture – in part right through meadows. For that reason, you should pay particular attention while driving your car, motorbike and while cycling, and travel at an appropriately leisurely speed. And when you are out and about on foot on the hiking paths around the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, keep in mind that you might encounter freely roaming grazing animals, such as cows or sheep, and maybe even wild animals! A few tips of what you ought to pay heed to during your excursion can be found here.
View-packed hikes provide high alpine adventures A few suggestions for view-packed hiking routes starting in the immediate vicinity of the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, in part proceeding through high Alpine terrain, can be found here:
on the panorama path from Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe to the Kaiserstein
Every day from the mid of July until the end of September at 10:30 am and 1:30 pm, National Park rangers accompany guests from Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe via the panorama path up to the Kaiserstein (2498m). This easy, one-hour hike provides an impressive view to the Grossglockner and the Pasterze. With a bit of luck you might encounter marmots on the way, or spy some mighty ibex, who live in a colony above the Wilhelm Swarovski Observatory.
from the Edelweiß Spitze to the Baumgartlkopf
The starting point for this tranquil tour (duration: 2 hours, length: 4.7 km, altitude difference: 785m) is the car park on the summit of the Edelweiss Spitze (2571m). A stunning panorama, with the towering south-east wall of the Wiesbachhorn constantly in view, and almost complete seclusion are key features of this wonderful altitude hike which proceeds along the edge of the Piffkar’s specific conservation area, opening up superb, border-spanning views.
Educational trail "celts, Muleskinners and romans" on the Hochtor
On the ‘Celts, Muleskinners and Romans Path’ you cross the summit on a very old path in around 30 minutes. Historic finds show that people have been crossing the Alps at this point for more than three and a half millennia.
from Hochtor south portal to the Brennkogel
Anyone who would like a quick route to scale a three-thousand metre mountain can start out from the Hochtor south portal, and head for the 3018 metre Brennkogel (duration: 5 ½ hours, length: 8.1 km, altitude difference: 680 m). Next to the Hochtor south portal the educational trail ‘Celts-Muleskinners-Romans’ takes you, in part via staircases, up to the Hochtorsattel (2575 m). You then proceed through a uniquely beautiful mountain landscape, passing a lake, summits, moraines and via a ridge to the Brennkogel.
Glacier path from Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe to the Pasterze
A secured Alpine path (walk time down, approx. 30 mins, up approx. 1 hour) proceeds directly to the Pasterze glacier. Signposts at the edge of path provide striking information about just how much the glacier has melted in the course of time. A section of the path down to the glacier – and back up to Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe again – can also tackled using the historic Gletscherbahn (all information is available here). From the Pasterze, the Pasterzenweg continues to Glocknerhaus (walking time around 1 ½ hours), which is the starting point for many people setting out to tackle the Glockner.
from glacier to sea on the Alpe-Adria-Trail
The Alpe Adria Trail links the three regions of Carinthia, Slovenia and Friuli-Venezia Giulia on 43 stages in total (a stage = approx. 20 km, walk time around 6 hours). This long-distance hiking path proceeds from the foot of the Großglockner through Carinthia’s loveliest mountain and lake area, with no major detours, close to the point where three countries meet – Austria, Italy and Slovenia – continuing to the Adriatic, to Muggia.
hiking-Tip:
In our Grossglockner Shops you will receive a brochure with the loveliest hikes and mountain tours around the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, with detailed route descriptions, lovely photos and valuable information.
Hiking with a National Park Ranger
During a hike with a trained and qualified National Park Ranger you get to explore the Hohe Tauern in a very special way. From July until September, Monday to Friday and often at the weekend too, there are hikes around the Grossglockner. Explore the loveliest places in Austria’s biggest National Park on old pilgrimage routes, mule tracks and mining paths. Guided tours are provided in three difficulty levels, with various themes, even for children aged six and over. The selection ranges from looking for tracks in the forest, to a journey into the Arctic and a visit into the Valley of Vultures. Further information can be found here: