Grossglockner: Driving And Hiking With Breathtaking Views

The Grossglockner mountain is the most astounding mountain in Austria. It is simply jaw-dropping. We were in awe of this magnificent place, even if it was a cloudy and rainy experience for us. I can only dream of seeing this place on a sunny day with no clouds blocking the majestic peak.

Grossglockner, or Großglockner in german, is the highest mountain in Austria at 3,798 (12,461 ft) and the highest in the eastern Alps.

Grossglockner High Alpine Road

The Grossglockner High Alpine Road is the highest mountain pass in Austria. Although there are some higher roads, they are all dead ends. The Grossglockner pass has an entrance tax you must pay, but the road is wide and well maintained, with lots of parking spaces and viewing points. We are not big fans of paying to view nature because nature is. Nobody made it to be endorsed for money. However, being able to drive up there and cross the mountains is a totally different thing.

There are numerous picnic tables along the road with breathtaking views. Pack some food with you if you fancy a picnic, but we suggest enjoying it at a lower altitude, not all the way at the top where it is colder and probably windier.

I went there in shorts, but I changed them with some long pants a few hours later. Yes, hours, take your time, and don’t rush because the beauty of this place deserves a lot of time. We even did a hike, which we’ll talk about in a few minutes.

We’ve been there at the beginning of July, so the snow was not completely melted, but in some places, we found the snow surprisingly high. The temperature was somewhere between 10 and 15 degrees Celsius (50-60 Fahrenheit) on a cloudy and rainy day.

The Grossglockner road is usually open between late April - early May and October. The road is cleared of snow, but if the temperatures get to freezing level, then it might snow, or frost might develop on the road. Winter tires are only mandatory in Austria starting with the 1st of November, however, most rental cars will equip their cars with all-season tires, which are perfectly fine. You can always check the road conditions on the official website.

From the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, there are 2 side roads: Edelweißspitze and Kaiser Franz Josefs Höhe. They are both dead ends, so you will have to return to the Grossglockner road on the same way. They are not a long detour, and the time is well worth it.

Edelweißspitze

Edelweißspitze is even higher than the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, and it has magnificent breathtaking views.

Kaiser Franz Josefs Höhe Road

Note: If you put Kaiser Franz Josefs Höhe in Google Maps for directions, it might not take you where it should. We recommend adding the parking near the end of the road for directions: Parkhaus Kaiser Franz Josefs Höhe.

This road takes you closer to the Pasterze glacier, the largest one in Austria, but unfortunately, it is melting very fast. There’s a funicular that takes you down a considerable distance from where you can walk closer and see the glacier. Unfortunately, that is still not very close because of the melting. We’ve been there during the pandemic, and the funicular was not working. We hiked in the area, and the funicular would have saved us a considerable ascent.

Even if the funicular doesn’t work and you don’t plan to take the stairs, getting to this place is still worth it. You can still see the glacier, ice on the mountain peaks with a blue tint, and some turquoise glacier lakes, including the dam that you can walk on when hiking. Keep your eyes open for marmots as well.

Don’t rush to get to the parking though. There still are things to see on the Kaiser Franz Josefs Höhe road like the beautiful lake below:

Hike the Pasterze Glacier Trail

We didn’t plan to do a hike when we started driving on this mountain pass. However, the landscapes were so awe-inspiring that we couldn’t resist the call. We geared up (luckily we had our hiking gear in the car with us). and headed on this magnificent trail that we recommend every nature lover to do while driving the Grossglockner.

Pasterze Glacier Trail Grossglockner Alpine Mountain Hike, Austria

The Pasterze Glacier Trail was one of the most beautiful hikes we did, mostly thanks to the astonishing landscapes that surrounded us all the time.

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Fuscher Lacke

There are numerous stops that you can make on the Grossglockner High Alpine Road. Don’t rush, take your time and enjoy this magical landscape as much as you can. Fuscher Lacke is just one of the main beautiful spots along the road.

If you fancy a swim in the ice-cold water, then this might be a good place. Some guys were just going in the water when we got there, and you can see them in the photos below.

Lienz

South of the Grossglockner High Alpine Road there’s a small town of Lienz. There’s not much to do in it, but a good place if you want to stretch your legs, grab something to eat or a coffee.

I hope that by now I’ve managed to convince to visit this magnificent place because it should be a must-see while traveling in Europe and in Austria. It is easy accessible by car, safe and simply breathtaking.

If you’re planning a trip to Austria and you are looking for more ideas and awe-inspiring places and experiences, then check out our other articles about this country:

Austria

Austria is the underdog of Europe. It is a country where historic cities, wine, lakes, mountains, and alpine roads will leave you speachless.

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It takes a lot of planning for the perfect trip, but packing can sometimes be frustrating. Either packing too many things or packing too few can ruin a bit of the fun. We've perfected our travel packing checklist over the years, and we believe it will be of good use for you too. We also have some travel packing tips & tricks to share to save you the hustle we once had.