The fascination of the mountains

Mountain experience in the Hohe Tauern National Park

Wide glaciers, steep flanks, green mountain lakes, impressive waterfalls and in between a dense network of hiking trails and mountain paths - these are just waiting to be walked and experienced by you. Hiking in the Hohe Tauern National Park, a journey of discovery in Austria's most impressive natural area.

Myth of the Großglockner

Alpine dream on the roof of Austria at 3,798 m

It is the undisputed symbol of Austrian mountaineering dreams, the Grossglockner. The tour to its 3,798 m high summit and the country's most famous summit cross is not only long and high, it is also technically demanding and therefore not suitable for those with a basic level of mountaineering ability. Many paths lead up and many steep slopes lead down again.

Discover the roof of Austria in the beautiful Hohe Tauern National Park.

Make your dream come true ...

... and climb the roof of Austria with us. You have the choice of normal ascents, ridge ascents or a tour through the impressive north face; your ability and experience determine the route. Local mountain guides and experts on the Grossglockner will take you under their wing and bring you safely to the summit and back down again. Take your time, there are several huts along the way and the tour is far too beautiful to conquer in just one day.

THE mountain of dreams

Many people know its silhouette: whether from various photo motifs with the pilgrimage church of St. Vinzenz in Heiligenblut or from the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe with the Pasterze in the foreground. The fact is: Austria's highest mountain acts like a magnet for mountaineers from all over the world. It was first climbed on July 28, 1800 by the Klotz brothers, Pastor Horasch and a certain Mr. Stanig.

What do you think: "Will you also follow the pioneers?"

The path to summit victory ...

... leads for many via the normal route through the Leitertal to the Salmhütte, which is reached after approx. 4-5 hours. After a comfortable night, the route leads over the Hohenwarterkees and the western rock flank to the Hohenwarterscharte and on over the Salmkamp to the Erzherzog-Johann-Hütte. From here, "only" 360 m separate us from the summit, but it is a tough climb. Via fixed belay points, the route in grade II difficulty leads over the up to 40° steep Glocknerleitl to the Kleinglockner and over the exposed Glocknerscharte up to the long-awaited summit cross.

Normal route, ridge or north face

The well-known ridge climbs and the north face require the highest level of mountaineering skills and a lot of experience. The majority of Glockner aspirants plan an ascent via the normal routes from Heiligenblut or Kals or via the Hofmannskees starting from the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe. Names such as Meletzkigrat, Stüdlgrat, Nordwestgrat, Pallavicini Rinne or Mayerlrampe will make real mountaineers' eyes water. Those who are up for it can look forward to alpine highlights.

The huts on the way to the Großglockner

The Salmhütte at 2,638 m above sea level is your base if you are tackling the Grossglockner from the Heiligenblut side. Managed from mid-June to mid-September, the Salmhütte offers 50 beds. The Stüdlhütte is located at 2,802 m in the Fanatscharte and welcomes you if you want to climb the Glockner from Kals. There are over 100 beds available from the end of June to mid-October. The most important base on the way up is the Erzherzog-Johann-Hütte on the Adlersruhe at 3,454 m. From the end of June to the end of September, 120 beds offer rest and relaxation before the summit conquest.

Checklist - Challenges on the way to the Grossglockner

Climbing & via ferrata

"Vertical" experiences in the Hohe Tauern National Park

Hiking is all well and good, but walking on stone and rock doesn't entice us out from behind the stove. We want to go vertical and preferably with breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. The Hohe Tauern provide the best terrain for various vertical adventures. Be it on a sport climbing tour in the climbing garden, on epic via ferratas or on high alpine summit climbs.

Would you like to take on a vertical challenge yourself? Here you get a small overview of via ferratas in the Hohe Tauern National Park

Climbing gardens in the Hohe Tauern

Bombproof rock and wonderful conditions for sport climbing characterize the climbing gardens in the Hohe Tauern National Park. The Danielsberg is located in Mölltal and is home to a wonderful climbing garden with 30 routes in difficulty levels IV - IX. The Arthur-von-Schmidhaus climbing center even has up to 50 routes with difficulty levels III - IX. In the area of the disused Reißeck cable car there is a climbing garden with 12 routes of difficulty levels III - VI.

Climbing adventure in the Hochalmspitze area

The beautifully shaped Hochalmspitze is rightly known as the Tauern Queen. The Detmolder Grat is a challenging but thoroughly rewarding route to the striking summit. The tour is demanding and requires via ferrata experience as well as swift, safe movement in rocky terrain up to grade I-II. Walking on snow and firn should also be no problem, not to mention a good deal of stamina to reach this fantastic summit. However, those who make it will be rewarded with a breathtaking panorama.

Via ferratas - vertical routes for everyone

Anyone who says sport climbing must also say via ferrata. No other alpine sport has enjoyed as much popularity in recent years as via ferrata climbing. However, many people often underestimate the fact that these are also alpine playgrounds where skill and experience are important components. The Säuleck south face climb with its D and E sections is a real challenge. The practice via ferratas at the Arthur-von-Schmidhaus climbing center or at the Reißeck hut are easier. In the Möllschlucht gorge near Heiligenblut, a via ferrata with C and D sections awaits you, leading along the "wild waters" of the Möll through an impressive gorge. The Pirknerklamm gorge in the Drautal valley offers a great, not too difficult via ferrata with easy C sections. The highlight is the passage at the Rainbow Falls, where you climb directly above the thundering masses of water.

Top 5 via ferratas in the Hohe Tauern

Indoor climbing - fun for young and old

The Mühldorf climbing hall is located at the gateway to the Mölltal valley and the Hohe Tauern National Park region - directly on the B106 main road. As one of the largest climbing gyms in Carinthia, the Mühldorf climbing hall offers a climbing paradise on more than 1,250m² and over 110 routes. 5 self-belaying machines ensure that not only professionals, but also beginners and those interested can get their money's worth at any time. In the colorfully designed children's fun area, even the youngest children can playfully get to grips with climbing and live out their natural urge to move.

The adjoining bistro with sun terrace invites you to relax and enjoy yourself. The Mühldorf climbing hall offers a wide range of courses, workshops and events (e.g. children's birthday parties, company events).