Glocknerrunde circuit

Located in the heart of the 1,856 sq.km Hohe Tauern National Park which contrasts impressive, glacier-covered high alpine scenery with an alpine farming landscape carefully cultivated for centuries, the Glockner Circuit offers a unique nature and walking experience.

Each day’s stage of the Grossglockner Circuit takes you along existing paths and mountain trails. When designing the trekking route, care was taken to ensure that no glaciers had to be crossed or rock sections negotiated with ropes. Nevertheless, the Glockner Circuit does take you right into high alpine country with corresponding risks and hazards! In addition to good equipment and a close eye on the weather situation, alpine experience, fitness and surefootedness are basic requirements for completing the circuit safely while also enjoying it. For each day’s stage, you will need to be able to cope with altitude differences totalling up to 3,000 m (ascents anddescents) and a total walking time (not counting breaks!) of up to 8 hours.

It is imperative that less experienced mountain hikers are accompanied by a guide while completing the GlocknerCircuit. Even deep into summer (July!), crossing the hard-packed remains of old snowfields, particularly those located in deeply eroded gullies, presents a significant danger. Crampons or instep crampons are indispensable at this time of the year!

At the end of each day’s walk, mountain shelters or alpine inns beckon to rest, eat and get a good night’s sleep. Alpine huts are equipped and operated only with the basic essentials because of the difficulties in bringing in supplies and disposing of waste, the altitude, the extreme climate and the often long ascents! After any stage of the walk, you have the opportunity to leave the Glockner Circuit and walk down to the National Park villages of Kaprun, Uttendorf, Kals, Heiligenblut or Fusch to spend the night in a guesthouse, inn or hotel.

Walking around the majestic Grossglockner not only links the three states of Carinthia, Salzburg, and Tirol, it also represents the mutual cause of protecting the unique natural environment in the Hohe Tauern National Park. The Austrian Alpine Association, German Alpine Club and Hohe Tauern National Park wish you unforgettable and safe days exploring the nature and mountains when walking around the Grossglockner!

• Brochure "Glocknertrail (Glocknerrunde)"