Glacier trail to the Pasterze - discovery tours in the Hohe Tauern

The Pasterze is with a length of eight kilometers not only the longest glacier of Austria, but also of the entire Eastern Alps. The glacier is located directly on the northern slope of the Großglockner and slides down through the Mölltal. Although the glacier has been retreating for years, a visit is still an impressive experience. A hiking trail leads you very close to the glacier and you can clearly feel the icy coldness that emanates from it.

You begin your hike at the Glocknerhaus on the Grossglockner Alpine Road. First, you circle around the Margaritzenstausee and then slowly wander up to the Sandersee. Up here, the melting glacier water naturally accumulates before continuing to the Margaritzen Reservoir. The trail meanders along the shore to the funicular. Here you follow the path uphill to the glacier tongue. If the glacier's ice is too cold for you, you'll hike back to the cable car. Either on foot or by train it goes up to the Kaiser-Franz-Josef-Höhe. From the elevated position you have a great overview of the Pasterze and the surrounding peaks. Above the glacier, the trail continues to climb and with each step changes the perspective on the Pasterze. At the viewpoint waterfall angle again expects you a special panoramic view, before you start the way back. You hike back to the Kaiser-Franz-Josef-Höhe and along a narrow trail down to the Glocknerhaus.