Damon Mcknight
The Pasterze Glacier in western Austria is the country's largest glacier and the longest in the Eastern Alps. It is located on the side of Austria's highest mountain, the Grossglockner, within the Hohe Tauern National Park. The glacier is accessible via the Grossglockner High Alpine Road and a funicular railway that leads down to its margin. The closest parking is at Parkhaus Kaiser Franz Josefs Höhe, where the Pasterze Glacier Trail begins. The drive from Udine, Italy, to the Pasterze Glacier is approximately 250 km and would take around 3 hours.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Distance | Around 160 km |
| Travel time | Around 2 hours by car |
| Route | Via the Grossglockner High Alpine Road |
| Parking | Available at the Parkhaus Kaiser Franz Josefs Höhe |
| Hiking trail | The Pasterze Glacier Trail starts from the parking lot |
| Attractions | Marmots, ibexes, lakes, mountains, and alpine roads |
| Seasonality | The road is seasonal and usually closed from mid-October to mid-May |
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What You'll Learn
- The Pasterze Glacier is accessible via the Grossglockner High Alpine Road
- The scenic mountain pass, Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse, leads to the glacier
- The glacier is part of the High Tauern National Park
- The closest parking to the glacier is Parkhaus Kaiser Franz Josefs Höhe
- The glacier has retreated by 1.7 km since 2007
The Pasterze Glacier is accessible via the Grossglockner High Alpine Road
The road is a masterpiece of engineering, with every metre carefully planned and every viewing point chosen with care. It blends seamlessly into the mountains, providing breathtaking views of majestic mountain summits, glaciers, lush valleys, and woodlands. The road also reflects the material advancement of the people, with the motorcycle once being the primary means of transport, and now accommodating various vehicles, including cars, motorcycles, bikes, and buses.
The Grossglockner High Alpine Road is not just a scenic route but also provides a unique natural experience. It serves as the starting point for exploring the heart of the Hohe Tauern National Park, of which the Pasterze Glacier is a part. The road allows visitors to experience the park's unique features, including its rare plants and animals, such as the ibex, golden eagle, marmot, Apollo butterfly, and Alpine bumblebee.
The road is also known for its numerous exhibitions, where visitors can learn about the history of the road, as well as the region's geology, plants, and animals. Along the route, there are several cosy inns, traditional Alpine lodges, and gastronomic businesses where visitors can rest and enjoy the local cuisine. The road is typically open from May to October and can be accessed by purchasing a day ticket online, which also offers discounts on souvenirs and food and drink.
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The scenic mountain pass, Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse, leads to the glacier
The Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse is a scenic mountain pass that leads to the Pasterze Glacier, Austria's largest and the longest glacier in the Eastern Alps. The road is 48 kilometres long and has 36 twists and turns, leading up to the Hochtor at 2,504 metres altitude. The highest point reachable by car is the Edelweiss Spitze at 2,571 metres, which can be reached via an access road. The Grossglockner High Alpine Road is regarded as one of the best-known landmarks in Austria and is one of the country's three most visited excursion destinations. It is also considered one of the most beautiful panoramic roads in the world.
The road leads from the town of Fusch in the north to Heiligenblut in the south, connecting the two via a series of hairpin bends. Along the way, there are numerous viewpoints and rest areas, display boards, and information points where visitors can learn about the nature, flora, fauna, and history of the area. The road passes through four vegetation zones, from montane to subalpine, and then through the treeless Alpine level up to the glaciers and the highest summits in the subnival and nival levels.
The Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse offers a spectacular excursion for the whole family, with playgrounds and museums along the road. The Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe visitor centre, located at the end of a side route branching off the Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse, offers a breathtaking view of the Grossglockner mountain and the Pasterze Glacier. The visitor centre is also the starting point of the Gamsgrubenweg, an adventure trail that leads through tunnels into the nature reserve.
The Pasterze Glacier has retreated significantly over the years due to global warming, and the glacial tongue that was once visible in old photos has now been replaced by a greenish meltwater lake. Despite this, the natural beauty of the area is still admirable, and the Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse remains a popular destination for those seeking to experience the majesty of the Alps.
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The glacier is part of the High Tauern National Park
The Pasterze Glacier is part of the High Tauern National Park, also known as the Hohe Tauern National Park. It is the largest glacier in Austria, stretching to a length of approximately 8.4 kilometres (5.2 miles) and is the longest in the Eastern Alps. The Pasterze Glacier is a major tourist destination, attracting mountaineers, hikers, and those interested in the area's flora and fauna. The glacier is accessible via the scenic Grossglockner High Alpine Road, which offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountain scenery. The road connects the small alpine towns of Fusch in the north and Heiligenblut in the south and is a toll road that closes during the night and for the entire winter season.
The Pasterze Glacier Trail is a classic among the themed trails in the park. It starts at Kaiser Franz Josefs Höhe and offers a journey through the time of the last Ice Age, at the foot of the Grossglockner mountain. Visitors can hike or take the glacier cable car to get up close to the eternal ice of the Pasterze. The summit at 3,122 metres is also accessible via a chairlift. The area offers year-round skiing opportunities, with up to 13 kilometres of pistes open during the summer months, weather permitting.
The Pasterze Glacier is located within the Glockner Group of the High Tauern mountain range in Carinthia, directly beneath Austria's highest mountain, the Grossglockner, which stands at 3,798 metres. The glacier forms the source region of the Möll river, a tributary of the Drava, and its waters feed the Margaritze reservoir, used for hydropower generation. The name "Pasterze" possibly originates from the Slovene word "pasti", meaning "pasture".
The Pasterze Glacier is a striking example of the impact of climate change, with its rapid retreat well documented. In recent years, the glacier has lost more than half of its volume and continues to retreat at a rate of 10-20 metres per year. This retreat has resulted in the formation of a greenish meltwater lake, visible on Google Maps. Despite its shrinking size, the Pasterze Glacier remains a popular tourist destination, offering a powerful and mysterious glimpse into the world of eternal ice.
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The closest parking to the glacier is Parkhaus Kaiser Franz Josefs Höhe
The closest parking to the Pasterze Glacier is Parkhaus Kaiser Franz Josefs Höhe. The glacier is a major tourist destination, being the largest glacier in Austria and the longest glacier in the Eastern Alps. It is located at the heart of the Austrian Alps, at the end of a side route branching off the scenic mountain pass of the Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse. The closest parking lot to the glacier is located at Parkhaus Kaiser Franz Josefs Höhe, which is about 200 meters west of the first parking lot, offering a complete view of the Pasterze Glacier and the Grossglockner summit region.
The Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe is the starting point for many adventures in nature. From here, you can take the historic glacier cableway down to the Pasterze Glacier, or hike along the Kaiserstein panoramic path to the Wilhelm Swarovski Observatory, where you can observe ibex, chamois, and eagles. The Gletscherweg trail is another option, which takes about 30 minutes to walk down to the glacier and about an hour to ascend. The glacier cable car is also available for a fee, which covers about half of the ascent or descent.
The Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe visitor centre offers a range of exhibitions based on nature, mountains, and glaciers. The National Park Information Centre features a spectacular widescreen, multi-vision award-winning film about the Hohe Tauern National Park. The centre also has a restaurant, Gletscherrestaurant Freiwandeck, with a sun terrace providing dreamy views of the Grossglockner, the glacier, and the mountain backdrop. The Panorama Restaurant, located on the floor accessible by a high-performance lift, offers similar spectacular views.
The Pasterze Glacier is accessible by car via the Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse, a toll road that is usually open during the summer and closed during winter. The road is known for its hairpin bends and stunning scenery, but it can get congested during the high season. It is recommended to visit just outside of peak times to enjoy the drive and the natural beauty of the area.
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The glacier has retreated by 1.7 km since 2007
The Pasterze Glacier in western Austria is the largest glacier in the country and the longest in the Eastern Alps. It is located on the side of Austria's highest mountain, the Grossglockner, within the High Tauern National Park. The Pasterze is a major tourist destination, accessible via the scenic Grossglockner High Alpine Road and a funicular railway that leads down to its margin.
However, the glacier has been receding since 1856 due to a combination of higher summer temperatures and lower winter snowfall caused by climate change. This retreat has accelerated in recent years, with the Pasterze losing more than half of its volume. Between 2007 and 2021, the glacier retreated by a further 1.7 km, or a little over a mile. This loss in length is clearly visible, and the glacier is now hardly visible from what used to be the main viewpoint.
The Austrian Alpine Club has been measuring the retreat of the Pasterze Glacier since 1918, when it purchased the surrounding area. The Club's annual glacier report for the 2022/23 budget year showed a record retreat of 203.5 meters for the Pasterze, the highest loss in length of any glacier in Austria for that year. This retreat amount is the greatest loss in length at Pasterze since measurements began and is seen as a "warning signal for climate policy".
The Pasterze Glacier is expected to continue retreating in the coming years due to ongoing climate change. While the natural beauty of the area, including the Großglockner peak and the surrounding Alpine landscape, can still be admired, the shrinking of the Pasterze Glacier serves as a stark reminder of the impacts of global warming and climate change.
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Frequently asked questions
The Pasterze Glacier is located in western Austria, in the Hohe Tauern National Park. It is accessible via the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, which is approximately a 2-hour drive. You can also take a funicular railway down to the glacier.
The Pasterze Glacier is the largest glacier in Austria and the longest in the Eastern Alps. It is a major tourist destination due to its scenic beauty and the surrounding Alpine landscape. You can hike along the Pasterze Glacier Trail, which starts near the Parkhaus Kaiser Franz Josefs Höhe car park.
A visit to the Franz-Josefs-Höhe and the Pasterze Glacier can be done in a day. However, if you are travelling from further away, such as Udine, you may want to allow more time to explore the area and other nearby attractions, such as the Grossglockner mountain and the rest of the Hohe Tauern National Park.
