Autumn at the Grossglockner: Why a visit is especially worthwhile right now

The wildlife, too, reveals a different side of itself in autumn: the ibex living above the Nationalpark Kristall Großglockner observation post can be watched there all year round, and with a bit of luck a golden eagle may even appear overhead. Most guests find themselves asking three questions: how best to make the most of this season, which short hikes are worthwhile, and what to wear for them.

5 Days at the Grossglockner: Getting the most out of the autumn ticket
From 15 September to 31 October 2026, the autumn ticket is available: five consecutive days for €65 for cars, or €58 for e-cars and motorcycles. It is bound to a licence plate and can only be purchased directly at the ticket offices in Ferleiten or Heiligenblut; it is not available online. On each of the five days, the road can be driven again without buying a new day ticket.

Five days give plenty of scope to spread hikes, exhibitions and viewpoints out sensibly, rather than trying to fit everything into a single day: one day for a first overview of the road, one day for a short hike, one day for the exhibitions such as the new “Wonderful World of the Glockner Meadows” or the car exhibition at the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe visitor centre, one day for wildlife watching at the observation post, and a final day for a return visit to whichever spot became a personal favourite.

For planning routes, the Rother hiking guide “Wandern an der Großglockner Hochalpenstraße” is also available during the promotional period at a reduced price of €15 instead of €19.50, available at the ticket offices, the Grossglockner shops and the online shop. (German only)

The best short hikes for autumn
Almost all of the short hikes along the road can be completed in under half an hour and start directly at the car parks. The nature discovery loop trail at Piffkar (1,620 m) takes around 30 minutes and shares facts about the vegetation and forest birds found near the tree line. The circular path around the Fuscher Lacke (2,262 m) passes a small mountain lake, with views of rugged rock faces on one side and down into the Rauris valley on the other – the “Construction of the Road” exhibition in the road workers' hut right along the path shows how the High Alpine Road was originally built.

For those wanting to go higher, a path leads from Restaurant Fuschertörl up to the Edelweiss Spitze (Edelweiss Peak) in about 30 minutes, the highest point on the road at 2,571 metres, with a panoramic view stretching from Lake Zell across the entire Grossglockner mountain range. At the Hochtor, the educational trail “Kelten-, Säumer- und Römerweg” crosses the summit of the pass in around 30 minutes along an ancient route that people have used for three and a half thousand years. On the Carinthian side, a short botanical loop trail near Schöneck (1,953 m) leads through the species-rich Pockhorner Wiesen.

Even on short walks, sturdy footwear and a warm mid layer belong in the backpack, since temperatures above 2,000 metres can be noticeably colder than in the valley – and since some paths cross alpine pastures, free-roaming livestock should be expected.

What to wear at the Grossglockner in autumn: A packing list for September and October
In the valley, September and October can still feel pleasantly mild, while up on the pass – 2,504 metres at the Hochtor, 2,571 metres at the Edelweiss Spitze – it is already noticeably colder and windier. A layering system works best, topped with a windproof and, if possible, waterproof jacket.

Sturdy, ideally waterproof footwear is recommended even for short walks, since autumn mornings often bring dew or the first light frosts to the mountain meadows. A hat and gloves belong in every bag at windy viewpoints such as the Edelweiss Spitze or the Hochtor, as do sunglasses and sunscreen, since UV radiation remains high at altitude despite the cooler temperatures.

Check before you set off
From 1 September, the Grossglockner High Alpine Road is open daily from 6:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., with last entry at 6:45 p.m. The webcams show current conditions at several locations. Since conditions on the pass can change quickly, it's worth checking the homepage at www.grossglockner.at before setting off, where the current status of the road is clearly displayed. Exhibition opening hours differ from those of the road itself, so it's worth checking those current times too. Depending on the weather, the season ends in early November – until then, there is still plenty of time for an autumn visit.

Clear views, wildlife adjusting to the season, five days with the autumn ticket, short hikes right along the road, and the right clothing for two seasons at once: autumn shows the Grossglockner High Alpine Road at its most distinctive.