"Durchstcich" at the Grossglockner completed: open road towards summer from 25th April along the entire Grossglockner High Alpine Road!

Hochtor Pass, 2,504 m, Salzburg/Carinthia: Although snow levels in spring 2026 were generally lower than in some previous years, the clearing work still presented the teams with major challenges. The avalanche situation in certain sections was particularly demanding, as was the so-called core ice in the lower areas of the road. This consisted of ice layers up to 20 centimetres thick beneath the snow cover, which could only gradually loosen through sunlight and rising temperatures.

The successful Durchstich is an emotional moment every year and a visible sign that summer in the Alps is drawing closer. Once again, the Grossglockner High Alpine Road becomes that special place where nature experience, technical achievement and responsibility for the high-alpine habitat can be felt directly. This summer, the aim is once again to bring this unique high-mountain landscape in the heart of Hohe Tauern National Park, the largest protected area in Central Europe, closer to numerous guests from all over the world and to show what needs to be protected in this natural environment.

This year, the historic snow blowers, the Wallack rotary ploughs, some of which have been in use since 1953, were again operated with HVO100 fuel – an almost climate-neutral biofuel made from hydrogenated vegetable oils and animal fats. Last year’s tests during snow-clearing operations on the Grossglockner showed that the HVO100 fuel used causes up to 90% fewer CO₂ emissions than conventional diesel and burns almost smoke- and odour-free. In this way, the Grossglockner High Alpine Road once again combines traditional and state-of-the-art technology with a contemporary, resource-saving approach in a sensitive alpine environment.

The entire Grossglockner High Alpine Road – including the Glacier Road to the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe and the road to the Edelweiss Peak, the highest point at 2,571 m – will be open to traffic tomorrow, 25 April 2026, from the very first day of the season. This has not happened for ten years. It means that, for the first time in a long period, all major tourist highlights and viewpoints will be accessible from the first day after the Durchstich. The first marmots have also already been spotted – another sign that the alpine summer is approaching.

Cooperation and partnership across state borders

This year’s Durchstich was also attended by the new political leaders of Salzburg and Carinthia. With Governor Karoline Edtstadler of Salzburg and Governor Daniel Fellner of Carinthia meeting for a working discussion directly at the state border between Salzburg and Carinthia at the Hochtor, 2,504 m, this traditional moment gained additional symbolic significance: as a connecting sign across state borders and as a joint start to the summer season in one of Austria’s most important alpine experience regions. The 48-kilometre Grossglockner High Alpine Road lies exactly half in Salzburg and half in Carinthia, with 24 kilometres in each federal state.

Johannes Hörl, CEO of GROHAG, emphasises: “The ‘Durchstich at the Grossglockner’ is a special moment every year. It marks the successful completion of the challenging snow-clearing work in the high mountains, the outstanding expertise of our teams and the anticipation of a new tourist summer season in Alpine Austria. At the same time, it shows how closely tradition, nature experience, innovation and responsible handling of the high-alpine habitat are connected.”

Governor Karoline Edtstadler: “The Grossglockner High Alpine Road is far more than a tourist attraction – it is a landmark of reconstruction and a strong symbol of the connection between nature, technology and regional value creation in our state. With the Durchstich during the snow-clearing work, this road is once again accessible and can be experienced – something many visitors to Hohe Tauern National Park have been eagerly awaiting.”

Governor Daniel Fellner adds: “The Grossglockner connects Salzburg and Carinthia in a very special way. Today’s Durchstich stands for cooperation, lived partnership and our shared responsibility to preserve this unique natural and experience space for future generations while making it accessible to guests from all over the world.”

Further information on current road accessibility and opening hours is available at: www.grossglockner.at

Further photos and video footage of the Durchstich will be available later this afternoon in our media database: https://www.grossglockner.at/l.m3