Parkplatz Glocknerwinkel - Großglockner (Klasična smer)

Access to starting point:
Enter the following coordinates into the navigation: 47.02159°N 12.68881°E or the name: Parkplatz Glocknerwinkel. Approximately 2.5 km before the destination, at 47.01077°N 12.67198°E, there are barriers where we take a parking ticket (fig. 1). The parking fee (2026) is 15 € for less than 24 hours and 18 € for more than 24 hours. From the parking lot, Grossglockner can be seen to the north (fig. 2).

Route description:
This is the easiest route on Grossglockner, which is not easy, but is an extremely demanding high-mountain tour.
The route can be done in one day, but usually on the first day we ascend to Erzherzog Johann Hütte (3454 m) and the next day continue towards the summit and back to the valley.
I also recommend bringing a rope, which you will use on the glaciers and especially on the last (4th) part of the route, where the path is not secured.

1. Parking lot (1920 m)–Lucknerhütte (2241 m) – 1 h
The path starts on a gravel road (fig. 3), which then turns into a footpath (fig. 7). In the distance we can already see our first goal (fig. 9). When we reach the other fence gates, we turn right back onto the wide gravel road (fig. 10). After some time we turn left onto a footpath (fig. 12) and arrive at the Lucknerhütte hut at 2241 m (fig. 13).
2. Lucknerhütte (2241 m)–Stüdlhütte (2801 m) – 1 h 30 min
On the gravel path we reach a junction, where we continue straight (fig. 15) towards Stüdlhütte. Soon after we cross the river via a wooden bridge (fig. 17). At approximately 2600 m we reach a junction (fig. 19), where we turn left (if we turned right, we would avoid the Stüdlhütte hut and join the described route at approximately 2900 m - this direction is suitable for the return). From the junction, a rocky path (fig. 20) separates us from the Stüdlhütte hut by another 200 m of elevation.
3. Stüdlhütte (2801 m)–Erzherzog Johann Hütte (3454 m) – 2 h 30 min
We start at the sign (fig. 23), where we continue towards the Erzherzog Johann Hütte hut and soon reach a junction again (fig. 26), where we choose the upper path. After some time we see the summit of Grossglockner (fig. 28) and the Erzherzog Johann Hütte hut (fig. 29). Now we are in the glacier area (fig. 31). We cross the glacier diagonally, as shown in figure 30. Be careful of glacier crevasses (fig. 34). ATTENTION! Even on the trodden path there can be holes (fig. 35 and 36), so be careful, especially on the last part of the glacier. Then follows a rocky section, which is harder at the beginning (fig. 40), but then the difficulty decreases for the last 150 m of elevation (fig. 43).
4. Erzherzog Johann Hütte (3454 m)–Grossglockner (3798 m) – 2 h (depending on crowds)
From the hut we continue on a rocky path (fig. 46) and soon reach the second glacier (fig. 49). Although there are no crevasses on this section, a rope is never a bad idea. We reach a rock wall, where the most difficult part of the ascent begins (fig. 51 and 52). With crampons we continue on one of the two ropes (choose the rope where there is less crowding). Then we remove the crampons at a suitable place (in summer, when there is no snow). The path is poorly secured, with occasional iron poles (fig. 55). Most people are roped on this section, especially on the descent. Just before the summit the path descends slightly (fig. 60), then ascends again (fig. 61). At the summit there is an iron cross (fig. 62). Let us not forget that an even more demanding part of the route awaits us - the descent. The entire timeline also includes an additional 30 min for stops at the huts.

Along the route: Lucknerhütte (2241m), Stüdlhütte (2801m), Erzherzog Johann Hütte (3454m)

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