Information about the Glacier Road
Facts & Figures
The Kaunertal Glacier Road is a private road for which the Kaunertaler Gletscherbahnen GmbH pays approx. EUR 680,000 annually for its use.The Glacier Road reveals a year-round mountain world to the visitor, from the valley up to an elevation of 2,750 meters above sea level, directly on the edge of the glacial wall of the Weisseeferner.
Technical data
| Length | 26 km, 29 curves, 28 m curve radius |
| Grade |
average grade 10% , maximal grade 12% |
| Altitude difference |
1,500m, from 1,250m to 2,750m |
| Opening times |
year-round |
Interactive street map - Google Earth
All Highlights of the Kaunertaler Glacier Street in Google Earth! Find it here!Highlights along the road
Take the time instead to enjoy the unique natural features that line the route: they certainly merit your attention. Our street brochure will guide you to the highlights of our road!Download street brochure 2008 (754 KB PDF)
A journey through climatic zones
A trip up the Kaunertal Glacier Road is the climatic equivalent of travelling from Tyrol to the northernmost tip of Europe. Only here, you drive through the individual climatic and vegetation zones in a few minutes. Upon the surrounding peaks, there are similar climatic conditions as in Greenland.| Elevation levels |
Description | Vegetation |
| Nival zone: over 3,100 m |
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The average snowfall exceeds the rate of melting, and then forms a permanent snow covering – the glacier. |
In the upper section of the nival zone, there is no more plant life. There are only Thallophyten, which do not require any ground substrate, and grow quite densely upon the rock surfaces, which are not covered by the glacier. |
| Subnival zone: 2,900-3,100 m, average yearly temperature: < -3° |
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There are individual plants with a short growing season, and an ingenious rooting system for optimal nutrition intake, with a climatic snow border of approx. 3,100 m. |
Mosses, cushion shaped flowering plants and lichens, which consist in a living environment between fungus and algae. |
| Alpine zone: 2,300-2,900 m, average yearly temperature: >-1° to -3° |
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Alpine grass with colorful alpine flowers and grasses. Alpine flowers on the mountaintops are remarkably colorful through the intense UV rays. |
Edelweiss, sweet William carnation, dryas, wild primrose, small cloves, Glacier buttercup (2-3 vegetation periods needed before blooming) |
| Sub-alpine zone: 1,700-2,300 m, average yearly temperature: > 0° |
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The tree line in the Kaunertal Valley lies at approx. 2,100 m elevation, consisting mainly out of stone pine, which can withstand temperatures as low as -40° C. |
Stone pine, small shrubbery with alpine roses, mountain cranberries and juniper shrubs |
| Mountain zone: 900-1,700 m, average yearly temperature: > 3° |
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Fruit and arable land is even possible on the warm southern slopes at this elevation. |
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| Colline zone: up to 900 m, average yearly temperature: > 6° |
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The Glockturmkamm protects the Kaunertal valley floor from cold north winds, and the colline zone clings to the southern slopes well above 900m. |
Cultivated arable land, fruit trees. deciduous and mixed woodland |
