Kitzsteinhorn
3,203 m
Austria
Also known as КицштайнхорнAlso known as
Кицштайнхорн
- Elevation
- 3,203 m
- Prominence
- 439 m
- Difficulty
- 4/10
- Alpine hike
- Best Season
- Jul–Aug
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1Sources differ: VF A (gipfelbuch.ch (2019, 'T 4- / KS 1 (A)')) · T4- (gipfelbuch.ch)
A short, cabled climb from the Gipfelwelt 3000 top station of the Kaprun glacier lifts (3,029 m): through the avalanche barriers, up the steep north-west flank on trail 43 with a fixed steel cable, then along the short west ridge with a chain railing to the summit cross. About 180–200 m of ascent, 30–50 minutes up, but exposed, loose and rarely snow-free.
Elevation Profile
- Distance
- 0.3 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +178 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 3,203 m
- Time Up
- 37m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 23m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
From the valley station of the Kitzsteinhorn glacier lifts south of Kaprun (911 m), the Gletscherjet 1 and 2 gondolas lead to the Alpincenter (about 2,450 m) and the Gipfelbahn cable car to the Gipfelwelt 3000 station with its restaurant and the 'Top of Salzburg' viewing terrace (3,029 m) on the mountain's west ridge. The climb starts at the south end of the viewing terrace at a yellow signpost. Go through the rock and snow catch fences, keeping left towards the large steel avalanche barriers; before a mobile phone antenna turn right. From here a continuous 14 mm steel cable, renewed in recent years, follows alpine trail 43 up the steep north-west flank to the short west ridge. Scramble left of the ridge past a memorial plaque to the white steel summit cross, put up by Tauernkraftwerke staff in August 1958; the steep west side near the top has a chain railing. Allow 30–50 minutes. Descend the same way (about 25–40 minutes). The rock is crumbly and the route is rarely free of snow, especially at the start; with snow or ice, crampons and an axe quickly become necessary, and in fog the line is hard to follow. Arriving by cable car at over 3,000 m without acclimatisation, take the steep 200 m slowly. Check the last cable car down (Gipfelbahn until 16:00, last ascent 15:30, in October 2026).
Start
Gipfelbahn Bergstation3,025 m
- Kitzsteinhorn glacier lifts: Gletscherjet 1 and 2 to the Alpincenter, Gipfelbahn to Gipfelwelt 3000 (open year-round for sightseeing; TOP OF SALZBURG return ticket EUR 61 in 2026)
- Train to Zell am See, bus 660 to the Kitzsteinhorn glacier lifts valley station (Kaprun Gletscherbahnen); then Gletscherjet 1 and 2 and the Gipfelbahn.
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gipfelbahn Bergstation → Kitzsteinhorn | 0.3 | 178 | 0 | 37m |
Waypoints
- Lift: Gipfelbahn Bergstation3,025 m
- Summit: Kitzsteinhorn3,203 m
Key Passages
- Avalanche barriers below the viewing terrace
- Cabled NW flank on trail 43
- Short west ridge with chain railing
Equipment
0/6 packedDownloads
Route confidence 80%Overview
Kaprun's glacier mountain in the Glockner group, with a year-round cable car to 3,029 m just below the summit. The final 180 m is a short, cabled but exposed climb (A/B) on loose schist, often in snow.
The Kitzsteinhorn (3,203 m) rises at the head of the Kaprun valley in the northern Glockner group, above the Schmiedingerkees glacier and the Kitzsteinhorn glacier ski area. The mountain is built of calcareous mica schist. Since 1966 a cable car has reached the 'Top of Salzburg' station on the west ridge at 3,029 m, where a restaurant, two viewing platforms and the Nationalpark Gallery tunnel look over the Hohe Tauern to the Großglockner and Großvenediger.
The summit itself is a short excursion from the top station: a steep flank and ridge protected by a fixed cable and a chain, 30–50 minutes up. It is not a walk: the rock is crumbly, there is often snow and ice, the ground drops steeply on both sides, and visitors arrive straight from the valley without acclimatisation.
For mountaineers it is a quick 3,000 m summit to combine with a sightseeing trip, or an acclimatisation outing before the Großglockner or Wiesbachhorn. The Krefelder Hütte (2,295 m) below the ski area offers a quieter overnight base.
Climbing Notes
Sure-footedness, a head for heights and some alpine experience are needed; the cable and chain make the line protected rather than easy. A helmet and via ferrata set are sensible for anyone unused to exposed rock, and crampons and an axe whenever there is snow or ice on the route. Go slowly: you start at over 3,000 m within an hour of leaving the valley.
Take an early cable car (the Gipfelbahn runs 09:00–16:00, last ascent 15:30 in autumn 2026) and check conditions at the station; in fog, storms or fresh snow the climb is best left. The rest of the day can be spent at the viewing platforms or on a walk around the Alpincenter. The ski area operates from about October to May, so expect skiing traffic and groomed glacier around the stations in that period.
History
The first ascent was made in 1828 by Johann Entacher with surveyors; Friedrich zu Schwarzenberg made the second around 1840. The first Kaprun glacier cable car opened on 12 December 1965, and on 26 November 1966 its third section reached the station below the summit. The steel summit cross was erected by Tauernkraftwerke staff in August 1958. On 11 November 2000 a fire in the tunnel of the Gletscherbahn Kaprun 2 funicular killed 155 people, one of the worst disasters in Austria's history; the line was closed and later replaced by gondolas. Since 2019 a tricable gondola links the Kitzsteinhorn with the Maiskogel and Kaprun.
Season
Best Jul–Aug- January: Not advisable
- February: Not advisable
- March: Not advisable
- April: Possible
- May: Possible
- June: Good
- July: Best (best window)
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Good
- October: Possible
- November: Not advisable
- December: Not advisable
- Jan
- Winter; summit route snow- and ice-covered; for experienced alpinists only
- Feb
- Winter conditions
- Mar
- Winter conditions
- Apr
- Deep snow; crampons and axe needed
- May
- Snow on the route
- Jun
- Snow patches common, especially at the start
- Jul
- Best chance of a mostly snow-free route; thunderstorms
- Aug
- Best chance of a mostly snow-free route
- Sep
- Early snowfalls possible
- Oct
- Ski season starts (10 October in 2026); snow and ice likely
- Nov
- Winter conditions
- Dec
- Winter conditions
Access & Permits
- Hut Booking
- Not needed for the summit; the Krefelder Hütte (2,295 m) below the ski area can be booked directly.
- Fees
- TOP OF SALZBURG return ticket (2026): adult EUR 61 (EUR 58 with the Zell am See-Kaprun guest card); round-trip tickets in winter only for guests without ski equipment
- KeyCard deposit EUR 2; dogs EUR 5 per day
- Rules
- The climb depends on the cable car timetable: Gipfelbahn 09:00–16:00, last ascent 15:30 (autumn 2026); lift hours change with season and weather
- Getting There
Kaprun (Salzburg)
Salzburg (SZG); Innsbruck (INN)
- Train to Zell am See, bus 660 to the Kitzsteinhorn glacier lifts valley station
- By car: B311 to the Pinzgau, B168 to Kaprun, then to the large car parks at the glacier lifts valley station (911 m)
- Lifts: Gletscherjet 1 and 2 to the Alpincenter, then the Gipfelbahn to Gipfelwelt 3000; also from Kaprun via the Maiskogel and the 3K K-onnection (not running in autumn 2026, reopening December 2026)
Hazards
- Exposure
- Rockfall
- Weather
- Altitude