Above Sölden, the Ötztal glacier road climbs up to the Rettenbach glacier, one of the highest points reachable by road in the Austrian Alps, on a gradient that offers almost no relief.
A relentless climb up to the glacier
From Sölden, it’s 12.5 km for 1,385 m of elevation gain, averaging a fearsome 11.1%, with a brief flat section around the sixth kilometre near the toll gate. The road tops out at 2,829 m, one of the highest paved points in this part of the Alps.
A high-level meeting point for skiing and cycling
The Rettenbach glacier hosts the season-opening round of the Alpine Ski World Cup giant slalom every year in late October. On the cycling side, the road has served as a queen-stage finish at the Tour de Suisse between 2015 and 2017 and at the Deutschland Tour in 2005 and 2007.
When to go
June to September — this toll road giving glacier access stays closed the rest of the year due to altitude and snow cover.
Good to know
Sölden, a well-known winter sports resort, offers a wide choice of accommodation for a longer stay in the Ötztal valley, between high-altitude hiking and the Tyrol’s other alpine passes.
