How challenging is the road to Pfaffenbichl?

Pfaffenbichl is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,303 meters (7,555 ft) above sea level, located in the Tyrol province in Austria.

Pfaffenbichl
Road facts: Pfaffenbichl
Location Tyrol, Austria (Zillertal / Tux Alps)
Elevation 2,303 m (7,555 ft)
Starting Point Hochfügen
Length 7.0 km (4.35 miles)
Elevation Gain 835 m
Average Gradient 11.92%
Surface Totally unpaved / Loose stones and gravel

Is the road to Pfaffenbichl unpaved?

Located in the western part of the country, the road to the summit is totally unpaved. It’s an unmaintained, single-lane gravel service track used for ski-station maintenance. The surface consists entirely of loose limestone stones, coarse gravel, and deep ruts carved by heavy machinery. A 4x4 vehicle is required.

How long is the road to Pfaffenbichl?

Starting at the ski resort facilities of Hochfügen, the road to the summit is 7.0 kilometers (4.35 miles) long. Over this distance, the elevation gain is 835 m and the average gradient is 11.92%, but the upper rocky sections feature extreme pitches that reach a 25% gradient.

Is the road to Pfaffenbichl open year-round?

Set high in the Zillertal Alps region, at this elevation the track is blocked by heavy alpine snowpacks and deep drifts during most of the year; a narrow window at the end of August is often the only time the path is free of snowbanks.