26.5
PDI
5 mi
DISTANCE
2,923 ft
GAINED
11.1 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
INTRO
Faschingalm is a short, brutally steep climb above Lienz in Austria's East Tyrol (Osttirol), climbing 8.0 km (5.0 mi) from the village of Obergaimberg to the valley station of the Faschingalm chairlift at 1,634 m (5,361 ft), gaining 891 m (2,923 ft) at an average grade of 11.1%.
There's little warm-up: the road tops 8% almost immediately, and pitches near 20% appear within the first couple of kilometers, near a small roadside shrine (Marterl) where the route turns off toward the mountain in earnest. From there it settles into a long, unrelenting grind through roughly 16 hairpins, dropping below 10% for only a brief stretch near the top. The Gasthof Faschingalm, a mountain restaurant just below the chairlift, has reopened in recent years and makes a fitting reward at the summit.
Faschingalm is one of several tough, closely-packed climbs above Lienz - Zettersfeld climbs a separate, tolled route up the same mountain nearby, while Hochstein and Dolomitenhütte tackle other peaks across the valley. Faschingalm is the toll-free option of the group, though the parking area at the top charges a card-only fee.
On a clear day the upper switchbacks open onto views south across the Drautal valley to Lienz and the Lienzer Dolomiten.
PLAN YOUR ROUTE
We've partnered with Sherpa-Map.com to bring you the best route planning tool. With a PRO Membership you can use this climb as a reference when creating your route. The average grade of Faschingalm is 11.1% over 8.0 km (5.0 mi), gaining 891 m (2,923 ft) to a finish at 1,634 m (5,361 ft), the Faschingalm chairlift valley station. There's little flat recovery anywhere on the route - the road tops 8% within the first kilometer and touches close to 20% near the Marterl junction before settling into a long, sustained grind through the upper switchbacks, dropping under 10% for only a brief stretch near the top.
Roadway: The Faschingalmstraße is paved the entire way - a mountain road built in the 1970s that's roughly 5 m (16 ft) wide lower down and narrows through the upper hairpins. Watch for frequent cross-drainage channels cut into the pavement on the steeper pitches; they're narrow but can catch a wheel if you're not looking for them.
Traffic: Light. This is a dead-end road serving the Faschingalm chairlift and the Zettersfeld hiking/ski area rather than a through-route, so most traffic is local visitors and hikers driving up, heaviest on summer weekends.
Parking: Most riders start from Obergaimberg or nearby Lienz, where street parking is available. There's also a large parking area at the top by the chairlift base station, though it charges a fee and takes card payment only - no cash.
There are no provisions along the climb itself. Stock up in Lienz before heading out - it's a full-service town with grocery stores, bakeries, and cafes. At the top, the Gasthof Faschingalm mountain restaurant, just below the chairlift, is open in season for food and drink after the climb.
Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip and use our interactive check list to ensure you don't forget anything.
Lienz is the natural base for this climb and the rest of East Tyrol's unusually dense cluster of hard ascents - Zettersfeld climbs a separate, tolled route up the same mountain, and Hochstein and Dolomitenhütte tackle other peaks nearby; see our Routes in the Area tool for the full list of what's climbable from town. Faschingalm is one of the few in the group with no toll and no seasonal gate, so it's a reliable option even if you're not sure another climb's toll road is open yet for the year.
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