Grossglockner High Alpine Road Discover Austria's highest-situated pass road
The Grossglockner is a mountain, a myth and a challenge all in one. This becomes clear on a trip along Austria's highest-situated pass road. The Grossglockner High Alpine Road is a marvel of road construction and leads up to 2,500 metres above sea level. As with other things, the maxim is the same: the journey is the destination. A journey on the Grossglockner High Alpine Road is all about experiencing the way into one of the world’s most magnificent natural landscapes with all your senses. And so, the pass road beckons with numerous viewpoints and rest areas, display boards and information points. Here you can learn interesting facts about nature, flora and fauna and the history of this unique road. The road leads through a total of four vegetation zones.
Directions: How do I get to the Grossglockner High Alpine Road?
The High Alpine Road leads from Fusch an der Glocknerstraße to Heiligenblut in Carinthia. Coming from Zell am See-Kaprun by car, you can reach Fusch within about 25 minutes. From there you start your journey on Austria's highest-situated pass road.
How long does the journey on the Grossglockner High Alpine Road take?
The route is 48 kilometres long and leads into the heart of the Hohe Tauern National Park with 36 hairpin bends. Along the way you can enjoy the view of countless three-thousand-metre-high peaks, including Austria's highest mountain: the 3798-metre-high Grossglockner. So, make enough time to enjoy this day trip!
Opening periods
The Grossglockner High Alpine Road is open every year from May to November. In winter, the road becomes impassable due to masses of snow. The reopening after winter is a celebrated event every year. Then the snowplough teams from Salzburg's Pinzgau region and from Carinthia meet after days of work, and the way across the Grossglockner High Alpine Road is clear again.
Your experience on the Grossglockner High Alpine Road
As soon as the High Alpine Road officially opens its gates, the starting signal is given for the summer season: the road attracts thousands of visitors to the high alpine landscape every year. Hikers, mountaineers and ski tourers use the road as a starting point for extended hikes. Motorcyclists use the 36 hairpin bends for an unforgettable excursion and road cyclists push their limits on the route. The highlight for bike enthusiasts is the annual Glocknerkönig: in this race, professional and amateur cyclists conquer a 27-kilometre route and master gradients of up to 12 percent.
Viewpoints and rest areas
The most beautiful view can be enjoyed from the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe: On fair weather days, you can admire the mighty Grossglockner and Austria's largest glacier, the Pasterze. This is also the starting point of the Gamsgrubenweg, an adventure trail that leads through several tunnels into the nature reserve. Along the high alpine road, you will also encounter wildlife: ibex, marmots, chamois, vultures and golden eagles are at home here. And if you get hungry, there are numerous restaurants and huts along the way.
