Grossglockner High Alpine Road
A toll alpine road through Hohe Tauern National Park, with its highest point at the Hochtor tunnel (2,504 m), giving direct access to Austria's highest peak and the Pasterze Glacier.
The Grossglockner High Alpine Road was built between 1930 and 1935. It connects Fusch in Salzburg state with Heiligenblut in Carinthia. It is about 48 km long, has 36 hairpin bends, and its highest point, the Hochtor tunnel, is at about 2,504 m. It is a toll scenic road running through Hohe Tauern National Park. Heading south from the direction of Zell am See and Kaprun, the road starts to climb past Ferleiten Wildlife Park and the toll station. A side road leads to the Edelweissspitze viewpoint (2,571 m), where you can see more than 30 peaks over 3,000 m. The road continues through the Fuscher Törl and the Hochtor tunnel into Carinthia. Another side road goes to the Franz-Josefs-Höhe viewpoint, facing Austria's highest peak, the Grossglockner (3,798 m), and the Pasterze Glacier. The route ends at Heiligenblut, where the spire of the church appears alongside the snowy peaks. The drive takes about 1.5 hours one way. Including the viewpoints and exhibitions, it is best to allow a full day, and you can stay one night up the mountain or in Heiligenblut. The road is generally open from early May to early November. You pay a toll by vehicle, and it closes at night. The gradient is about 10 to 12%, so use a low gear when going downhill. The best time is early morning in good weather. Cars and motorcycles are very common in summer weekends.