The Hohe Tauern National Park, which encompasses the Grossglockner summit, is one of Austria’s most beautiful regions. Its total area covers 1,800 square kilometers and spans three different Austrian states: Salzburg, Carinthia, and Tyrol. Within the national park, there are 300 additional mountains exceeding 3,000 meters in height, along with 342 glaciers and no less than 551 lakes nestled in the heart of the mountains!
One of the most beautiful ways to enjoy the immense beauty of the Grossglockner area is by driving along the High Alpine Road, which passes between the nearby mountain peaks. This road is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in Europe, and at its end, it leads right into the Hohe Tauern National Park.
Take a bird’s-eye view of the Grossglockner High Alpine Road:
This road was constructed between 1930 and 1935, replacing a simple, small mountain path. The road connects the village of Bruck in Salzburg province with the village of Heiligenblut in Carinthia, stretching for 48 kilometers. It’s very winding along its entire length, with about 36 curves. The highest point along the road is at an elevation of 2,571 meters above sea level! One of the most beautiful viewpoints along the road is called the Franz Josephs Höhe.
Essential Information for Your Visit
The road is considered the second-best attraction in Austria, after Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, attracting approximately one million visitors annually. Along the road, there are various stopping points with museums, short hiking trails, children’s play areas, and, of course, breathtaking views. On a sunny and beautiful day, you can easily spend an entire day in the area of the High Alpine Road.
Please note: This is a toll road, and entry requires payment (you will need to pay even if you have a vignette for Austrian toll roads). Also, the road is only open from early May to late October.
Stopping Points Along the Grossglockner High Alpine Road
Along the High Alpine Road, there are many stopping points offering a variety of activities for the whole family. When the weather is nice, you can comfortably sit along the road, enjoy the views, and breathe in the fresh mountain air. Additionally, you can hike in nature or let the children burn off energy at the playgrounds along the way. The map in the image shows the 10 recommended stops along the route. Further details about each stop are provided below.
Stop 1 (Map A) – Toll Booth and Wildlife Park
Before entering the road, you need to pay at the toll booth located near the village of Ferleiten. Right next to the toll booth, there’s a nature and wildlife park with many facilities for children. The park features about 200 animals from the Alpine region as well as playgrounds for kids. Entry is free. You can read more extended information in the article we prepared about the Wildlife Park in Ferleiten.
Stop 2 (Map B) – Roadside Playground
This stop is called Piffkar and is located at an altitude of 1,620 meters above sea level. There’s a small shop here, and on its first floor, there’s an exhibition about the history of the High Alpine Road’s construction. Near the shop, there’s a children’s playground and a marked hiking trail in nature. The hike is easy and lasts only about 30 minutes, during which you can learn interesting facts about the natural world in the Alps. At the end of the trail, you’ll return to where you parked your car.
Stop 3 (Map C) – Roadside Playground
This stop is called Hochmais and is located at an altitude of 1,850 meters above sea level. At this stop, there are information boards about the Grossglockner Glacier and the vegetation that grows at different elevations of the mountain range. Here, you can also hike down the mountain towards a small hut called Trauneralm. Next to it is the beautiful Rotmoos area with unique and rare vegetation.
Stop 4 (Map D) – The Highest Viewpoint
This stop is called Fuschertörl, and it has a restaurant named Edelweiss-Spitze. From the restaurant, there’s a short walking path that leads to the highest point along the road. The hike takes about 30 minutes, and at its end, you’ll be at an altitude of 2,571 meters above sea level. From this point, you can enjoy a magnificent panoramic view of the entire area – over 30 mountain peaks rising to 3,000 meters and above. In fact, it’s possible to reach even higher points from this viewpoint, but climbing to other peaks requires good fitness and skill. The higher viewpoint is at an altitude of 2,623 meters above sea level and is called Baumgartlkopf.
Stop 5 (Map E) – Grossglockner Viewpoint
If you chose to start your drive on the High Alpine Road from the Salzburg direction, this will be the first stop where you can see Mount Grossglockner in all its glory. This stop is called Fuscher Törl and is located at an altitude of 2,428 meters above sea level. When you arrive at this point, you can go to the observation deck and enjoy the breathtaking view. Nearby, there is a monument commemorating the workers who died during the construction of the High Alpine Road.
Stop 6 (Map F) – Raptor Information Point
If you look closely at the sky and wait patiently, you might be able to see large and impressive birds soaring high above the peaks. This area of the Alps is home to several golden eagles. At this stop, you can learn about the lives of the eagles in the Grossglockner region.
Stop 7 (Map G) – Small Lake in the Heart of the Mountains
Right in the heart of the mountains, at an altitude of 2,262 meters above sea level, there’s a beautiful and rather small lake called Fuscher Lacke. From this stop, you can take a short 10-minute walk to see the lake. Additionally, there’s a pavilion here with an exhibition related to the construction of the road and a small playground for children.
Stop 8 (Map H) – Trail Following the Celts and Romans
This stop is called Hochtor, and from here begins a short hiking trail following the footsteps of the Celts and Romans who lived in the area in ancient times. The hike takes about 30 minutes. In addition, there’s an exhibition here with a copper statue of Hercules. If you decide you must do a serious hike in the area, you can take another trail from this point. The trail leads to the Brennkogel peak, at an altitude of 3,018 meters above sea level. The hike duration is about 3.75 hours, and the terrain is very mountainous and rocky.
Stop 9 (Map I) – Franz Josephs Height Viewpoint
To reach this stop, you need to turn off the main road onto a side road that ends at the viewpoint. At the beginning of this road, there’s a place called Schöneck, which has a short hiking trail and a playground. From there, you continue towards the beautiful viewpoint that was named after the Emperor himself visited it and enjoyed the stunning scenery. From this viewpoint, you can wonderfully see Mount Grossglockner and the surrounding peaks. Additionally, there’s a visitor center with observation decks, a short film about the area, and special art exhibitions.
If you want to go for a hike in the area, there are 4 excellent trails along the mountain (some of the trails are mainly for experienced climbers because the terrain is not easy):
- Gamsgrubenweg – an exceptional panoramic trail that lasts about 30 minutes. It offers unique views of the glaciers in the area.
- Pasterze Glacier Trail – a steep trail that leads directly to the Pasterze Glacier. The descent takes about 30 minutes, and the ascent back takes about an hour.
- Swarovski-Warte Viewpoint Trail – an easy trail that takes about 10 minutes. This is another beautiful observation point of the entire area.
- Alpe-Adria Trail – a very serious trek! This trail connects Carinthia with Slovenia and Italy. It’s a trail with 43 sections, each about 20 kilometers long. You can find more information about this trail here.
Stop 10 (Map J) – Ancient Gothic Church
This stop is called Kasereck and is located at an altitude of 1,911 meters above sea level. This is the last stop along the road before heading towards Heiligenblut. At this stop, there’s an ancient Gothic church with a strikingly beautiful altar created by the Italian artist Michael Pacher, who lived in the Middle Ages.
It’s perfectly fine to do the stops even if you start the drive from the opposite direction.
Additional Essential Information for Your Visit
Opening Hours: Early May to late October.
- May 1st to May 31st: 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Last entry at 7:15 PM.
- June 1st to August 31st: 5:30 AM to 9:00 PM. Last entry at 8:15 PM.
- September 1st to October 26th: 6:00 AM to 7:30 PM. Last entry at 6:45 PM.
Important: Last entry is 45 minutes before closing.
Please note: The opening of the road is subject to weather conditions. You should check directly on the official website on the same day before arriving to see if the road is open for travel.
Costs:
- Daily ticket for a private car: 45 Euros.
- Round-trip ticket for a private car: 54 Euros.
- Daily ticket for a motorcycle: 35 Euros.
- Round-trip ticket for a motorcycle: 44 Euros.
Address (toll booth for those coming from Salzburg): Mautstelle Ferleiten
Map:
Address (toll booth for those coming from Carinthia): 9844 Heiligenblut am Großglockner Mautstelle
Map:
Additional Attractions in the Grossglockner Mountain Road Area
A short drive from the Grossglockner High Alpine Road will bring you to the Zell am See – Kaprun area. This region offers popular attractions like the Kaprun Dams (a one-hour drive from the High Alpine Road), the Sigmund Thun Gorge (a half-hour drive), or Lake Zell (20 minutes). You can read more detailed information about these places in the extended articles we’ve prepared for each attraction.
Another option is to drive about 35 minutes to the Rauris Valley, where you can find a raptor show and the Kitzloch Gorge nearby.
