The Grossglockner Hochalpenstraße, opened in 1935, remains Austria’s most famous alpine road: a spectacular route through the Hohe Tauern National Park, at the foot of the country’s highest peak, and exceptionally free for cyclists despite its status as a toll road.
A high-mountain road at the heart of the Hohe Tauern
From Fusch an der Großglocknerstraße, the road climbs about 24 km for 1,650 m of elevation gain up to the Hochtor tunnel, at 2,504 m, the crossing point between the states of Salzburg and Carinthia. The route, marked by numerous wide, even hairpins, crosses alpine pastures and then high-mountain terrain, offering several direct views of the Grossglockner and its Pasterze glacier.
Getting the ride right
A compact or triple crankset is still recommended for this long high-altitude climb. Weather in the Austrian high mountains can change quickly even in summer: warm layers are essential for the descent, often cool and windy near the Hochtor tunnel.
When to go
May to October, as the road stays closed by snow the rest of the year at this altitude. July and August offer the best conditions, with the option to extend the ride via the Edelweißspitze scenic road, Austria’s highest point reachable by paved road, whether by car or by bike.
Good to know
Fusch an der Großglocknerstraße and Bruck offer enough accommodation for a stopover, with convenient access to Heiligenblut, on the Carinthian side, for extending the stay to other classics of the Hohe Tauern region.
