Grossglockner High Alpine Road

The Grossglockner High Alpine Road is a paved mountain road in Austria that crosses the Hohe Tauern range and provides a direct high-elevation connection between states on either side. It was constructed in the early 20th century to open alpine areas to motor traffic and tourism.

Travel along the route covers approximately 48 kilometers of engineered mountain roadway with numerous hairpins, tunnels, and lookout points. Key stops include the Hochtor pass at the road’s highest crossing and the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe visitor complex with panoramic viewpoints toward the Grossglockner massif and nearby glaciers.

Construction began in the early 1930s and the road opened in the mid-1930s as a major infrastructure and tourism project for the region. It has since been maintained as a scenic toll road and cultural landmark through the Hohe Tauern.

Geographically the route runs through the Austrian Alps between the federal states of Salzburg and Carinthia, traversing national park landscape of the Hohe Tauern. The road forms a high alpine corridor linking valley towns and is accessed from major nearby towns at either end.

• Access: Toll-operated scenic route with multiple designated viewing stops and small museums along the road; wheelchair access is limited at higher viewpoints.
• Seasonality: Best driven in summer months when the road is open; snow closures are common in winter and shoulder seasons.

What to See #

• Hochtor Pass: Sits at the road's highest crossing with a memorial and viewpoints over the surrounding Hohe Tauern mountains at about 2,504 meters above sea level.
• Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe: A major visitor complex offering exhibition panels, parking, and panoramic views toward the Pasterze Glacier and the Grossglockner massif, located near the Hochtor section of the route.