The Großglockner-Hochalpenstraße

The Großglockner-Hochalpenstraße, or Grossglockner High Alpine Road is one of Austria’s most popular tourist attractions. The road is 48 kms long and goes from beautiful bush right up into snow covered mountain tops over 36 hairpin bends.

Just before the start of the road, in the last town before the big climb.

A map of the ranges you can see as you drive up the road.

Still in the early stages.

A nice view of the road below, with its multiple hair turn bends. And yes lots of mad cyclists who cycle up it. To be fair to them, it will be amazing going down the other side.

The actual Grossglockner peak is the one on the left, behind the other two.

This is close to the end of the road, just before the Kaiser Franz Josefs Höhe Visitors’ Centre. A three sided tunnel is just ahead.

Up on the roof the visitors centre.

These little critters don’t seem to mind the cold so much.

Just below the peak, is this little dam creating a crystal blue lake, as mountain water empties into it.

The road is only 90 minutes south of Salzburg, so easy to do in a day. Traffic actually moves very quickly on the road itself – the biggest time delays are the multiple areas where you can pull over to take photos. We do so at least 15 or so times. The views were worth it.