Motorcycle Roads In Austria: The Ultimate Riding Experience

Austria is a country known for its stunning landscapes, picturesque villages, and well-maintained roads. Its breathtaking roads with stellar and panoramic views are worth visiting. The country's highways and winding mountain roads provide motorcyclists with an unforgettable riding experience. The roads are surrounded by breathtaking alpine scenery, charming villages, and historic landmarks, making every ride memorable.

Austria is home to some of the best motorcycle roads in the world, with over 2140 great routes for all kinds of riders. Here are some of the must-ride motorcycle roads in Austria:

Grossglockner High Alpine Road

The Grossglockner High Alpine Road is a must-ride for motorcyclists in Austria. This genuine masterpiece in high alpine road building connects the provinces of Salzburg and Carinthia, offering breathtaking views and exciting experiences along the way. Here's what you need to know about riding the Grossglockner High Alpine Road:

The Road Itself

The Grossglockner High Alpine Road is the highest surfaced mountain pass road in Austria. It stretches 47.8 to 48 kilometres from Bruck in the Salzach Valley, Salzburg, to Heiligenblut in Carinthia. The road features numerous hairpin curves as it ascends to the Hochtor Pass at 2,504 metres above sea level. A 1.5-kilometre branch-off from Fuscher Törl at 2,428 metres leads to the Edelweißspitze viewpoint, the highest drivable point at 2,571 metres. The road crosses the Alpine divide in a tunnel and runs southwards, passing another branch-off that leads to the Glocknerhaus mountain hut and the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe visitors' centre at 2,369 metres.

The Scenery

The Grossglockner High Alpine Road is renowned for its stunning scenery and panoramic views. The road blends seamlessly into the mountains, with each twist and turn leading you deeper into the heart of the Hohe Tauern National Park. The road offers views of majestic mountain summits, glaciers, lush valleys, and woodlands. One of the highlights is the panoramic view from the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe overlook, named after Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria, which includes the Pasterze Glacier, the Grossglockner massif, the Glocknerwand, and the Johannisberg in the northwest.

The Experience

The Grossglockner High Alpine Road provides a unique experience with twelve adventure-packed stations along the route. These stations include various viewing points, free exhibitions, and exciting experiences such as themed panorama paths and hiking trails. The road is also known for its diverse vegetation levels, crossing four levels from the valley to the highest point: montane, subalpine, Alpine, and subnival to nival levels. The area is home to rare plants and animals, including the ibex, golden eagle, marmot, Apollo butterfly, and the Alpine bumblebee.

Practical Information

The Grossglockner High Alpine Road is typically open from early May to early November, depending on the weather conditions. A toll is charged for using the road, and you can purchase a day ticket online in advance to enjoy discounts at the shops along the route. The road can be busy during the peak season, so it's essential to plan your trip accordingly.

The Grossglockner High Alpine Road is a must-ride for motorcyclists exploring Austria. With its stunning scenery, diverse experiences, and technical riding, it offers an unforgettable journey through the heart of the Austrian Alps. So, make sure to add it to your motorcycle bucket list!

Nockalm Road

The Nockalm Road is a breathtakingly beautiful drive located in the Carinthia region of Austria. Completed in 1981, the road is almost 35 km long and features 52 gentle bends, providing access to the Nockberge Biosphere Reserve. The road is known for its well-distributed curves that make the ride smooth, even as it hits a 12% maximum gradient.

The Nockalm Road is a toll road that usually opens from early May to the end of October, with motorcycles prohibited between 6:00 pm and 8:00 am. The road offers stunning panoramic views of the surrounding mountain landscapes and is known for its rounded summits, called "Nocken", which are a unique feature in the Alpine region. Along the way, you'll find rustic lodges, mountain huts serving Carinthian specialties, and exhibitions on the geology, flora, and fauna of the area.

The Nockalm Road is a popular destination for motorcyclists, offering a mix of hairpin curves, sweeping bends, and long straights. The road surface is excellent, and there are strategic stops along the way with free lockers for bikers to store their gear. The road is set high in the southern part of the country, in the Carinthian Nock Mountains, and reaches a height of 2,042 m (6,699 ft) above sea level at Eisentalhöhe.

The Nockalm Road is not just a biker's paradise but also a nature lover's dream. The gradual slope of the Nockbergs, the unique "Nocken", and the spruce and stone pine forests in the Eastern Alps make it a must-visit destination. The road winds through Europe's only national park nestled in high mountains, providing plenty of opportunities for photography and exploration.

Gerlos Alpine Road

The Gerlos Alpine Road, locally known as the Gerlos Strasse and also known as the Pinzgauer Höhe, is a 69-kilometre-long mountain pass road that connects the Tyrolean town of Zell am Ziller to the Salzburg town of Mittersill. The road is located in the west of the Salzburg district of Pinzgau. The core part of the road, the actual Gerlos Alpine Road, is a 12-kilometre route from Krimml up to the Pinzgauer Höhe pass. The road was built between 1960 and 1962 by Franz Wallack, the constructor of the Grossglockner High Alpine Road.

The Gerlos Alpine Road is a great way to explore the alpine landscape leading to the 380-metre-high Krimml Waterfalls. The road is steep, with a maximum gradient of 9% through some of the ramps. The road is fully paved and open all year round. It is a popular route for motorcyclists, with eight hairpin turns and a continuous link from Krimml to Gerlos.

The Gerlos Alpine Road offers a panoramic view of the Alpine landscape between Mittersill and Krimml, and Tyrol's Zillertal. The road passes through the hiking and holiday area of Zillertal Arena and deep into the Hohe Tauern National Park, Austria's biggest National Park. The road is a great option for those seeking pure driving pleasure, with elegant curves that have been smoothly adapted to suit the composition of the terrain.

The Gerlos Alpine Road also provides access to the Zillertal Arena ski area in the winter. From Zell am Ziller or Mittersill, you can access 139 kilometres of pistes linked by 51 cable cars and lifts. The area also offers snow and fun parks, ski movie routes, 'speed check' ski runs, and photo points.

Goldeck Panoramic Road

The Goldeck Panoramic Road is a must-ride motorcycle road in Austria. Located in the Zlan-Stockenboi Region of Carinthia, this scenic route offers breathtaking views of the surrounding Julian and Carnic Alps, as well as the Carinthian mountains and valleys. The road is particularly popular among motorcyclists, drivers of vintage cars, and convertibles.

The road spans 14.5 kilometres from Zlan to the Parkplatz Seetal, a car park at an altitude of 1,895 metres above sea level. It features a moderate gradient of 10% and includes 10 impressive hairpin bends. The route takes approximately 15 to 25 minutes to drive without stopping, but allow yourself more time to take in the extraordinary beauty of the alpine summits and surrounding nature.

The Goldeck Panoramic Road is open from the beginning of May to the middle or end of October, daily from 8:30 am to 5 pm. It is important to note that this road is a toll road, so you will need to pay a fee for passage.

In addition to the stunning scenery, there are plenty of tourist attractions along the route. The "Seetal" viewpoint offers a particularly beautiful panorama and is also the starting point for numerous hiking trails and mountain tours that are family-friendly. Charming mountain inns dot the area, providing the perfect spots to rest and savour delicious Carinthian culinary specialties while admiring the fantastic views.

So, if you're planning a motorcycle trip to Austria, be sure to include the Goldeck Panoramic Road on your itinerary for an unforgettable riding experience.

Timmelsjoch High Alpine Road

The Timmelsjoch High Alpine Road is a must-ride for motorcycle enthusiasts. This toll road takes you through a spectacular glacier landscape in the Ötztal Valley, crossing the border to Italy as it winds its way up to the 2,478-metre-high Timmelsjoch pass. The road then descends into Italy's Passeiertal Valley and the charming town of Meran/Merano, 2,000 metres below.

The road is known for its magnificent views and is less busy than other mountain roads connecting Austria and Italy. Along the way, you'll encounter futuristic sculptures that tell the story of the region's nature, history, culture, society, and economy.

The road is usually open from May/June to mid-November, offering a great mixture of challenging low and high alpine pass driving with interesting and exciting terrain, hairpin turns, and spectacular views.

Upon reaching the top, there is a motorcycle and car museum, which is a great surprise and definitely worth visiting. The road is well-maintained, but it's good to be aware that you'll need to pay a toll when entering the Austrian side.

So, if you're looking for a ride with breathtaking views and a unique museum experience, the Timmelsjoch High Alpine Road is the perfect choice for your next motorcycle adventure.

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