The queen of Alpine roads and other Sonnegg passes

Großglockner

At 3,798 m, the Großglockner is not only the highest mountain in Austria, it and its ingenious High Alpine Road are also almost within sight of our partner hotel Sonnegg. Our tip first: take a whole day for the Grossglockner High Alpine Road. It is well worth it.

The queen of all Austrian panoramic roads with its special services for motorcyclists - biker safes, dedicated parking spaces, combined tickets - belongs on everyone's bucket list. At least once a year. The perfectly developed road was completed in 1935 and began its unique triumphal march in tourism. The dead-end road up to the Edelweißspitze still has historic cobblestones and we can get very close to the Grossglockner and its Pasterze (glacier) via the turn-off to the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe. Very comfortable on the moped saddle.

DATA AND ROUTE
Length: 48 km
Highest point: 2.572 m
Difficulty: easy to medium
Toll: yes
Winter closure: November till May

From Hotel Mondschein to the highest point:
Kurviger Route ›››››

Gerlospass/Old Gerlos Street

With all the highlights around the Hotel Sonnegg, the Gerlos Pass just to the west doesn't have an easy time attracting our attention. Yet the Gerlos also has good arguments for an extensive visit.

The well-maintained Gerlos Alpine road not only allows us to speed around bends, it also gives us magnificent views of the famous Krimml waterfalls, the highest in Europe, in return for the toll.

And while the top of the toll road is almost 100 m above the actual Gerlos Pass, it is still suitable for beginners throughout. And just after the toll booth, the old (toll-free) Gerlos road branches off to the right. You should have a little alpine experience on a moped for this road, as the asphalt road, which crumbles heavily in places, swings down from the Gerlosplatte into Pinzgau in sometimes tight bends. Our tip: Make sure you enjoy the idyllic Gerlosplatte itself first, a high plateau with a reservoir and countless picnic spots.

DATA AND ROUTE
Length: 37 km
Highest point: 1.628 m
Difficulty: easy to medium
Toll: None
Winter closure: None

From Hotel Mondschein to the highest point:
Kurviger Route ›››››

Text: Heinz Studt
Photos: Heinz Studt, Peter Wahl