A steep and busy road to the top of Fern Pass in Austria

Fernpass is a mountain pass sitting at 1,212m (3,976ft) in Austria's Tyrol region, nestled high in the western Tyrolean Alps.

Here's the thing about this route—it's got serious historical cred. Traders have been using this path since pre-Roman times, and these days it's become one of the busiest alpine passes in the Eastern Alps, connecting southern Germany to Innsbruck and beyond to the Brenner Pass.

The road itself, called Fernpass Straße (B 179), is completely paved and spans 17.7km (10.99 miles) running south-north from Nassereith to Lermoos. While it's well-maintained, we'll be honest—it's not exactly thrilling. You'll encounter steep sections with grades up to 8%, but don't expect jaw-dropping scenery or hair-raising curves. It's more of a straightforward, heavily-trafficked mountain crossing.

The road typically stays open year-round, though winter can bring occasional closures. If you're driving here between November and April, Austria requires you to carry proper winter equipment—no exceptions.

So if you're planning a drive through the Alps and find yourself considering Fernpass, just know what you're getting: a reliable, busy mountain pass with a long history, rather than a scenic alpine adventure. It gets the job done, efficiently, but probably won't be the highlight of your trip.