
Driving the Alpine paved road to Pillerhohe
Austria, europe
23.5 km
1,573 m
hard
Year-round
# Pillerhöhe: A Hidden Alpine Gem
Tucked away in Tyrol's western reaches, Pillerhöhe sits pretty at 1,573m (5,160ft) and offers one seriously rewarding drive through the Austrian Alps. The fully paved Piller Landesstraße winds its way from Fließ up to Arzl im Pitztal—a scenic 23.5 km (14.60 miles) stretch that feels like driving through a postcard.
Fair warning though: this isn't a leisurely cruise. The road gets genuinely steep in sections, with gradients reaching a punishing 19.1%, so you'll want to keep your wits about you. But that's half the charm, right? The narrow passages and challenging climbs reward bold drivers with incredible Alpine scenery at every turn.
The real cherry on top? Just south of the summit, you'll find the "Gacher Blick" viewpoint—a perfect spot to catch your breath (literally) and soak in stunning views across the Inn Valley. It's the kind of place that makes your Instagram feed jealous and reminds you why mountain passes exist in the first place.
Where is it?
Driving the Alpine paved road to Pillerhohe is located in Austria (europe). Coordinates: 47.4685, 13.0831
Road Details
- Country
- Austria
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 23.5 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,573 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 47.4685, 13.0831
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