Driving the Hochtor Tunnel on the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, with breathtaking views of the Austrian Alps
Austria, europe
17.4 km
2,504 m
moderate
Year-round
# The Hochtor Tunnel: Austria's Alpine Thrill
Picture this: you're cruising along the stunning Grossglockner High Alpine Road, straddling the border between Salzburg and Carinthia, when you hit the Hochtor Tunnel—Austria's highest paved mountain pass at a breathtaking 2,504m (8,215ft) above sea level. This isn't just any tunnel; it's your gateway through the majestic Hohe Tauern range, part of the Central Eastern Alps.
The tunnel itself is surprisingly modest at just 311m long, but don't let that fool you. Getting here is the real adventure. Starting from Pockhorn, you'll climb a grueling 17.4 km while gaining 1,400 meters of elevation—that's an average gradient of 8% that'll definitely get your heart pumping. The road is completely paved, which is a relief when you're navigating these heights, and it's a toll road that rewards your fee with jaw-dropping Alpine scenery.
Here's the thing about visiting: you can only experience this epic drive from early May through late October. Weather in the high Alps is no joke, and conditions can change in a heartbeat, sometimes even forcing closures outside the regular season. The tunnel and road were engineered between 1933 and 1935—a testament to some serious mountain engineering from nearly a century ago.
If you're chasing mountain passes and want to tick off Austria's highest paved road, the Grossglockner High Alpine Road and its Hochtor Tunnel absolutely belong on your bucket list.
Where is it?
Driving the Hochtor Tunnel on the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, with breathtaking views of the Austrian Alps is located in Austria (europe). Coordinates: 47.0505, 13.3479
Road Details
- Country
- Austria
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 17.4 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,504 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- 47.0505, 13.3479
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