Silvretta High Alpine Road
Austria, europe
22.3 km
2,036 m
moderate
June to October
# The Silvretta High Alpine Road
Picture this: a 22.3-kilometer stretch of pure Alpine magic winding through Austria's Silvretta range. This toll road connects the charming Montafon valley town of Partenen with Galtur over in the Paznaun valley, and honestly, it's one of those drives that'll leave you speechless.
Built over sixteen years (1938-1954), the road climbs up to the Bielerhöhe pass—sitting pretty at 2,036 meters—where you'll find the jaw-dropping Silvretta reservoir. Seriously, this water is *spectacularly* turquoise, like someone spilled liquid gemstones everywhere. That surreal color comes from glacial silt, and it creates this incredible contrast against the grey granite peaks and white glaciers surrounding it. The reservoir sits right at the base of Piz Buin, Vorarlberg's highest peak at 3,312 meters, making for some seriously photogenic moments.
The engineering here is wild: 30 hairpin bends snake their way through a landscape straight out of a dream—glaciers, mountain streams cascading down, pristine alpine meadows. It's the kind of scenery that makes you want to pull over every five minutes to just take it all in.
Once you reach the summit, the Bielerhöhe becomes your launchpad for hiking and mountaineering adventures throughout the range. And here's the best part: while everyone flocks to Austria's famous Grossglockner road, this gem stays refreshingly under-the-radar, offering equally stunning views without the crowds.
Where is it?
Silvretta High Alpine Road is located in Vorarlberg / Tyrol, Austria (europe). Coordinates: 46.9186, 10.0928
Driving Tips
# Road Trip Tips
The toll road here is only open from late May through October, so plan your visit during those months. Once you get up to the summit, you'll find a really cool reservoir that's definitely worth checking out — it's one of the main attractions of the drive.
If you're worried about crowds, good news: this route stays way less busy than the Grossglockner, so you can actually enjoy the scenery without battling tons of other travelers. That said, if you're on a motorcycle, you're going to absolutely love the hairpin turns here. The road surface is really well-maintained, which makes those twists and turns a genuine pleasure to ride rather than a white-knuckle experience.
Road Surface
Paved asphalt
Road Details
- Country
- Austria
- Continent
- europe
- Region
- Vorarlberg / Tyrol
- Length
- 22.3 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,036 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Surface
- Paved asphalt
- Best Season
- June to October
- Coordinates
- 46.9186, 10.0928
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