Where is Großer Oscheniksee?

Where is Großer Oscheniksee?

Austria, europe

Length

8.5 km

Elevation

2,390 m

Difficulty

hard

Best Season

Year-round

Okay, picture this: You're in Carinthia, Austria, deep in the Fragant valley, ready to tackle a beast of a road up to Großer Oscheniksee, a stunning mountain reservoir perched at 2,390m (7,841ft). This climb? Legendary.

Starting from Innerfragant, you've got 8.5km (5.28 miles) of paved, but seriously narrow road ahead. And get this—39 hairpin turns! Hope you're not prone to motion sickness. The road's typically open only from early May to late September, thanks to the heavy snow.

But the real kicker? This road isn't messing around. Prepare for sections hitting a brutal 20% gradient. Seriously, some say it's one of the toughest climbs in the Alps. You'll gain 1,106 meters in elevation, averaging a lung-busting 13.01% incline. But trust me, the views from the top make it all worthwhile! Just be aware that access to the reservoir is currently blocked by a barrier.

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Road Details

Country
Austria
Continent
europe
Length
8.5 km
Max Elevation
2,390 m
Difficulty
hard

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Where is Großer Oscheniksee? - Austria - RoadScout