Where is the Malta High Alpine Road?

Where is the Malta High Alpine Road?

Austria, europe

Length

14.4 km

Elevation

1,902 m

Difficulty

moderate

Best Season

Year-round

Okay, picture this: you're cruising through the Austrian Alps in Carinthia, north of the adorable village of Malta. You're on the Malta-Hochalmstraße, a toll road that's only open from May to October, so plan accordingly! This isn't just any road; it's a twisting, turning, 14.4km (8.94 miles) masterpiece carved into the mountains, eventually leading you to the Kölnbreinsperre, Austria's highest dam, sitting pretty at 1.902m (6,240ft).

Originally built for dam construction, now it's a thrill ride for drivers and bikers alike. Think hairpin turns, a maximum grade of 13%, and six super cool natural stone tunnels. Keep an eye out, because some of the uphill sections are only one lane. And there are traffic lights at the tightest spots to keep everyone safe and sound. The views following the Malta River? Seriously epic. Get ready for some serious mountain road magic!

Share this road

Road Details

Country
Austria
Continent
europe
Length
14.4 km
Max Elevation
1,902 m
Difficulty
moderate

Related Roads in europe

Driving the legendary Grossglockner High Alpine Road in the Alpsmoderate

Driving the legendary Grossglockner High Alpine Road in the Alps

🇦🇹 Austria

# The Großglockner-Hochalpenstraße: Alpine Magic at Its Finest Ready for one of Europe's most breathtaking drives? The Großglockner High Alpine Road is a 48-kilometer masterpiece that'll have you hitting the brakes every few minutes just to soak in the views. This stunning route connects Salzburg and Carinthia, taking you deep into the heart of Hohe Tauern National Park and right to the doorstep of Austria's most iconic peak. ## The Route Starting in Fusch-Ferleiten and ending in Heiligenblut, this fully paved road winds through 36 hairpin bends like a ribbon threading through the mountains. You'll summit at the Hochtor Pass (2,504m), where the air gets thin and the panoramas get absolutely wild. But here's the kicker—take the side road up to Edelweißspitze at 2,571m, and you've hit the highest passable point on the entire route. ## What to Expect Count on about 90 minutes of driving if you actually manage not to stop (spoiler alert: you will). The landscape shifts from lush alpine pastures to dramatic rocky terrain, with views of countless mountain summits that'll leave you speechless. The road's open from early May through late October, though weather can sometimes force closures during those shoulder months, so check ahead before you go. ## Worth the Trip Nearly 900,000 visitors tackle this road annually—and for good reason. Along the way, you'll find restaurants, snack bars, and exhibitions to break up the drive. The road even has its own legendary status, having featured in the famous Giro d'Italia bike race. Fun fact: This route follows paths that people have walked for almost 2,000 years. The road itself took five years and 4,000 workers to build (1930-1935), and it opened to the public on August 3rd, 1935. Now that's heritage you can drive.

A very bumpy, grueling road to Mont Fraitèvehard

A very bumpy, grueling road to Mont Fraitève

🇮🇹 Italy

# Mont Fraitève: Italy's Alpine Adventure Perched at a breathtaking 2,687 meters (8,815 feet) in the Italian Alps near the French border, Mont Fraitève ranks among the country's most elevated mountain roads. Located in Piedmont's stunning northwestern corner, this isn't your typical drive—it's an adrenaline-pumping mountain experience. The route to the summit is raw and rugged, with a rocky gravel surface that demands respect. Originally built as a chairlift access trail and now functioning as a ski-station service road, this path is seriously steep—some sections push a gnarly 30% gradient. The loose stones underfoot only add to the challenge, especially as you climb higher where the terrain gets even steeper and rockier. Here's the real kicker: you've got maybe a narrow window at the end of August to tackle this beast. The rest of the year? Forget about it. Even during summer, surprise snowfall isn't uncommon, and when winter rolls around, temperatures plummet to brutal levels. Add relentless winds that howl year-round, and you've got yourself one serious alpine challenge. But the rewards? Totally worth it. At the summit sits a welcoming bar where you can warm up, plus a weather station and radio broadcaster keeping watch over the peaks. The views? Absolutely spectacular. This is mountain driving for the bold and prepared.

Casetón de Ándara Refugehard

Casetón de Ándara Refuge

🇪🇸 Spain

# Refugio Casetón de Ándarca: Not Your Average Mountain Drive Looking for a real adventure? The route up to Refugio Casetón de Ándarca isn't for the faint of heart. This high-altitude refuge sits at 1,720m (5,643ft) in the stunning Cantabrian Mountains of northern Spain, nestled within the famous Picos de Europa National Park. Fair warning: if you're a novice driver, this isn't your road. The trek follows an old mine road that's entirely unpaved—think rugged, unpolished, and seriously challenging. This is a legit mountain drive complete with jaw-dropping views and, yeah, some genuinely sketchy dropoffs. You'll need nerves of steel and solid driving skills to handle the steep grades, with some sections hitting a brutal 15% incline. Starting from the CA-1 road, you're looking at a 3.4km ascent that climbs 407 meters with an average gradient of nearly 12%. It's relentless but absolutely worth it for the scenery. Timing is everything here—stick to late spring through early fall when the weather cooperates. During winter and shoulder seasons, snow can make this route downright treacherous. And yes, a 4x4 vehicle is non-negotiable; anything less and you're asking for trouble. This is the real deal for adventurous drivers who crave a challenge and aren't afraid of some serious mountain roads.

Where is Col du Noyer?hard

Where is Col du Noyer?

🇫🇷 France

Okay, buckle up for Col du Noyer, a seriously scenic mountain pass chilling at 1,664m (that's 5,459ft) in the Hautes-Alpes department of France. You'll find this gem in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, way down in southeastern France. Fun fact: there's a mountain refuge right at the top, built way back in 1858! The road, known as D17T, is smooth as butter, all nicely paved. They carved it out of an old mule path back in 1850, which used to be the main drag into Le Dévoluy. Trust me, the views are unreal – think rugged, dry ridges of Le Dévoluy on one side and the super green Drac Valley on the other. Word of warning, though: winter shuts this beauty down completely. Clocking in at 14.9 km (or 9.25 miles) from Le Dévoluy to Le Noyer, heading west to east, this pass is all about the twists and turns. Seriously, hairpin heaven! It’s a bit narrow, definitely remote, and has even starred in the Tour de France. So, you know it's legit.