Nockalmstrasse
Hors Catégorie38 km
Distance
1800 m
Elevation Gain
4.7%
Average Gradient
13%
Max Gradient
Austria's best-kept cycling secret and an alternative to the Grossglockner for riders who want dramatic Alpine scenery without tourist-road traffic. The Nockalmstrasse is a toll road through the Nockberge UNESCO Biosphere Reserve — a landscape of rounded, treeless mountains unlike any other in the Alps, covered in alpine grassland rather than the rocky peaks of the Glockner. The road crosses three passes in 38km: the Glocknerblick (1,982m), the Eisentalhöhe (2,042m), and the Turracher Höhe summit, passing through an entirely different scale of mountain to the dramatic jagged ridges of the Hohe Tauern. The gradient of 4.7% average with sections to 13% makes this a very long and ultimately manageable day. Traffic is substantially lower than the Grossglockner — a significant advantage for the riding quality.
Pro Tip
The Nockalmstrasse toll is approximately €16 for cyclists (verify current rate). The road is fully rideable from Ebene Reichenau (southern entrance) to Innerkrems (northern entrance) in a single day for a fit rider, with a car shuttle at both ends. Water available at the Schwarzenbachtal visitor centre at the midpoint. The Turracher Höhe has hotel and restaurant facilities at the northern summit.