Gerlos Alpine Road (special toll)

The Gerlos Alpine Road, which runs directly within the Hohe Tauern National Park and Nature Reserve, is an approximately 12-kilometre-long, two-lane road subject to a toll (special toll route). It is located roughly 100 kilometres east of Innsbruck and can be reached by leaving the E45 heading south onto the 169, which turns into the 165 at Zell am Ziller.

Tip: National Park Sommercard or Salzburger SuperSkiCard?

Holders of the National Park Sommercard or the Salzburger SuperSkiCard can drive the Gerlos Alpine Road free of charge.

The Gerlos Alpine Road connects the towns of Königsleiten and Wald im Pinzgau in addition to Federal Road 165. The toll section of the Gerlos Alpine Road between Krimml and the summit (Pinzgauer Höhe) is around 12 kilometres long; the entire Gerlosstraße (B 165) from Zell am Ziller to Mittersill measures around 69 kilometres. The maximum gradient is 9%. The speed limit on the Alpine Road is 70 km/h. Since the route is approved not only for cars and motorcycles but also for trucks, increased traffic volumes can be expected, especially during holiday periods.

The Gerlos Alpine Road was planned in 1949 by Franz Wallack, who had already been responsible for planning the Grossglockner High Alpine Road. The Alpine road was built between 1960 and 1962, giving it a construction period of two years. However, the road has only been continuously passable since 1964. A characteristic feature of Wallack's design is that the Alpine Road blends extremely harmoniously into the surrounding landscape, giving the impression that it has always been part of its environment. The Krimml Waterfalls, an outstanding scenic highlight, can be admired from every car park along the Alpine Road.

Best seasons: summer and winter

In addition to the Krimml Waterfalls, the Gerlos Alpine Road leads directly through a holiday region, the Zillertal Arena. In summer, travellers and tourists have access to up to 400 kilometres of hiking trails, leading to various inns in the Hohe Tauern area.

In winter, the region becomes one of the most popular ski areas for skiers in Austria and is part of one of the largest ski networks in the world. The combination of the drive, hiking trails, ski area, hotels and restaurants, as well as the Krimml Waterfalls, makes the Gerlos Alpine Road, the former cart track, one of the most visited scenic routes in Austria.

On the western side of the area, the view is partially obscured by dense forest, but in return drivers benefit from numerous, very well-engineered bends. In the eastern section lie the particularly scenic Krimml Waterfalls. The best time to travel the Gerlos Alpine Road is generally between May and October.

At the summit, rare raised bogs can be observed. These are almost extinct, acidic and moist habitats that are fed entirely by precipitation yet withstand extreme weather conditions.

Anyone who does not want to use the Gerlos Alpine Road purely as a through route, but instead wishes to spend part of their holiday in this region, will find numerous hotels and restaurants on site and in the surrounding area.

Can you bypass the Gerlos Alpine Road?

Yes, the Gerlos Alpine Road can be bypassed by using the Gerlosstraße. However, this is very narrow in many places and is no longer in consistently good condition throughout. On the plus side, using the Gerlosstraße is free of charge.

The Europamaut team wishes you a pleasant journey!

We wish you a safe journey to Austria and are happy to help with any questions regarding toll regulations. Detailed information on the toll in Austria can be found in our guide. Feel free to use our route planner as well, to perfectly plan your journey and have suitable toll products displayed to you. Please contact us with any further questions about your journey or our digital vignette via our email.