Gerlos Alpine Road (special toll)

The Gerlos Alpine Road, which runs directly through the Hohe Tauern National Park and Nature Reserve, is an approximately 12-kilometre-long, two-lane road subject to a route toll (special toll road). It is located roughly 100 kilometres east of Innsbruck and can be reached by leaving the E 45 heading south onto the 169, which turns into the 165 at Zell am Ziller.

Tip: Nationalpark Sommercard or Salzburger SuperSkiCard?

Holders of the Nationalpark Sommercard or the Salzburger SuperSkiCard can use the Gerlos Alpine Road free of charge.

The Gerlos Alpine Road connects the villages of Königsleiten and Wald im Pinzgau, in addition to the B 165 federal road. In total, the Gerlos Alpine Road is around 20 kilometres long. 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 lorries, an increased volume of traffic 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, meaning the construction period lasted two years. However, the road has only been open for continuous use 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 this environment. The Krimml Waterfalls, an outstanding scenic highlight, can be admired from every car park along the Alpine road.

Best times of year: summer and winter

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

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 panoramic roads in Austria.

On the western side of the area, the view is partly obscured by dense forest, but drivers benefit from numerous, very well-developed bends. In the eastern section are the particularly worth-seeing Krimml Waterfalls. The best time to travel the Gerlos Alpine Road is generally between May and October.

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

Anyone who does not want to use the Gerlos Alpine Road purely as a connecting route, but wants 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 a consistently optimal condition. The use of the Gerlosstraße is free of charge, though.

The Europamaut team wishes you a pleasant journey!

We wish you a safe journey to Austria and are happy to help with any questions about toll regulations. You can find detailed information on tolls in Austria in our guide. Feel free to also use our route planner to plan your trip perfectly and have suitable toll products displayed. If you have any further questions about your trip or our digital vignette, please feel free to contact us via email.

FAQ about the Gerlos Alpine Road

Is the Gerlos Alpine Road subject to a (route) toll?

Yes, the Gerlos Alpine Road is subject to a toll, as a route toll is charged for its use.

How high is Gerlos in Austria?

The village of Gerlos is located at an altitude of 1,247 metres above sea level.

What does the Gerlos Alpine Road connect?

The Gerlos Alpine Road serves as an important pass road. It connects the two Austrian federal states of Salzburg and Tyrol, and also provides a link between the municipality of Wald and Königsleiten.