Nockalm Road
Kärnten
The Nockalm Road, or Nockalmstraße, is a picturesque toll mountain road in Carinthia, Austria, stretching 35 kilometers from Innerkrems to Reichenau. It winds through the Nock Mountains, part of the Gurktal Alps, featuring 52 hairpin bends and a maximum gradient of 12%. The road offers breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding alpine landscape and is suitable for less experienced drivers, cyclists, and motorcyclists. Along the route, visitors can stop at several mountain huts serving local cuisine, explore nature trails, visit an alpine farming museum, and enjoy a natural healing spring. The road reaches its highest points at the Eisentalhöhe shoulder (2049 m) and the Schiestelscharte pass (2027 m), both popular viewpoints. Managed by the Großglockner Hochalpenstraßen AG since 1995, the road is open from May to October, providing a unique experience connecting the Lieser Valley with the Nock Mountains. The surrounding landscape is protected within the Biosphere Reserve Salzburger Lungau and Kärntner Nockberge, emphasizing conservation and natural beauty.
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Tip: The best time to visit the Nockalm Road is between May and October when the road is open daily from 8 AM to 6 PM, weather permitting. It is advisable to purchase toll tickets in advance to avoid delays. Note that vehicles with trailers are prohibited, and motorcycles are not allowed on the road between 6 PM and 8 AM. Visitors should plan for multiple stops to enjoy the mountain huts, nature trails, and viewpoints. Comfortable footwear is recommended for hiking the Elisabethweg trail near the Schiestelscharte. Early morning or late afternoon visits offer the best light for photography and fewer crowds.
Interesting facts
- •The Nockalm Road features 52 hairpin bends locally called 'Reidn', each named after native flowers to preserve the local dialect.
- •The highest points on the road are the Eisentalhöhe shoulder at 2049 meters and the Schiestelscharte pass at 2027 meters above sea level.
- •The road was built to connect the Tauern Autobahn with the Lieser Valley and enhance tourism in the Nock Mountains region.
- •A local hiking trail, the Elisabethweg, is named after Elisabeth Pusca, a former innkeeper and the inventor of the floral naming of the Reidn.
- •The road is closed to vehicles with trailers and restricts motorcycle traffic during nighttime hours for safety reasons.
History
The Nockalm Road was constructed following a 1971 study by the Carinthian government to connect the under-construction Tauern Autobahn with the Lieser Valley and improve access to the central region of Carinthia.
Built over several years and opened in 1981 as a toll road, it was designed to promote tourism and support forestry and alpine farming transport.
Plans for a ski area along the route were abandoned after local protests, leading to the designation of the surrounding landscape as a core zone of the former Nockberge National Park in 1987, now part of the Biosphere Reserve Salzburger Lungau and Kärntner Nockberge.
Since 1995, the road has been operated by the Großglockner Hochalpenstraßen AG.
Place Guide
Eisentalhöhe Shoulder
The highest point of the Nockalm Road at 2049 meters above sea level, offering panoramic views over the Nock Mountains and surrounding alpine landscape. A popular stop for photos and rest.
Schiestelscharte Pass
A mountain pass at 2027 meters elevation along the Nockalm Road, featuring a mountain hut and access to the Elisabethweg hiking trail leading steeply from Windebensee to the pass.
Alpine Farming Museum
A museum dedicated to the traditional alpine farming culture of the Nock Mountains region, showcasing historic tools, techniques, and lifestyle of the mountain farmers.
Nature Trails and Mountain Huts
Several nature trails run alongside the road offering educational paths about local flora and fauna. Multiple mountain huts provide regional cuisine and rest stops for travelers.
