You understand a highway might be good when it has its personal official site. And if you happen to’re a fan of this weblog you realize that lots of my favorite rides are as much as excessive alpine dams/lakes … this journey has two.
The Silvretta Hochalpenstrasse is on the high of an extended valley that extends nearly 50 kilometres bottom-to-top. One thing that has impressed me on this Austrian journey is how usually decrease elements of valleys have high-quality bike paths segregated from the primary/solely by means of highway. So whereas right here the true climbing begins 16 kilometres earlier than the summit, cyclo-tourists can safely and enjoyably pedal decrease down.
I began in Sankt Gallennkirch and certainly rode one in all these nice bike paths for an extended stretch. Fabulous.
There’s a nasty tunnel roughly 15 kms from summit …. however the bike path bypasses it.
Like many large Austrian climbs, there’s a toll-booth for vehicles quickly after the highway begins climbing. No extra cities. However right here begins the primary of 29 hairpins.
At 1743 metres is the primary dam/lake, the Vermunt Stausee.
Above the lake was an indication to a excessive altitude refuge and a few trails that bought me considering of summer season mountain biking. Subsequent time. And shortly after, the twenty ninth hairpin:
The summit of the climb is a mountain cross: Bielerhöhe. I’ve seen it listed in dependable locations as 2037 metres, however the signal stated 2032 metres. Additionally, precisely on the summit is one other dam/lake, the Silvretta Stausee. Very good.
The far aspect of the climb can also be nearly 50 kilometres uphill however solely has 3 kilometres steeper than 5%. One big false flat. It’s presupposed to be good, however my Austria journey was over as my legs demanded I merely descend again to the beginning. However this can be a excellent through-pass for anybody touring. Pretty.
A 3D video of journey: