Fusch on the Großglocknerstraße: Alpine Road, Valley and Trails

In Fusch on the Großglocknerstraße, the Großglockner High Alpine Road begins on the Salzburg side. It leads to Heiligenblut am Großglockner on the Carinthian side. Alongside this Alpine route, the Fuschertal and Ferleitental valleys and various trails shape the character of the area. This offers different ways to focus your holiday planning: a road with striking elevations and hairpin bends, an impressive valley landscape, or trails that lead to a legend or a waterfall.

The Fuschertal and Ferleitental Valleys

The Fuschertal valley is 20 kilometres long. Its inner section, the Ferleitental, is considered the most deeply incised U-shaped valley in the Eastern Alps. At the head of the valley, the landscape is framed by glacier-covered peaks over 3,000 metres high. These terms describe different scales of the same landscape: the Fuschertal as a longer valley, the Ferleitental as its inner valley, and the head of the valley as a striking end point before the high peaks. Those interested in Alpine landscapes will find more than a single viewpoint here: the valley’s shape and depth, along with its glacier-covered mountains, define the character of the area.

The Großglockner High Alpine Road

The road is 48 kilometres long and climbs and descends through 36 hairpin bends to the Hochtor at an elevation of 2,504 metres. There are numerous viewpoints along the Großglockner High Alpine Road. Taken together, these details describe a route shaped by hairpin bends and changes in elevation, with the Hochtor as its destination. For travel planning, Fusch is a specific point of reference: the road begins here and continues to Heiligenblut on the Carinthian side. If you make this route the focus of your holiday, you can choose your base accordingly, rather than treating the road as just one stop among other experiences.

Trails with Different Themes

The “Hobagoas Legend Trail” circular route starts in Fusch at the Ponyhof holiday village and explores the legend of the Hobagoas. Nepomuk’s Path of the Senses begins at the tourist information office in Fusch and crosses a bridge directly over a waterfall. For families planning their day together, these are two clearly distinct themes: one focuses on the story of a legend, while the other crosses a waterfall via a bridge. You can choose between the trails based on your interests, while enjoying experiences that are unique to each one.

The first experience area after the Ferleiten/Fusch toll station on the Glocknerstraße also combines nature and interpretation. It includes a nature trail through the special conservation area with its larch meadows and the special exhibition “The Highest in Salzburg: Part 1 – Fascination of the Mountains.” Visitor facilities may be staffed seasonally, and the exhibition programme may change. If you include this area in your plans, check what is available during your travel dates before visiting.

History and Water in the Valley

The Church of Saint Wolfgang in Bad Fusch was built around the year 1400. It adds a historical note alongside the area’s landscape and route-related attractions. The Fuscher Ache offers another way to understand the valley’s geography: its fishing stretch begins in the Käfertal, runs through the Ferleitental and then through Fusch and Bruck, before flowing into the Salzach. From its source in the Käfertal to its confluence with the Salzach, the Ache is about 28 kilometres long. This figure refers to the entire watercourse.

Bärenbad Fusch offers swimming as well as food and drinks on a sunny terrace. Opening times and offerings may vary seasonally, so check what is available during your travel dates before visiting. When looking for a holiday apartment in Fusch, you can start by deciding what you want to focus on: the Großglockner High Alpine Road, the contrasts between the Fuschertal and Ferleitental valleys, or the named trails and historic sites. This way, you can choose your base according to the experiences you want to put at the heart of your holiday.

Discover more destinations: Vorstanddorf, Leogang, Zell am See, Königsleiten, Niedernsill, Kaprun, Großsonnberg, Reith.

Go to the main travel overview: Zell am See.