Nördliche Kalkalpen Forest Road — Hinterriss to Eng Alm via the Großer Ahornboden

The mautstraße from Hinterriss in Austria’s Karwendel massif to the Eng Alm and the Großer Ahornboden plateau is one of the most striking valley drives in the entire Alps. The road climbs through limestone gorge country along the Rißbach river — a tight, single-lane affair with passing bays — before opening onto the Ahornboden, a high plateau holding Europe’s largest stand of ancient sycamore maples. The maples, some genuinely over a thousand years old, turn flame-orange and gold in late September and early October, a spectacle that draws photographers from across the continent. The Karwendel walls above — near-vertical 2,000-metre limestone faces — frame the entire valley in grey rock and alpine meadow. Hikers and alpinists use the Eng Alm as a base; overlanders use it as a reason to drive slowly and stop often.

The road is paved but narrow, with steep grades and limited visibility around tight limestone bends — a high-clearance vehicle isn’t required, but any wide-body truck or large camper will find passing difficult. A toll is collected at the gate in Hinterriss (cash or card, around €8-10 per vehicle as of recent seasons). The road is gated and closed outside operating hours and through winter. Best visited late September for autumn colour, or June through July for alpine wildflower season. No permits beyond the toll. Camping is available at the Eng Alm area; dispersed camping outside designated sites is prohibited in Austria’s national parks.