Koppenpass | 690 METER | Bad Aussee Obertraun

Although the Koppen Pass isn’t a classic high Alpine pass with dozens of hairpin bends, it’s still a real treat in terms of both driving and scenery.

The road winds through the deeply carved Koppental valley along the Koppentraun river. The landscape is surprisingly unspoilt and shady – ideal for hot summer’s days too.

The eastern ramp from Bad Aussee is fairly gentle and smooth. The drive becomes more challenging on the western side down to Obertraun: here you’ll find a steep ramp, up to 15 degrees, a few tight bends and a short, partly narrow rock formation. However, the road is well-maintained and can therefore be quite busy at weekends (due to day-trippers visiting the Hallstatt area).

The picture shows the top of the pass as seen from Bad Aussee.

Tips:

Just before Obertraun – on the western side – is the entrance to a water-filled show cave, the Koppenbrüllerhöhle. It’s worth stopping if you fancy swapping a bit of cornering for some cave exploration.

If you cross the pass from east to west, you’ll be heading straight towards Lake Hallstatt. The view that opens up down in the valley is fantastic.

Planning motorbike tours? Then use the “Alpenpässe-Atlas” tour planner. As well as Alpine passes, it includes POIs and hotels. Roadbooks and GPX data are available for pre-planned tours.