Soboth Pass

The Soboth is a mountain pass road in the south-western foothills of the Koralpe range, near the tri-border area where Kärnten meets Steiermark and Slovenia. Its highest point, Koglereck, rises to 1,347 metres above sea level. The route runs from Lavamünd to Eibiswald, passing through what was once the village of Soboth, and is especially popular with motorcyclists for its sweeping bends and open views. The climb reaches a maximum gradient of fifteen per cent, making it a challenge for drivers and riders alike. On the eastern side of the pass lies the Soboth reservoir, sitting at 1,080 metres. The lake stretches three kilometres long and one wide, with depths reaching eighty metres. In summer the water warms to twenty-four degrees, and it stores water for the Koralpe power plant downstream. Visitors find a quiet alpine setting with wide panoramas across the surrounding hills. The reservoir’s clear waters reflect the sky and the wooded slopes, while the road itself offers sweeping curves and occasional viewpoints. In good weather the route attracts photographers and cyclists as well as motorcyclists. The higher slopes carry forests of spruce and beech, and on clear days the Julian Alps appear in the far distance.