List of highest paved roads in Switzerland
This is a list of the highest paved roads in Switzerland. It includes paved roads in the Alps that are over 1 kilometre (0.62 miles) long and whose culminating point is over 1,850 metres (6,070 feet) above sea level. This height approximately corresponds to that of the highest major settlements in the country.[1] Some of the listed roads are closed to motorised vehicles, although they are normally all accessible to pedestrians and cyclists. These mountain roads are popular with drivers, bikers and cyclists for their spectacular scenery and are often the highlights of bicycle races such as Tour de Suisse and Tour de Romandie. Many of them are also served by public transport, the main transport company being PostBus Switzerland.
As the tree line lies at approximately 2,000 metres in the Alps, almost all the upper sections of the listed roads are in the alpine zone, where the main form of precipitation becomes snow. Most of these roads are closed in winter, although important road links such as the Simplon remain open through the year.
This list does not include any motorway as the three highest motorways (San Bernardino Tunnel, Gotthard Road Tunnel and Vue des Alpes Tunnel) are below 1,700 metres.
List
Road | Highest elevation | Canton(s)[2] | Itinerary (highest point) | Highest point | Type[3] | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Umbrail | 2,501 m (8,205 ft) | Graubünden | Santa Maria Val Müstair–Umbrail Pass–Bormio (IT) | 46°32′35″N 10°26′02″E | Pass | |
Nufenen | 2,478 m (8,130 ft) | Ticino/Valais | Bedretto–Nufenen Pass–Ulrichen | 46°28′41″N 08°23′35″E | Pass | Only road between the cantons of Ticino and Valais |
Great St Bernard (pass road) | 2,469 m (8,100 ft) | Valais | Bourg-Saint-Pierre–Great St Bernard Pass–Saint Oyen (IT) | 45°52′08″N 7°10′14″E | Pass | |
Furka | 2,429 m (7,969 ft) | Uri/Valais | Realp–Furka Pass–Oberwald | 46°34′22″N 08°25′00″E | Pass | Only road between the cantons of Valais and Uri |
Grimsel Panoramastrasse | 2,390 m (7,841 ft) | Bern | Grimsel Pass–Stierenberg–Oberaarsee | 46°33′08″N 08°16′48″E | Dead-end | |
Moiry | 2,389 m (7,838 ft) | Valais | Grimentz–Lac de Moiry–Lac de Châteaupré | 46°06′24″N 07°34′44″E | Dead-end | |
Griessee | 2,387 m (7,831 ft) | Valais | Nufenen Pass road–Griessee | 46°27′44″N 08°22′22″E | Dead-end | Starting point on the Nufenen Pass road (p. 2,303 m) |
Flüela | 2,383 m (7,818 ft) | Graubünden | Davos–Flüela Pass–Susch | 46°45′01″N 09°56′52″E | Pass | |
Alp Anarosa | 2,340 m (7,677 ft) | Graubünden | Wergenstein–Tguma Parkplatz | 46°37′26″N 09°21′51″E | Dead-end | |
Bernina | 2,329 m (7,641 ft) | Graubünden | Pontresina–Bernina Pass–Poschiavo | 46°24.744′N 10°1.71′E | Pass | Also a railway pass (2,253 m); only road between the valley of Poschiavo and the rest of the country |
Livigno | 2,315 m (7,595 ft) | Graubünden | Poschiavo–Livigno Pass–Livigno (IT) | 46°26′33″N 10°03′25″E | Pass | |
Albula | 2,315 m (7,595 ft) | Graubünden | Bergün–Albula Pass–La Punt | 46°35′N 09°53′E | Pass | Railway tunnel below the pass |
Val Sambuco | 2,311 m (7,582 ft) | Ticino | Fusio–Lago del Narèt | 46°28′47″N 8°34′31″E | Dead-end | |
Robièi | 2,310 m (7,579 ft) | Ticino | Robièi–Lago dei Cavagnöö | 46°27′19″N 08°30′30″E | Dead-end | Only accessible by aerial tramway (lowest point: 1,856 m) |
Julier | 2,284 m (7,493 ft) | Graubünden | Bivio–Julier Pass–Silvaplana | 46°28.32′N 09°43.74′E | Pass | |
Susten | 2,264 m (7,428 ft) | Bern/Uri | Gadmen–Susten Pass–Wassen | 46°43.8′N 08°26.94′E | Pass | Road tunnel at 2,224 m, dead-end road to the summit of the pass on the Bernese side; only road between the cantons of Bern and Uri |
Lago della Sella dam | 2,257 m (7,405 ft) | Ticino | Gotthard Pass Hospice–Lago della Sella | 46°33′33″N 08°35′34″E | Dead-end | |
Sanetsch | 2,252 m (7,388 ft) | Valais | Conthey or Savièse–Sanetsch Pass–Lac de Sanetsch | 46°19′51″N 07°17′10″E | Dead-end | Road ends at Lac de Sanetsch |
Passo Scimfuss | 2,242 m (7,356 ft) | Ticino | Gotthard Pass Hospice–Passo Scimfuss | 46°32′35″N 08°35′28″E | Dead-end | |
Alpe Galm | 2,231 m (7,320 ft) | Valais | Guttet–Galm | 46°21′23″N 07°40′52″E | Dead-end | |
Männlichen | 2,224 m (7,297 ft) | Bern | Grindelwald–Männlichen Station | 46°36′41″N 07°56′33″E | Dead-end | |
Emosson | 2,206 m (7,238 ft) | Valais | Finhaut–Lac d'Emosson–Lac du Vieux Emosson | 46°03′47″N 06°53′56″E | Dead-end | Public road to Emosson dam (1,965 m), limited access to Vieux Emosson dam |
Täschalp | 2,205 m (7,234 ft) | Valais | Täsch–Täschalp | 46°03′30″N 07°48′45″E | Dead-end | |
Mattmark | 2,203 m (7,228 ft) | Valais | Saas-Almagell–Mattmarksee | 46°03′01″N 07°57′50″E | Dead-end | |
Croix de Coeur | 2,173 m (7,129 ft) | Valais | Verbier–Croix de Coeur | 46°07′18″N 07°13′57″E | Dead-end | Gravel road from La Tsoumaz side |
Grimsel | 2,164 m (7,100 ft) | Bern/Valais | Guttannen–Grimsel Pass–Oberwald | 46°33.72′N 8°20.34′E | Pass | Only paved road between the cantons of Bern and Valais |
Ofen | 2,149 m (7,051 ft) | Graubünden | Zernez–Ofen Pass–Tschierv | 46°38.472′N 10°17.598′E | Pass | Only paved road between the Val Müstair and the rest of the country |
Val des Dix | 2,141 m (7,024 ft) | Valais | Hérémence or Euseigne–Grande Dixence | 46°05′03″N 07°24′13″E | Dead-end | Paved road ends at Le Chargeur, at the foot of the dam |
Nagens | 2,134 m (7,001 ft) | Graubünden | Laax–Nagen | 46°51′42″N 09°13′50″E | Dead-end | |
Avers | 2,124 m (6,969 ft) | Graubünden | Ausserferrera–Juf | 46°26′45″N 09°34′45″E | Dead-end | Road to the highest settlement in Europe |
Splügen | 2,117 m (6,946 ft) | Graubünden | Splügen–Splügen Pass–Campodolcino (IT) | 46°30.36′N 09°20.22′E | Pass | |
Val d'Arolla | 2,107 m (6,913 ft) | Valais | Les Haudères–Arolla | 46°01′33″N 07°28′39″E | Dead-end | Highest point above Arolla |
Gotthard (main pass road) | 2,106 m (6,909 ft) | Ticino/Uri | Airolo–Gotthard Pass–Hospenthal | 46.559167°N 08.561389°E | Pass | Highest point on the Uri side: 1,903 m |
Gotthard (Tremola road) | 2,106 m (6,909 ft) | Ticino/Uri | Airolo (Motto Bartola)–Gotthard Pass–Hospenthal (Brüggloch) | 46.559167°N 08.561389°E | Pass | Historical road mostly paved with granite stones, highest point on the Uri side: 1,903 m |
Lauchernalp | 2,102 m (6,896 ft) | Valais | Wiler (Lötschen)–Lauchernalp | 46°24′54″N 07°46′15″E | Dead-end | |
Weritzalp | 2,099 m (6,886 ft) | Valais | Wiler (Lötschen)–Weritzalp | 46°25′18″N 07°47′33″E | Dead-end | |
Thyon | 2,095 m (6,873 ft) | Valais | Hérémence–Thyon | 46°10′55″N 07°22′21″E | Dead-end | |
Stein Glacier | 2,090 m (6,857 ft) | Bern | Hotel Steingletscher–Parkplatz | 46°42′48″N 08°24′58″E | Dead-end | Starting point on the Susten Pass road (1,865 m), end at the foot of the western Stein Glacier tongue |
Mandelon | 2,068 m (6,785 ft) | Valais | Hérémence–Mandelon | 46°07′52″N 07°24′41″E | Dead-end | |
San Bernardino | 2,065 m (6,775 ft) | Graubünden | Hinterrhein–San Bernardino Pass–San Bernardino | 46.496111°N 9.170833°E | Pass | |
Valle di Campo | 2,064 m (6,772 ft) | Graubünden | Poschiavo (Sfazù)–Alpe Campo | 46°24′05″N 10°07′07″E | Dead-end | |
Steinigboda | 2,049 m (6,722 ft) | Graubünden | Nufenen–Steinigboda | 46°33′17″N 09°14′31″E | Dead-end | |
Moosalp | 2,048 m (6,719 ft) | Valais | Bürchen–Moosalp–Törbel | 46°15′05″N 07°49′47″E | Pass | |
Salastrains | 2,048 m (6,719 ft) | Graubünden | St. Moritz–Salastrains | 46°29′58″N 09°49′43″E | Dead-end | |
Oberalp | 2,046 m (6,713 ft) | Graubünden/Uri | Sedrun–Oberalp Pass–Andermatt | 46.659°N 8.671°E | Pass | Also a railway pass |
Marguns | 2,040 m (6,693 ft) | Graubünden | St. Moritz–Suvretta–Marguns | 46°29′23″N 09°48′59″E | Dead-end | |
Curnera | 2,039 m (6,690 ft) | Graubünden | Tschamut (Surpalits)–Lai da Curnera | 46°38′16″N 08°42′25″E | Dead-end | Highest point west of Lai da Curnera dam |
Bettmeralp | 2,037 m (6,683 ft) | Valais | Riederalp–Bettmeralp | 46°23′45″N 08°03′56″E | Dead-end | Limited access (both Riederalp and Bettmeralp are car-free resorts accessible only by aerial tramway), culminating point above Bettmersee |
Bussalp | 2,022 m (6,634 ft) | Bern | Grindelwald–Oberläger | 46°39′24″N 07°59′22″E | Dead-end | |
Val Camadra | 2,012 m (6,601 ft) | Ticino | Campo Blenio–Pian Geirett | 46°36′16″N 08°56′04″E | Dead-end | |
Mittler Hütte | 2,010 m (6,594 ft) | Graubünden | Arosa–Mittler Hütte | 46°47′11″N 09°39′45″E | Dead-end | |
Dischma | 2,007 m (6,585 ft) | Graubünden | Davos–Dürrboden | 46°43′17″N 09°55′19″E | Dead-end | |
Simplon (E62) | 2,005 m (6,578 ft) | Valais | Brig–Simplon Pass–Simplon | 46.251667°N 8.033333°E | Pass | Highest point of the European route network in Europe |
Val Pontirone | 2,005 m (6,578 ft) | Ticino | Malvaglia–Alpe di Cava | 46°21′35″N 09°02′01″E | Dead-end | |
Fideriser Heuberge | 2,000 m (6,562 ft) | Graubünden | Fideris–Berghaus Arflina | 46°51′59″N 09°43′32″E | Dead-end | |
Melchsee-Frutt | 1,980 m (6,496 ft) | Obwalden | Kerns (Stöckalp)–Melchsee-Frutt–Tannensee–Tannalp | 46°46′33″N 08°18′52″E | Dead-end | |
Chandolin | 1,978 m (6,490 ft) | Valais | Saint-Luc–Chandolin | 46°15′13″N 07°35′28″E | Dead-end | |
Mauvoisin | 1,976 m (6,483 ft) | Valais | Fionnay–Mauvoisin–Mauvoisin Dam | 45°59′52″N 07°20′43″E | Dead-end | |
Lukmanier | 1,973 m (6,473 ft) | Graubünden/Ticino | Disentis–Lukmanier Pass–Blenio | 46°34′29″N 08°48′04″E | Pass | Highest point north of Lukmanier Pass, highest point on the Ticino side: 1,915 m |
Val Fex | 1,973 m (6,473 ft) | Graubünden | Sils Maria–Curtins | 46°24′05″N 09°46′32″E | Dead-end | |
Mattertal | 1,973 m (6,473 ft) | Valais | Zermatt–Furi–Zmutt Stausee | 46°00′27″N 07°42′35″E | Dead-end | |
Sillerenbühl | 1,973 m (6,473 ft) | Bern | Adelboden–Sillerenbühl | 46°28′18″N 07°31′04″E | Dead-end | |
Nalps | 1,967 m (6,453 ft) | Graubünden | Sedrun–Lai da Nalps | 46°38′20″N 08°45′57″E | Dead-end | |
Giw | 1,962 m (6,437 ft) | Valais | Visperterminen–Giw | 46°15′20″N 07°55′25″E | Dead-end | |
Grosse Scheidegg | 1,961 m (6,434 ft) | Bern | Grindelwald–Grosse Scheidegg Pass–Meiringen | 46°39′21″N 08°06′07″E | Pass | Limited access |
Alp Foppa | 1,951 m (6,401 ft) | Graubünden | Salouf–Cre digl Lai–Som igls Mellens | 46°36′21″N 09°31′54″E | Dead-end | Unpaved road to Alp Foppa (2,004 m) |
Hahnenmoos | 1,950 m (6,398 ft) | Bern | Adelboden–Hahnenmoos Pass | 46°27′11″N 07°29′42″E | Dead-end | Unpaved road on the Lenk side of the pass |
Valle di Lei | 1,950 m (6,398 ft) | Graubünden | Innerferrera (Campsut)–Tunnel–Lago di Lei | 46°28′59″N 09°26′57″E | Dead-end | |
Lavoz | 1,950 m (6,398 ft) | Graubünden | Lenzerheide–Lavoz | 46°44′36″N 09°31′39″E | Dead-end | |
Klausen | 1,948 m (6,391 ft) | Uri/Glarus | Unterschächen–Klausen Pass–Linthal | 46°52′05″N 08°51′17″E | Pass | Highest point on the Glarus side: 1,310 m |
Farur | 1,940 m (6,365 ft) | Graubünden | Tschiertschen–Farur | 46°47′57″N 09°35′45″E | Dead-end | |
Feselalp | 1,937 m (6,355 ft) | Valais | Erschmatt–Jeizinen–Untere Feselalp | 46°20′26″N 07°43′29″E | Dead-end | Unpaved road to Stafel (2,205 m) |
Lü | 1,930 m (6,332 ft) | Graubünden | Fuldera–Lü | 46°37′26″N 10°22′03″E | Dead-end | |
Diemtigtal | 1,929 m (6,329 ft) | Bern | Grimmialp–Oberberg | 46°32′17″N 07°31′52″E | Dead-end | |
Torrentalp | 1,928 m (6,325 ft) | Valais | Albinen or Leukerbad–Torrentalp | 46°21′42″N 07°38′28″E | Dead-end | |
Munter-Ratitsch | 1,927 m (6,322 ft) | Graubünden | Salouf–Munter-Ratitsch | 46°38′10″N 09°31′58″E | Dead-end | End of paved road between the hamlets of Munter and Ratitsch |
Alp Scharmoin | 1,922 m (6,306 ft) | Graubünden | Lenzerheide–Alp Scharmoin | 46°44′50″N 09°34′32″E | Dead-end | |
Great St Bernard (main road) | 1,916 m (6,286 ft) | Valais | Martigny–Great St Bernard Tunnel–Aosta (IT) | 45°54′10″N 07°11′50″E | Pass | |
Alp Flix | 1,913 m (6,276 ft) | Graubünden | Sur–Alp Flix | 46°31′40″N 09°38′39″E | Dead-end | |
Wyssenberg | 1,910 m (6,266 ft) | Bern | Lenk–Obers Läger–Wyssenberg | 46°28′47″N 07°28′17″E | Dead-end | |
Alp Quader | 1,906 m (6,253 ft) | Graubünden | Breil/Brigels–Alp Quader | 46°47′24″N 09°04′11″E | Dead-end | |
Turtmanntal | 1,901 m (6,237 ft) | Valais | Oberems–Gruben/Meiden–Vorder Sänntum | 46°11′08″N 07°41′45″E | Dead-end | |
Radons | 1,885 m (6,184 ft) | Graubünden | Parsonz–Radons | 46°33′35″N 09°33′04″E | Dead-end | |
Alp Gronda | 1,883 m (6,178 ft) | Graubünden | Präz–Präzer Alp | 46°44′25″N 09°22′56″E | Dead-end | |
Ferpècle | 1,882 m (6,175 ft) | Valais | Les Haudères–Ferpècle | 46°03′35″N 07°32′49″E | Dead-end | |
Furggu | 1,881 m (6,171 ft) | Valais | Gondo–Zwischbergen–Furggu–Sale | 46°10′41″N 08°05′49″E | Dead-end | |
Cave du Sex | 1,878 m (6,161 ft) | Valais | Aminona–Cave du Sex | 46°20′46″N 07°32′19″E | Dead-end | |
Milez | 1,878 m (6,161 ft) | Graubünden | Sedrun (Rueras)–Milez | 46°39′58″N 08°43′08″E | Dead-end | |
Rosswald | 1,874 m (6,148 ft) | Valais | Ried-Brig–Rosswald | 46°18′15″N 08°02′39″E | Dead-end | |
Zervreila | 1,864 m (6,115 ft) | Graubünden | Vals–Zervreilasee | 46°34′37″N 09°07′13″E | Dead-end | |
Obermutten | 1,863 m (6,112 ft) | Graubünden | Mutten–Obermutten | 46°40′21″N 09°29′02″E | Dead-end | |
Sertig | 1,861 m (6,106 ft) | Graubünden | Davos–Sertig Dörfli | 46°43′33″N 09°50′53″E | Dead-end | |
Samnaun | 1,860 m (6,102 ft) | Graubünden | Martina (Vinadi)–Samnaun | 46°56′31″N 10°21′25″E | Dead-end | |
Alp Lasa | 1,854 m (6,083 ft) | St. Gallen | Bad Ragaz (Valens)–Obersäss | 46°58′15″N 09°26′05″E | Dead-end | |
Ritom | 1,851 m (6,073 ft) | Ticino | Piotta (Altanca)–Lago Ritom | 46°32′03″N 08°40′35″E | Dead-end |
See also
- Transport in Switzerland
- List of mountain railways in Switzerland (highest railways in Switzerland)
- List of highest road passes in Switzerland
- List of highest paved roads in Europe
References
- The highest towns with over 1000 inhabitants are St. Moritz (1,822 m), Silvaplana (1,815 m), Pontresina (1,805 m) and Saas-Fee (1,803 m).
- Cantons where the road is below 1,850 metres are indicated in small letters.
- Only roads of which both ends are connected to the main European road network are indicated as "Pass".
- Swisstopo topographic maps (1:25,000)
- Quäldich.de (German)