- Summit
- 790 m
- Length
- 12.9 km
- Climb
- 367 m
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Status
Winter closure unconfirmed. We found no official source for this road's winter status. Check with the canton before riding.
Rating
Two separate values: how good the pass is to ride in general, and how nice it is today.
Passklar rating from route data
Provisional rating (little data)
Data coverage 56% · Calculated from data, not rider reviews. How we rate
Today's rating from weather and pass status
Open
−2 rain from 13:00, −1 thunderstorms from 13:00, −0.5 wind 53 km/h
As of 21:56 · summit values estimated · Always confirm with official road info before riding.
Sample dataLive view
Webcam images around the summit and the latest measured temperature. Images only show one spot; they do not replace official road information.
Last measured: 11.7 °C at Ebnat-Kappel (623 m), · Source: DEMO (keine echte Messung)
No webcam is available for this pass at the moment.
Valley vs summit forecast
Valley and summit side by side, so you pack for the top, not for the car park. Sample data
| Day | Valley | Summit (estimated) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| min / max °C | Rain | min / max °C | Rain | Wind | |
| Sat 31 Oct | 11 / 16 | 20% · 0.0 mm | 8 / 13 | 20% · 0.0 mm | 48 km/h |
| Sun 1 Nov | 6 / 11 | 30% · 0.0 mm | 3 / 8 | 30% · 0.0 mm | 54 km/h |
| Mon 2 Nov | 6 / 12 | 10% · 0.0 mm | 4 / 10 | 10% · 0.0 mm | 39 km/h |
| Tue 3 Nov | 5 / 10 | 80% · 0.2 mm | 3 / 7 | 80% · 0.2 mm | 47 km/h |
Weather: Demo data (not a forecast). Summit values marked “est.” are estimated from the valley at 0.65 °C per 100 m. Summit values are estimated from the valley forecast (0.65 °C per 100 m). No summit station nearby.Updated 30 Oct 2026, 21:56
10 °C (air, no wind chill) · hourly forecast · Wind up to 36 km/h (Rickenpass) · Summit arrival about 09:00
Full advice in the pass plannerGear tip
Rickenpass, tomorrow feels like −2 °C
- Visor / Pinlock: Fog-free visor: double-walled (Pinlock) or anti-fog coated visor, or anti-fog spray. Our pick: Nordwand Tourer FF 5.0
- Gloves: Winter gloves with liners.
Advice from the kit rules. Products only with at least 4.0 stars Passklar score; not a test. · estimated
Show all tips (8)
- Tyres & road SafetyAutumn: wet leaves make the road very slippery. Hoarfrost in the morning, and moisture in shaded spots all day. Tyre grip drops in cooler temperatures. ifz.de (opens in a new tab)
- Visor SafetyLow autumn sun and fog banks: a sun visor or sunglasses help against glare, but take them off at dusk. Slow down when the sun dazzles you. ifz.de (opens in a new tab) Compare 2 matching products →
- Riding SafetyAvoid hard acceleration, big lean angles and hard braking. ifz.de (opens in a new tab)
- Riding SafetyOnce autumn sets in, many passes close for snow. Check pass status the same morning. tcs.ch (opens in a new tab)
- JacketVents closed at the summit. Jacket and pants with a removable liner handle the change from valley to summit best. Rule of thumb Our pick: Sella Transalp Jacket →
- Mid layerPack a thin mid layer (fleece or thin down) to put on at the summit. Rule of thumb
- NeckNeck tube against the draught at the collar. Rule of thumb
- GlovesTouring gloves; pack a warmer pair if you stay up high. Rule of thumb
TyresSwiss law: at least 1.6 mm tread depth across the whole tread (VTS Art. 58). The wear indicator on motorcycle tyres sits at only 0.8 mm, so do not rely on it. TCS recommends at least 2 mm at the start of the season. For cold-season rides, the ifz recommends not letting tread drop below 4 mm. For pass touring, touring and sport-touring tyres (high-silica compounds) are the better fit: they warm up quickly and grip in the wet. Track and race tyres work only inside a high temperature window and are not suited to cold, wet mountain roads; slicks are not road-legal. Use the tyre pressures set by your motorcycle maker (owner's manual or sticker), checked with cold tyres. If your manual lists values for riding with a passenger or luggage, use those. The maximum pressure on the sidewall is not a riding pressure. Tyre age: the last four digits of the DOT code are the week and year of manufacture (4521 = week 45, 2021). Tyre makers advise a yearly check by a professional from 5 years of use and replacing tyres older than 10 years, even if they look fine. New tyres: ride gently for the first 100 km (gentle acceleration and braking, low lean angles). In cold weather this takes longer. Switzerland has no winter tyre obligation, but your vehicle must be roadworthy for the conditions (Art. 29 SVG). Tyres unsuited to winter conditions can mean a fine and problems with your insurer. Tyre makers advise against riding a motorcycle on snow or ice. Visor without cracks or scratches that affect your view. TCS suggests thinking about a new helmet after five to seven years. More on tyres
Swiss law: at least 1.6 mm tread depth across the whole tread (VTS Art. 58). The wear indicator on motorcycle tyres sits at only 0.8 mm, so do not rely on it. bfu.ch (opens in a new tab)
TCS recommends at least 2 mm at the start of the season. For cold-season rides, the ifz recommends not letting tread drop below 4 mm. tcs.ch (opens in a new tab)
For pass touring, touring and sport-touring tyres (high-silica compounds) are the better fit: they warm up quickly and grip in the wet. Track and race tyres work only inside a high temperature window and are not suited to cold, wet mountain roads; slicks are not road-legal. michelinman.com (opens in a new tab)
Use the tyre pressures set by your motorcycle maker (owner's manual or sticker), checked with cold tyres. If your manual lists values for riding with a passenger or luggage, use those. The maximum pressure on the sidewall is not a riding pressure. michelin.co.uk (opens in a new tab)
Tyre age: the last four digits of the DOT code are the week and year of manufacture (4521 = week 45, 2021). Tyre makers advise a yearly check by a professional from 5 years of use and replacing tyres older than 10 years, even if they look fine. michelinman.com (opens in a new tab)
New tyres: ride gently for the first 100 km (gentle acceleration and braking, low lean angles). In cold weather this takes longer. michelin.com.au (opens in a new tab)
Switzerland has no winter tyre obligation, but your vehicle must be roadworthy for the conditions (Art. 29 SVG). Tyres unsuited to winter conditions can mean a fine and problems with your insurer. Tyre makers advise against riding a motorcycle on snow or ice. tcs.ch (opens in a new tab)
Visor without cracks or scratches that affect your view. TCS suggests thinking about a new helmet after five to seven years. tcs.ch (opens in a new tab)
Event closures
Cycling races, hill climbs and other events that close the pass fully or partly.
No known closures for events.
Opening history
No opening history on record yet.
Elevation profile
Main road 8 from the Linth plain over to the Toggenburg; quick and open, but a truck route.
Today’s high on top
13°
Rickenpass · 790 m · 16° down in Uznach · estimated
| Station | km | Altitude | Temp. vs start |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uznach | 0.0 | 423 m | ±0 °C |
| Rickenpass | 7.9 | 790 m | −2 °C |
| Wattwil | 12.9 | 610 m | −1 °C |
Difficulty: Moderate
- Max gradient
- 9%
- Road width
- Wide
- Traffic
- High
- Winter
- Winter closure unconfirmed
Max 9% (Wikipedia) and gentle averages, but quaeldich says main road 8 carries heavy traffic → traffic high, so moderate by rule (not easy).
Sources: en.wikipedia.org (opens in a new tab), quaeldich.de (opens in a new tab)
Noise limits and bans within 60 km
No listed restriction within 60 km.
Along the way: views, food, fuel
Viewpoints, places to eat, fuel and places to stay on the pass road, by km from Uznach. Sample data
- View 0
- Food & drink 2
- Fuel 2
- Stay 0
-
1.9 km
Demo-Einkehr 26 Demo Restaurant
- Season
- –
- Opening hours
- unknown
- Source
- Demo entry (placeholder for OSM)
-
8.9 km
Demo-Einkehr 27 Demo Restaurant
- Season
- June–October
- Opening hours
- Jun-Oct: Mo-Su 09:00-18:00
- Source
- Demo entry (placeholder for OSM)
-
12.9 km
Demo-Tankstelle 13 Demo Fuel station
- Season
- –
- Opening hours
- unknown
- Source
- Demo entry (placeholder for OSM)
-
12.9 km
Demo-Tankstelle 41 Demo Fuel station
- Season
- –
- Opening hours
- 24/7
- Source
- Demo entry (placeholder for OSM)
Check the season and opening hours with the business before you ride; no guarantee. Permanently closed places are hidden. Opening hours as in OpenStreetMap – check with the business.
Data: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)
Entries «Demo-…» are invented placeholders for the preview, not real places. The monthly OpenStreetMap update replaces them with real entries.
On the map
Routes over this pass
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricken_Pass (opens in a new tab)
- https://www.quaeldich.de/paesse/rickenpass/ (opens in a new tab)
- https://swissfederalism.ch/en/swiss-passes-2025 (opens in a new tab)
- Source: Demo data (not real pass status)
Weather: Demo data (not a forecast). Summit values marked “est.” are estimated from the valley at 0.65 °C per 100 m.Updated 30 Oct 2026, 21:56
Always confirm with official road info before riding. Official road info: the cantonal road offices and national traffic information.