High crossings to Italy and the lower Valais, from the Furka to the Great St Bernard.
Always confirm with official road info before riding.
| Pass | Summit | Status | Winter | Difficulty | Rating | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nufenenpass | 2,478 m | Closed | Closed in winter | Demanding | 4.5 | closed |
| Grosser Sankt Bernhard / Col du Grand-Saint-Bernard | 2,469 m | Closed | Closed in winter | Moderate | 4.0 | closed |
| Col du Sanetsch (Sanetschpass) | 2,252 m | Closed | Closed in winter | Moderate | 3.5* | closed |
| Simplonpass | 2,009 m | Open | Open in winter (conditions apply) | Easy | 4.0 | 1.0 |
| Col de la Forclaz | 1,527 m | Open | Open in winter (conditions apply) | Moderate | 3.0* | 3.5 |
| Pas de Morgins | 1,369 m | Open | Winter closure unconfirmed | Demanding | 3.5* | 1.0 |
Stars: Passklar rating from route data and today's rating from weather and pass status. Not rider reviews. * provisional. How we rate
Researched suggestions, not routes we have ridden. Distances approximate.
A wide national road built for trucks and open all year, with long, even gradients (maximum 9%). It has the Ganter bridge and the Gondo gorge. There are long galleries, so ride with lights on and your visor clear. The Brig tourist office describes its Simplon loop as suitable for motorcyclists of any level.
Two moderate passes: the Forclaz (max 8%, but a sustained 7.9% over 13 km from Martigny) and the Swiss side of the Great St Bernard (max 11%, only 7 km from Bourg-St-Pierre). Turn round at the hospice, or carry ID and continue into Italy. The Great St Bernard pass road closes earliest of all, in mid October.
Rated moderate only because no reliable maximum gradient exists. In practice it is a serious road: about 1,700 m of climbing, single lane for the last ~10 km, and an ~800 m rock tunnel near the top that riders describe as dimly lit. Traffic is light because it is a dead end, and there is no way through to Gsteig.