28.4
PDI
14.8 mi
DISTANCE
4,849 ft
GAINED
6 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
Page Contributor(s): Ard Oostra, Montreux, Switzerland; Jerry Nilson, Cycloclimbing.com
INTRO
Klausenpass West climbs 23.9 km (14.8 mi) from Altdorf, the capital of canton Uri, gaining 1,478 m (4,849 ft) at a 6.0% average grade up to the Klausenpasshöhe on the border with canton Glarus. The gradient is unusually steady for an Alpine pass - nothing on this side pitches much above 8-9% - so this is a climb you settle into rather than fight the whole way.
The route follows the Schächental valley through Bürglen, the traditional birthplace of the legendary Swiss folk hero William Tell, then Spiringen and Unterschächen, before switchbacking through a long series of hairpins to the summit. Just over the pass on the Glarus side lies the Urnerboden, Switzerland's largest alpine pasture, home to as many as 1,200 cows each summer.
The modern road was built between 1893 and 1899 and opened to horse-drawn coach traffic in 1900. From 1922 to 1934 the pass hosted the Klausenrennen, one of pre-war Europe's most prestigious hillclimb races, drawing legendary drivers like Rudolf Caracciola and Tazio Nuvolari - a modern revival of the race now runs periodically on the historic course. Like most high Swiss passes, Klausenpass closes for winter, typically from October to May.
PLAN YOUR ROUTE
We've partnered with Sherpa-Map.com to bring you the best route planning tool. With a PRO Membership you can use this climb as a reference when creating your route. The climb averages 6.0% over 23.9 km (14.8 mi), gaining 1,478 m (4,849 ft) - one of the more consistent grades among Switzerland's big passes, with the steepest kilometer averaging 8.5% and the steepest 500 meters averaging 8.7%. There's no single brutal pitch to brace for here; the challenge is the sustained distance and altitude rather than any one steep section.
Roadway: Paved the entire way and in good condition, climbing through a long series of hairpin bends above Unterschächen. A retaining-wall repair project near Schlierenegg, on the Glarus side just past the summit, is expected to run through October 2026 with traffic-light-controlled delays - not on this climb's route itself, but worth knowing if you continue over the top toward Urnerboden and Linthal. The pass is seasonal, typically closed from October through May - check alpen-paesse.ch for current status.
Traffic: Weekends and Swiss holidays bring a steady stream of motorcycle and car traffic, especially through the hairpins, though it rarely reaches the congestion of the Furka. A weekday morning start from Altdorf is one of the quieter ways to ride a big Uri pass. The road between Unterschächen and Linthal is also periodically closed to motor traffic for organized events - most recently scheduled for September 13, 2026 - and the historic Klausenrennen hillclimb revival runs on the pass in late September, so check event calendars before planning a ride in that window.
Parking: Altdorf has ample public parking near the town center and train station, an easy spot to start from. Free roadside parking is also available further up the valley in Bürglen, Spiringen, and Unterschächen if you'd rather start higher and shorten the ride.
Provisions: Altdorf, Bürglen, Spiringen, and Unterschächen all have shops, cafes, or restaurants along the way, so this is one of the better-provisioned approaches to a Swiss pass. There's a restaurant at the Klausenpasshöhe itself for a finish-line coffee.
Gear: The pass sits close to 1,950 m (6,400 ft), so bring a packable wind layer even in summer - conditions at the top can be markedly colder and windier than the valley floor in Altdorf.
Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip and use our interactive check list to ensure you don't forget anything.
Altdorf is the capital of canton Uri and the historic and mythical home of William Tell - the Tell Monument in the town center marks the legendary site of the apple-shooting story, and a small museum nearby covers the legend in more depth. It's a practical, low-key base with train service on the Gotthard line rather than a resort town.
Beyond the pass on the Glarus side, the Urnerboden alpine pasture is worth the extra few kilometers if you have the legs - it's the largest of its kind in Switzerland and has simple mountain restaurants serving fresh alpine cheese in summer.
Klausenpass sits close enough to the Gotthard, Susten, and Oberalp passes to combine into a multi-day loop through central Switzerland - see our Routes in the Area tool for other nearby climbs to plan around.
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NickPayne
A long climb from Altdorf, but never gets too steep. Some fantastic scenery on the way up, and on the descent down towards Glarus.
