Oberalppass North Bike Climb from Wassen via Devil's Bridge

Switzerland Oberalppass North

Oberalppass North Bike Climb - PJAMM Cycling

PDI

12.9 mi

DISTANCE

3,665 ft

GAINED

ELEVATION GAINED

5.3 %

AVG. GRADE

AVG. GRADIENT

FULL CLIMB STATS

Page Contributor(s): Helmuth Dekkers, Netherlands

INTRO

Oberalppass North climbs 20.8 km (12.9 mi) from Wassen to the 2,044 m (6,706 ft) Oberalp Pass on the border of Uri and Graubünden, gaining 1,117 m (3,665 ft) at a 5.3% average grade. It is really two climbs with a breather in the middle: a steep, dramatic first half up through the Schöllenen gorge to Andermatt, a nearly flat kilometer through town, and then a steady 10.7 km (6.6 mi) up the Ursern valley to the pass.

The gorge is the star. Beyond Göschenen the road squeezes between sheer granite walls, ducks through tunnels and rockfall galleries, and switchbacks up to Devil's Bridge, the crossing that opened the Gotthard route around the year 1200. After Andermatt traffic drops off, the road winds up past the turnoff for the Nätschen ski area, and the Oberalpsee comes into view, where the road shares a long gallery with the red trains of the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn. At the top, a replica of the Hook of Holland lighthouse stands by the lake - a nod to the Rhine, which rises nearby and reaches the sea on the Dutch coast.

Our PJAMM Ambassador Helmuth Dekkers, who rode this climb from Wassen, recommends avoiding weekends and holiday periods on the lower half, when traffic is heaviest, and carrying front and rear lights for the tunnels. The pass road closes in winter - over the last 25 years it has typically opened between mid-April and mid-May and closed between late October and early December - so check current status before an early- or late-season ride.

PLAN YOUR ROUTE

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Average grade is 5.3% over 20.8 km (12.9 mi). The route starts at 935 m (3,066 ft) in Wassen and finishes at 2,038 m (6,685 ft); the pass itself is officially listed at 2,044 m (6,706 ft).

The profile splits in two. The first 10 km (6.2 mi) from Wassen through Göschenen and the Schöllenen gorge to Andermatt gain 498 m (1,634 ft) at 5.0%, with the steepest running at 7.6% to 8.0% in the gorge between km 5 and 8 (mi 3.1 to 5.0) and a nearly flat kilometer through Andermatt at the end. From Andermatt the final 10.7 km (6.6 mi) gain about 605 m (1,985 ft) at 5.7%, holding 6% to 7.5% for most of the way before easing over the last 3 km (1.9 mi) along the Oberalpsee.

The steepest 500 m averages 8.7%, the steepest kilometer 8.4%, the steepest 2 km 8.1%, the steepest 5 km 7.3% and the steepest 10 km 6.6%. In miles, the steepest 100 yards (91 m) average 9.3%, the steepest quarter-mile (0.4 km) 8.8%, the steepest half-mile (0.8 km) 8.7% and the steepest mile (1.6 km) 8.1%.

Roadway: The road is paved from Wassen to the pass. The lower half follows the old Gotthard road through a chain of short tunnels and rockfall galleries, the longest about 750 m (0.5 mi), and several have no shoulder or sidewalk, so front and rear lights are essential. Follow the cycling signs near the gorge: some stretches are closed to bikes and a separate path takes over. The long gallery beside the Oberalpsee is lit and flat, and shares its space with the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn tracks. The Schöllenen gorge is exposed to rockfall and was closed to all traffic for several weeks in 2015 after a rockfall, so check Uri's road status before you go. The pass road closes each winter, typically from late October or early December until mid-April or mid-May.

Traffic: Busiest on the lower half between Wassen and Andermatt, especially on weekends and holidays. After the turn to the Oberalppass in Andermatt, traffic drops substantially, and the final stretch to the pass is quiet.

Parking: As on our Sustenpass (Wassen) page, the practical spot is the parking area by the old train station at the north end of Wassen. If you would rather not ride back down, the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn runs from the pass through Andermatt to Göschenen - see Travel Tips.

Provisions: Restaurant Teufelsbrücke sits just across Devil's Bridge, Andermatt (about 10 km in) has shops and cafes, and there is a restaurant at the pass. Carry water and food for the climb in between.

Gear: Bring a front and rear light for the tunnels and galleries, even in daylight. The summit is 1,103 m (3,619 ft) above the start at over 2,000 m, so pack a windproof layer for the descent, and a lock and normal shoes if you plan to walk around Devil's Bridge.

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.

Devil's Bridge deserves a stop, ideally on the way back down. Restaurant Teufelsbrücke and a small car park sit just across the bridge, and a short path leads to a viewpoint where the 1830 stone bridge stands beside the road bridge that replaced its predecessor in 1956. A 30-minute loop across the old bridge is open May to October, and the Suvorov Monument, carved into the rock in 1898 for the Russian soldiers who fought Napoleon's troops here in 1799, is a few minutes' walk from the car park.

At the top, the Oberalpsee lies just west of the pass beside the red lighthouse, and the source of the Rhine at Lake Toma is about a two-hour hike from the pass. The Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn serves Göschenen, Andermatt and the pass, so you can ride up and take the train back; its BikePass Gotthard covers MGB travel between Göschenen and Disentis with self-loading bike transport. If you continue over the top, the descent to Sedrun and Disentis is our Oberalppass East climb in reverse.

Andermatt is the hub for the Furka, Gotthard, Susten and Nufenen passes, and our Routes in the Area tool shows which other climbs are within reach of the same base.