Furka Pass
A Swiss icon: wide mountain views, huge exposed bends and a summit made famous by the surrounding glaciers and legendary driving roads.
Climb facts
- Approach
- Realp → Furkapass
- Climb length
- 12.9 km
- Elevation gain
- 894 m
- Average gradient
- 6.9%
- Summit elevation
- 2429 m
Riding the Furka Pass
The thing that stays with me about Furka is the scale. Long before the summit, the valley begins to fall away and the road starts tracing its way across the mountainside.
I love a climb that lets me see where I have come from. On Furka, looking back at the roads snaking through the valley is almost as rewarding as reaching the top.
Sample journal text — add my ride date, weather, favourite corners and final verdict here.
History and local context
The pass featured in the 1964 James Bond film Goldfinger. It is also a regular part of Swiss cycling tours; the Tour de Suisse has crossed Furka many times.
Before you ride
Popular as part of the Furka–Grimsel–Susten loop. The summit is high and exposed, so pack an extra layer even in summer.
Sources
By James Gilbert · About the author