Switzerland
Furka Pass usually opens mid june and shuts late october. Those dates move with the snow every single year, so a late spring can hold the opening back by two or three weeks and an early autumn storm can close it without warning.
The pass road runs Gletsch to Realp in Valais and Uri, Switzerland, 9.9 miles that take about 30 min if you drive it properly rather than chase it. We score it 9.3 out of 10 for driving and 9.5 out of 10 for scenery.
Pairs naturally with Grimsel and Susten for the classic three pass loop.
Summit
2429 m
Typically opens
Mid June
Typically closes
Late October
Country
Switzerland
Checked by the Drivers Atlas desk
Scored and written by the Drivers Atlas editorial desk, drawing on driven routes across the UK and Europe, mapping data and member road reports. Opening dates reflect the long term pattern of the pass, not a single season. Always check on the day. How we score roads.
Last reviewed 9 April 2026
The drive
Bond film hairpins skirt the Rhone Glacier on this high, exposed Alpine crossing.
Hotels
Tracing the road between your start and finish
0%About 20 seconds left
Nearby
3.7 mi away
Granite reservoirs and stark rock walls line this dramatic climb from the Bernese Oberland.
3.7 mi away
Three of the best passes in the Alps stitched into one loop back to the same valley.
6.8 mi away
Switzerland's second highest paved pass, wide, smooth and gloriously empty.
7.5 mi away
A cobbled historic switchback climb that predates the modern Gotthard highway entirely.
9.9 mi away
Through a granite slot past the Devil's Bridge, the approach every Gotthard driver knows.
Common questions
Furka Pass typically opens mid june and closes late october. Treat that as a planning window rather than a promise, because the snow decides the date.
The summit sits at 2429 metres in Switzerland.
About 30 min for the 9.9 miles between Gletsch and Realp, without stops. Allow twice that if you want photographs and a coffee at the top.
We rate it 9.3 out of 10 for driving and 9.5 out of 10 for scenery, which puts it among the roads worth building a trip around.