Linking the Valais to Ticino via one of Switzerland’s highest passes, the Nufenenpass climbs from the Conches valley to a mineral plateau above 2,400 m, between glaciers and the source of the Rhône.
The climb
From Ulrichen, at around 1,346 m elevation, the road climbs for 13.7 km to the pass at 2,478 m, gaining 1,132 m at an average of 8.3%, with sections exceeding 11%. After crossing the young Rhône and threading through a forest of tight switchbacks, the road rises above the tree line and stays close to 8% all the way to the top.
How to approach the ride
Classified as beyond category, the climb offers almost no flat sections anywhere along the way: it’s better to pace the effort from the bottom than to burn through the more sheltered first half. Traffic stays moderate, with the road mostly busy during peak tourist season.
When to go
June to September, once the snow at the pass has cleared: it’s one of the Swiss Alpine roads that reopens latest in spring. Bring warm layers even in summer, as the summit stays exposed to wind at this altitude.
Good to know
Ulrichen, a small village in the Conches valley, has the essential shops you’d need before setting off. At the top, the mineral landscape and lingering snowfields offer a striking contrast with the valley below, before a long, technical descent toward Airolo on the Ticino side for the more motivated.
